TRIUMPH OVER TRAGEDY

Thedaywhen Softballwas Morethan Justa Game

Challenges arose throughout the Softball season,but the team chose to focus on something other than the negative aspects

One challenge was the amount of new players on the team Softball media correspondent, Todd Wetmore,said,"More than fifty percent of their team are newcomers." There were seven freshmen and a juniortransfer

However, head coach Paul Wetmore looked past the challenges "It's not just Softball There's more to it than that,"he said

The sense of community shone when they played at Virginia Tech on April 16, justone year afterthe Virginia Tech massacre "[After dinner] we went to the candlelight vigiltogether," Paul Wetmore said. "Itwas a ten-minute walk and they walked us right back to our bus and I watched our kids hug their kids, and I thought,'How priceless is that?'People don't see that in athletics."

Freshman Elena Lampman said,"Win or lose,we always find a way to stick together and never letthe game bring us down."

Paul Wetmore agreed, "I think the team chemistry is good I'm not justsaying that."

Coach Wetmore prayed and delivered a gospel message to the players, and the Lady Flames offered tracts to the other players."We've been faithful inpassing out those tracts,"Paul Wetmore said "We've done it allover the country."

The Softball team's mission was more than justthe game—they were witnesses for Christ to every team they played. I E i

STUDENT PROFILE: JENNIFER PITTMAN

Former high school Softball player, Jennifer Pittman,decided herjunior year ofcollege to see if she could join the Softball team She decided to tryto walk on to the team She went through three days of try-outs and was told that she had been selected to jointhe team Making the team had been both a difficultand beneficial experience Due to new levelsof commitment, Pittman had to carfully arrange her schedule so she could accomplish allthat needed to get done Some of the obstacles she encountered sincejoining the team were "getting up and going to practice at 5:15 on Monday,Wednesday and Fridays, and trying to fit inschoolwork has been challenging I have really had toprioritize and make time forwhat is important." Life had definitely changed inthe amount of free time she had Practices not only occured inthe morning three times a week,but also inthe afternoons Monday through Saturday,Despite thechallenges, "the accomplishment of making a Division 1 college team has been a great and rewarding experience," Pittman said

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