Softball fans having as much fun as the players

by Jessica Snow sports editor

"I brought Greg, that's about it," Justin Christian said about the journey he took with Greg Kulnis in his 1998 Ford Ranger.

At 5:30 a.m, hours before most of the campus woke up, on INSERT DAY/DATE

Christian and Kulnis drpve to Maryland to support Cabrini's softball team in a tournament.

Apparently Christian should have packed more protective luggage; he returned from the tournament with sunburn.

The two sophomore biology majors who are pre-med have not missed many games this season. Specifically, the pair did not attend two games last week and the games during the team's spring break trip.

Christian does not drive to all of the games that they do attend. He reported that Kulnis and himself "switch-off' who will drive on a regular basis.

The three hour drive to Maryland paid off for the fans as well as the team, which went undefeated.

"At the Maryland tournament, we got to be really loud and obnoxious during the games by banging on a scoreboard that was not in use;' Christian said.

The commotion is welcomed by the players and their coach, coordinator of student activities Bridget Baxter.

"They cheer for us, bang on the scoreboard. The two of them make more noise than the crowds for the other teams," Baxter said.

The fans said that they have a great time supporting the girls and that more people should be doing it. However, they note that the team would draw a larger crowd if it had a home field on, or closer to campus.

"It is a shame that more people don't come to the games. They are missing a lot, a Jot of talented players," Kulnis said.

Many of the players and their coach called it "awesome" that Christian and Kulnis have supported the team so much.

"It really means a lot to us. And they are really funny," Megan Johnston, a sophomore pitcher and outfielder said.

"They come to away games and home games. They help put the equipment away. They make the girls laugh a lot. They're great. It is really great that they are there," Baxter said.

Aside from the adrenaline rush of being a fan of a winning team and the talent of the athletes, Kulnis gave another reason he supports the softball players. Taking on a seri- ous tone of voice, but with a playful smile, Kulnis revealed his political message.

"I Jive vicariously through the girls because we don't have a baseball team. It is good to see somebody enjoying America's pastime."