Softballteam finally gets a field of their own-

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Without a home field the team is constantly traveling to games and practices, which leads to increasing travel expenses for buses and food and missed classes.

"We not only have to worry about spectators not knowing where to go to cheer on the softball team, but umpires get lost and so do other teams looking for our field, said Baxter. "Sometimes we don't even know where the games will be held until that day."

If you still are questioning whether they deserve a field, take a look at their record. 39-9 Penna. Athletic Conference Champions, National Collegiate Athletic Association Regional Finalists, and they have gone further than any team ever at Cabrini College. They also finished in the top sixteen in the country and hosted the PAC Championships the last two years, not at Cabrini, but at Eastern.

"In the fall the team is up at 6a.m. working out and training for their spring softball season. They sacrifice a lot for Cabrini and deserve a place to play," said Baxter. "They always come to practices early and stay late to improve."

Greg Kulnis, junior, supports the softball team and tries to make it to every home and away game as their number one fan. He is making the trip with the team to Georgia where they are going over spring break to practice, scrimmage and play in a tournament. 'They have gone the furthest in any intercollegiate competition and they deserve the ability for their fellow students to recognize their talents," said Kulnis.

Many girls come to Cabrini because of the opportunity to play softball for a winning program, while getting their education. Baxter does her best to establish the softball program, along with Assistant Coach Karen Pelky. "It is hard at times to justify how great our program is without showing recruits and their families a home field,' explains Bax- ter. Every team in the PAC has a field or a home on campus and most high schools and some junior high teams have home fields.

Over the past summer, three players, sophomores Erin Brooks, right fielder, Rita Horning, first baseman and junior Megan Johnston, pitcher, represented Cabrini internationally in Germany. "We give a lot to the school and have outstanding players that could play anywhere, but chose Cabrini," said Baxter.

The softball team has received a lot of support from the athletic department and Coach John Dzik, is committed to getting the softball field. He has prepared and presented numerous proposals for the field because it is one of his top priorities.

Dzik established a price for building the softball field and now the college has gone to a landscape architect to oversee the plan and find out what is fitting for Cabrini. The field is marked with flags and is to be placed in the upper field near Grace Hall. Cabrini is still in the process of making plans for the field and it is among one of the many steps. Right now Cabrini is trying to get a permit from Radnor Township and once they get this they should begin to build the field.

"We are moving forward, but the plan has not been executed. It is still not a done deal, but we want to stay optimistic and are moving in a positive direction," said Dzik.

Karen Pelky joined Cabrini's athletic department two years ago and also took the position as Assistant Coach. She agrees that the softball team definitely deserves a field because it is a necessary step toward achieving their goal of winning a national championship. "It is hard for the girls to commit to a program without a home field, but I must commend them and their families on what a tremendous job they do and that they are willing to do anything for the program. We are constantly moving around, but the players always adapt and have done a great job," said Pelky.

Senior Katie Vallone said that she has been promised a field since she was a freshman. "It is not fair because we hold the best record at Cabrini and we sill don't have a field. Every other sport team has one, why don't we?"

Support from fans is another issue the players mentioned when discussing the softball field. "I'd love to know what it is like to play at school, said Johnston. "We get a lot of fans when we go to Eastern, but we would have so many more on ow own home field. No one would have to worry about finding a ride or wondering where our next home game will be."

Kendra Ryer is a junior basketball player and she agrees that support does a lot for her team. "People complain that there is nothing to do on campus, but there is usually a sporting event taking place and even if yot aren't a sports fan you can come out and support your sport teams It is a free event and many go jus'. to socialize, but any support is natural high for the players."

The softball team remains optimistic, but it gets very frustratinE for them at times. Brooks saic that she feels that they put the plans in front of them just tc make them happy, but then the next thing you know there is another long time excuse. "I woulc rather they just say that we aren'1 going to get a field, so we don'1 keep ow hopes up."

The softball team's spring season begins on March 3, so there is still plenty of time to get the permits and begin building fo1 the spring. Maybe making the journey across Eastern to attenc another home game will be an· cient history; instead fans car just wander over to Cabrini'! very own softball field to chee1 for the softball team.