I'm not going to lie, in the past if I had to choose whether to watch Miami University baseball or softball, you would probably find me at McKie Field watching baseball. If you asked me whether I wanted to watch men's basketball or women's basketball, I'd probably watch Doug Penno and company take the floor.
However, Tuesday I experienced my first Miami softball game from the first pitch to the last pitch and it was a great experience.
It was my first time sitting in the stands and watching the softball team in action. I had been at the stadium for the inauguration of the new stadium a couple of weekends ago, but didn't actually stay for more than an inning or two.
But Tuesday I got there and watched the entire game. Maybe it was the pleasant temperature of 80 degrees and lots of sunshine, but whatever it was, I really took a liking to softball.
I highly suggest that everyone comes out to the new softball stadium and take a look at the marvelous job the construction company has done. This whole year we have been in love with the new Goggin Ice Center - which is also fantastic, don't get me wrong. However, softball's new home is just as amazing as Steve Cady Arena.
There is plenty of room to sit, including seats to the right of the foul pole in right field. You can't sit in the outfield at Miami baseball games, and it's a pretty cool view from out there. The seating behind home plate basically takes you right onto the field and you feel like you are a part of the game.
And for those of you that think softball isn't as exciting as baseball, you couldn't be further from
the truth.
Tuesday's game provided fans with great defense, lights-out pitching and a couple of home runs added to make a great mix.
First off, the softball team is very young and talented. The energy and excitement they bring to the game is something I haven't seen at any other Miami sporting event.
Unlike baseball, the teams are always chattering, cheering and getting the other players and also the fans into the game.
Two RedHawk pitchers, first-years Shalise Lugo and Meredith Linch, two-hit Marshall Tuesday, allowing just one run. Even the run they did give up was exciting. Marshall scored its lone run on a home run which probably still hasn't landed yet.
So the pitching was great, the home run hit by Marshall surprised me - I didn't think you could hit a softball that far - and the defense was the icing on the cake.
Now, I've never played competitive softball - unless you include my fraternity's softball team - but that ball is very big and comes at you very fast.
When I played baseball, I played second base and center field for a number of years, and I don't know how comfortable I would be going out onto a softball field and trying to take groundballs. There's a much different strategy for softball than there is for baseball.
Remember, in softball the players are much closer to the batter. The pitcher is just 43 feet away from the batter. In baseball it's just a tad over 60 feet from the pitcher to the batter.
So while even though these girls don't throw as fast as the guys, the difference in the distance makes the ball seem like it's coming at you at insanely high speeds.
Softball has everything baseball has to offer, yet the stadium is constantly empty.
Not enough people head out to the softball stadium and they are missing out. Softball is a great sport to go out and watch and enjoy with your friends during a spring evening or weekend where you have some time to kill.
This weekend softball has four games at home, two Friday, one Saturday and one Sunday. I highly suggest you head out to the stadium, which is right by Yager, and experience Miami softball firsthand.
