Batter up, because in the spring of 2003 Guilford College is adding a new team to the athletic department: softball.This is not the first softball team for Guilford. In 1990, the team was dropped from the athletic program. Softball in North Carolina on the high school level was slow-pitch level while Guilford’s conference was competing in playing fast-pitched on the national level. In slow-pitch softball, the ball is delivered with a detectable arc at a moderate speed. In fast-pitch, the pitcher can throw the ball as fast as possible.
This complicated recruitment and training for the team. The administration decided that in the college’s best interest, it would be better to wait with the team.
Athletic director Mike Ketchum explains Guilford’s softball initiative. “This has been a process that has taken several years. Girls softball is a strong sport, with a lot of interest,” she said. Adding softball to Guilford’s athletic program offers a lot of opportunities for the college. More student interest, an additional women’s team, a wider range of sports to offer, are just a few.
First-year Deana Caldwell is excited about softball, “I’m happy because I want to do some type of physical activity and softball is one that I feel I could do well in and enjoy.”
In the spring, recruitment for the team will be a major priority. “We are recruiting new folks because we didn’t have this sport recently. The team is made up of 25 girls, and they will be mostly new people. We already have two prospective recruits,” Ketchum said.
Ashley Cook, a first-year who played softball in high school, feels that the addition of softball will level the playing field for women’s sports because “softball is the only popular female sport that Guilford does not offer.”
The expenses for the team have been included into next year’s budget. One of the major expenses is for a coach. Ketchum explained what he is looking for in a coach: “Someone who would fit in with Guilford and understand the place of academics and athletics.”
Cook feels that a coach should embody certain important qualities such as “patience, an understanding of the game, and being strict yet kind.”
The search process will include looking into alumni, coaches in the state, and advertising in the NCAA News. Also, Guilford’s softball connections in North Carolina will help in finding the right person for the job, especially with the large number of coaches who want to move from the high school level up to the college level.
The exciting addition of the team to the Guilford community looks promising. As Cook said, “many high school players want to continue softball at a collegiate level of play. Guilford has a lot to offer to a student both academically and athletically.”