2008 Woodie Awards
Long Live "The Sparklers"
Belen Garcia
Issue date: 5/9/06 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Okay you guys, I'm sorry to report, but this is the final installment of Belen's Sports Column. Come on now, no tears, okay, no tears. Instead let's have a little smile and a lot of laughter. So, here it is, my grand finale.
Tank tops, grass, chalk, sunflower seeds, booty shorts and non-stop fun. Yes, that is right, I am talking about Rec Sports softball. When the weather gets nice and the mini-skirts come out you know it's time for this great Saint Mary's pastime.
Every year I put a little team together, you might have heard about us…The Sparklers is our name and domination is our game. Anyone who has played intramural softball knows that it's not about fun; it's about getting that shirt. The coveted IM Champ shirt is the spark that keeps the competitive flame of every intramural competitor going, my flame being no exception.
I start the season out with a round of rigorous try-outs which involve all sorts of conditioning tests and skill assessments. Some of my typical drills include: how far you can spit sunflower seeds, the "ouch factor" of your smack-talking one liners, and whether or not you can successfully execute the patented grass kick that is needed when an umpire gets out of line. Once I have assembled an all-star team of the best that Saint Mary's has to offer, the fun truly begins.
Our team meets about two minutes before each game because we have to get in a stretch and warm up the cannons. Once we are appropriately warmed up, I set up the batting order with a very scientific "Eenie, Meeny, Miney, Mo" process.
Most games are a blur of blooper singles, crazy defensive plays, scorching wit and me yelling at my team like I know what I'm talking about. It's great because as a team manager I don't even have to play. After all when you are 5'2" and do not have hand-eye coordination, sometimes it's better that way. I mean that's why I have try-outs, so that I can prance around with my little woman's complex, screaming obscenities while my team does all the work.
After a few weeks of games, we entered the playoffs as the #1 seed. We won every game and then moved on to the championship. This game usually draws a crowd because anybody who is anybody knows that The Sparklers are the team to watch. The championship game ended with us beating the other team like 100-2 and those IM Champ shirts were ours. WHAM- BAM, thank you Rec Sports, thank you Saint Mary's, and The Sparklers go out on top, just like me!
Tank tops, grass, chalk, sunflower seeds, booty shorts and non-stop fun. Yes, that is right, I am talking about Rec Sports softball. When the weather gets nice and the mini-skirts come out you know it's time for this great Saint Mary's pastime.
Every year I put a little team together, you might have heard about us…The Sparklers is our name and domination is our game. Anyone who has played intramural softball knows that it's not about fun; it's about getting that shirt. The coveted IM Champ shirt is the spark that keeps the competitive flame of every intramural competitor going, my flame being no exception.
I start the season out with a round of rigorous try-outs which involve all sorts of conditioning tests and skill assessments. Some of my typical drills include: how far you can spit sunflower seeds, the "ouch factor" of your smack-talking one liners, and whether or not you can successfully execute the patented grass kick that is needed when an umpire gets out of line. Once I have assembled an all-star team of the best that Saint Mary's has to offer, the fun truly begins.
Our team meets about two minutes before each game because we have to get in a stretch and warm up the cannons. Once we are appropriately warmed up, I set up the batting order with a very scientific "Eenie, Meeny, Miney, Mo" process.
Most games are a blur of blooper singles, crazy defensive plays, scorching wit and me yelling at my team like I know what I'm talking about. It's great because as a team manager I don't even have to play. After all when you are 5'2" and do not have hand-eye coordination, sometimes it's better that way. I mean that's why I have try-outs, so that I can prance around with my little woman's complex, screaming obscenities while my team does all the work.
After a few weeks of games, we entered the playoffs as the #1 seed. We won every game and then moved on to the championship. This game usually draws a crowd because anybody who is anybody knows that The Sparklers are the team to watch. The championship game ended with us beating the other team like 100-2 and those IM Champ shirts were ours. WHAM- BAM, thank you Rec Sports, thank you Saint Mary's, and The Sparklers go out on top, just like me!