With four different players standing on third base to start an
inning, you could tell UCLA softball’s annual alumnae game
was not a typical one.
The game featured many prominent softball alumnae, including
five members of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Softball team, playing
alongside current players in a split-squad game.
The White team defeated the Blue team 21-9, but the focus was on
having a good time with former players instead of who won and who
lost.
“No program in the country can have a celebration like
this,” coach Sue Enquist said.
The game gave all the current players a chance to compete
alongside some of the best players in the sport.
“We’re just privileged to be able to play with and
talk to these former Bruins who are such great players,” said
senior Claire Sua.
It started out like a regular softball game for the first two
innings, as the white team scored three runs against Keira Goerl,
UCLA’s best pitcher last year.
But things changed in the third inning when Sua, who normally
plays first base, went to play shortstop and catcher Julie Marshall
““ a class of 2000 alumna ““ went to play second
base.
“It was really loose. People were playing pretty much
wherever they wanted to play,” Sua said.
The game proceeded to get more unorthodox from there, as innings
began with runners already on base. In one inning the Blue team
started with six runners ““ two on each base ““ while the
White team played two additional outfielders.
These additional fielders still could not prevent an infield
single, so before the next at-bat three more players from the White
team stepped on to the field.
After the fourth inning, with the White team leading 8-4, the
players decided to start a home run hitting contest.
Tairia Flowers (formerly Tairia Mims), the 2004 Olympian who
starred on last year’s championship team, stole the show. Her
seven home runs were more than the Blue team hit combined.
After the contest, the teams decided to play an additional
inning and a half, with Olympic team pitchers Amanda Fried and Lisa
Fernandez pitching for the first time in the game.
Fernandez, who pitched in the last two gold medal games for the
United States, closed out the game. She pitched for both the Blue
and White team, as the five outfielders sat and watched. That is,
until she yelled at them to stand up.
Afterward, Enquist joked that this game was like any other the
team would play this year.
The UCLA softball team starts its season Feb. 7 at the Long
Beach State Tournament with a doubleheader against Santa Clara and
Washington.