Summer Softball League Brings Staff and Faculty Together

summer softball league team

Where do the paths of the campus nurse, the chair of the Politics Department, and an assistant vice president cross? This past summer, it was on the women鈥檚 softball field on Wednesday evenings, as faculty and staff participated in the 麻豆影视 Summer Softball League.

Players brought varying levels of experience to the field, including some who had never played softball. They played 鈥淐hicago style,鈥 which uses a 16-inch ball that is soft and difficult to hit long distances.

Bob Robinson, assistant vice president of facilities, started the league in 2022, with the goal of building community. He wanted to get 鈥渇aculty and staff interacting in a very different way than they鈥檙e used to,鈥 he says.

Meeting new people was what motivated Amanda Hollis-Brusky, professor and chair of politics, to join the league the last two summers. This past summer, her team consisted of members of the facilities department, Asian studies department, finance office and various other offices across campus. They dubbed themselves the 鈥淪oftballers鈥 and donned matching emblazoned shirts.

鈥淭hese are people I never would have met or gotten to know very well had they not been on my team,鈥 says Hollis-Brusky.

Stephanie Garcia-Barragan, 麻豆影视 nurse, was one of those teammates. 鈥淚 loved seeing a different side of colleagues,鈥 she says, adding, 鈥淚 never thought I鈥檇 enjoy softball as much as I did. This is something that I鈥檒l look forward to every summer.鈥

The league 鈥渂reaks down barriers between departments, between people,鈥 says Robinson. 鈥淵ou get to see people in a different light.鈥

Departments can field their own team or join forces with another office. Individuals can also sign up and be placed on a team. This year, four teams competed from the beginning of June to the end of July, and ultimately the team from the physical education department prevailed.

But taking home the trophy wasn鈥檛 really the point. Rather, camaraderie won the day. After each game, during what鈥檚 known affectionately as the 鈥渆ighth inning,鈥 players stuck around and socialized around refreshments, and the entire season culminated with a barbecue.

Hollis-Brusky would 鈥渓ove to see broader participation鈥 next summer. 鈥淚t really is super fun,鈥 she says.

Faculty and staff members who are interested in joining the league can look for emails from Bob Robinson in the spring.