You don’t need to be a fan of baseball to be a fan of the Club Baseball Team. Indeed, the heartwarming camaraderie of the team has succeeded in winning over those who were previously unlikely to watch a game. Noelle Surprise ‘14 admits, “Nothing really seems more uninteresting than baseball.” But reminiscing on attending a game back in August, she illustrated her change in heart: “That quintessential summer day when we chose to cheer on our friends was the first time I can honestly say I truly enjoyed the experience.”
The importance of this camaraderie to the team’s identity is embodied by the their posters that read “Fourth in wins, first in friendship.” Captain Jackson Murphy ‘14 explains, “I’ve met some of my closest friends through club baseball, and this poster was a way to highlight that important aspect of our team.” Jackson’s co-Captain, Ted Steinberg ‘16 elaborates on the message behind the posters, saying that even if the team is losing, “when we look across the diamond, it always seems like we’re having more fun than the other team.” Both captains emphasized that creating a fun atmosphere is an integral part of being on the team.
And while team bonding and sportsmanship are important constants, Murphy, a team member for four years, highlights that the club is becoming increasingly competitive, and reports that last Sunday the team beat Yale in a career defining victory. The team won by scoring three runs in the last inning, with Alex Apkin hitting a two run single to tie the game, and Steinberg hitting a walk off double for the win. Looking back on his experience with the team, Jackson says, “It has been amazing to be a part of the growth of club baseball over the last few years, and I have full confidence that our team will continue to succeed in the future.”
For fans present and future, it seems as if Club Baseball has something to offer for everyone: competitive games, but also a good time, and according to Steinberg, souvenirs. So regardless of whether you are a die-hard baseball fan or you have an aversion to organized sports, Club Baseball may just be the team for you to cheer on this season.
