Julie's Transformation into a UCA Baseball Groupie

It's true. I've officially become a groupie for the UCA Baseball team.

I'm only saying this because once again, my blog topic is about the Bears and their awesome slugfest on Sunday. I went because I had to write an article for the Echo about Sunday's game. It was the last game in a three-game series against the University of Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks. The Bears won the first game, lost the second by one point, and slaughtered the Skyhawks 15-6 on Sunday!!!

The Bears had a 10 run inning. It was incredible. Our offense did an amazing job. Our pitching was also really well. Brandon Solberg pitched five innings, giving up only one run. The Bears also pitched three freshman pitchers, who only gave up a run each. So, the team got in a lot of practice for the two-game series against Ole Miss on Tuesday and Wednesday.

I went to the game with my friend and suitemate Ashley, who kept her own scorecard so we were able to compare at the end of the game. With all of the substitutions and such, it was a hard game to keep up with.

The players each had their own at-bat intro music. My favorite had to be "MMM Bop." I can't remember right now who had that, but it was hilarious. Another player had Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel." I love that the players have an appreciation for ironic theme songs.

At the end of the game, I interviewed Coach Clark, who gave me some excellent quotes. I also interviewed center fielder Tye Throneberry, who was super nice and--I'm sorry this has to be said--extremely dreamy. I couldn't even process what he was saying because I was drowning in my own drool.

Anyway, the game was so much fun, and I signed up to write the story for next Sunday's game. Ashley and I decided that we were going to go to every game and make our own t-shirts with the Bears' mantra: "Hit 'em and go get 'em. Slide on both sides. Cover the outfield like the morning dew."

So, yeah, I heart Bears baseball. And Tye Throneberry. And I hope he never reads this...

Next Entry: I know I promised this last time, but I will seriously explain my reasoning for choosing UCA. I promise!

The Adventures of Julie at the Baseball House

Dear Prospective Students,

Well, I'm glad the formalities are officially out of the way. Now, let's start my first post!

Initially, I was going to start off with a nice little introduction to me. You know, the usual favorite color, preferred toothpaste, etc. However, sometimes stories just present themselves and explain everything.

So, here begins a story that took place today:

I am a reporter for our student newspaper, The Echo. As such, I have to run around like a wild woman, bugging unsuspecting students and faculty for interviews--it's exhausting but rewarding in that résumé way. This week, I am working on a preview of the UCA baseball team--GO BEARS!--for next Wednesday's issue. I contacted Coach Clark--nicest/coolest coach in the world--a few days ago, via email, and he told me to meet him at the UCA
Baseball House at 9:30 a.m.

The UCA Baseball House is located on College Street (previously I had no idea where it was. Coach Clark had to inform me), and it looks just like a house. So, I drive by it once, have to turn around in the hospital parking lot and then accidentally drive by it again. Eventually, I made it into the driveway and parked my car around back.

At this point, the rest of his instructions have disappeared from my mind. And there are eight million doors into the house.

I try the first door and walk straight into a dark storage closet.

I try the next door and can't get it open.

I then try eight more doors--all locked--until I eventually find one that is unlocked. I walk in, and it's a really nice team-meeting/fun area with inspiration slogans on the wall.

I tip-toe around because at this point I feel like a vandal. I hear voices coming from down the hallway. And in a moment of sheer panic, I run out of the house!

I'm not sure what I was thinking, but it seemed like the logical thing to do at the time. I ran back to my car and called Coach Clark--once again nicest/coolest coach in the world--to come get me.

He walked out of the second door that I tried and failed to open and escorted me into the UCA Baseball House.

So, in the end, I got the interview, but I also proved that I might be the dumbest journalist ever...

And I forgot about my Campbell's Harvest Selects soup and left it sitting in the microwave for 30 minutes.

I promise, I am not stupid. I am just a college student!

Next Entry: Why did I go to UCA??? and some other meaningful questions, probably.