MGoBlogs: Softball, Vol. I, No. 1
10/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Michigan softball team is known for a number of skills on the field: powerful bats, exceptional pitching, and hustle around the base path. The Wolverines sacrificed the latter trait on Saturday as participants in the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event and plodded the three-mile course around Ann Arbor with more than 3,600 other walkers.
"We all walked together," said junior Teddi Ewing. "We sped up, slowed down, switched up packs. It was a great time for us to catch up and just talk about anything. During the walk, different people would come up and tell us how much they appreciated Michigan Softball's support. It was really cool to just spend time with each other while we participated and also the impact we had on other everyone else that was in the walk."
Each member of the Wolverine team set an individual donation goal. Many goals were lofty, ranging in upwards of $500 or $1,000, and many Wolverine reached or exceeded their expectations. The U-M softball squad led all participating teams in total contributions with a final total of $18,572 among its 30 team members. In all, the 2007 Ann Arbor event raised more than $266,000 for the American Cancer Society.
"It's a great cause to fight together as a team," said senior Alessandra Giampaolo, "because it is something that is so much bigger than we are. It's something that has touched everyone's lives. So we made a competition out of it to see who could, individually, raise the most money. It wasn't about who actually won, but we realized that the more money we got, the more went to a great cause. We had the greatest number of donations as a team, and we take a lot of pride in that."
Over the last several years, Breast Cancer Awareness events have earned increased popularity in the athletic community as many leagues, teams and tours have used their mass appeal to gain exposure for the cause. Last Mother's Day -- just a week after Michigan softball "Strike Out Breast Cancer" series vs. Michigan State -- pink bats and wrist guards could be found in every Major League ballpark. Early this month -- national Breast Cancer Awareness month -- the NFL promoted its Breast Cancer Awareness Weekend, NASCAR featured a pink Dodge stockcar and the Detroit Pistons kicked off their "Real Men Wear Pink" campaign. On campus, the U-M volleyball team hosted its inaugural "Dig for the Cure" on Oct. 5. It's a trend that members of the softball hope will continue.
"I think it's something every women's team should do," said Giampaolo. "Hutch has talked about wanting all the women's teams in the athletic department to do this walk next year, and I think that would be great."
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
TUESDAY | OCTOBER 16, 2007
As most Michigan softball fans know, when head coach Carol Hutchins sets her mind to a task, it's more likely than not to get accomplished. So when the Wolverine leader decided to rally her team around a cause close to many hearts, it's no surprise that the U-M program's efforts were met with rousing success. The Wolverines will be participating in Saturday's (Oct. 20) Ann Arbor edition of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk, and as of this morning the squad has already raised more than $14,000, ranking them as the highest-grossing team to date out of nearly 150 teams entered.
"The University of Michigan softball team is joining the fight against breast cancer," said Hutchins. "We want a championship-caliber attitude in fighting this battle, because this is definitely a game that needs to be won. It is truly a cause that is bigger than any game or championship won on the softball field."
As first-time participants, the Wolverines went into the event without a donation goal in mind. While filling out the team's profile page several weeks ago, assistant coach Jennifer Brundage simply listed $5,000 under the category heading. The amount was met within just a few hours. The team quickly modified their expectations and currently lists a donation goal of $15,000. As of this morning, they are within $900 of the new standard.
"Each individual team member is raising money," said Hutchins, "and our overall goal is to win. We want to raise more money than any other team entered. We want Michigan Softball to make a difference."
The breast cancer walk follows the Wolverine softball program's involvement in the inaugural Strike Out Breast Cancer home-and-away weekend with Michigan State last May. With scenery around Alumni Field largely of the pink nature -- pink jerseys and socks, faceguards, bases, eye "black," belts and wristbands on the umpires, and even a pressbox painted pink -- the event proved a quantified success. Combining gate receipts, T-shirt sales and a silent auction for the U-M pink jerseys, the Wolverines alone raised in excess of $17,000, which they donated to the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer organization.
For more information about the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event or how to support the Wolverines, please visit the team's page for the event, which includes "Why I am walking" statements from each participant.
