 "Photo: Photo courtesy of Aaron Glick")
Be on the backfields at 4 p.m. Monday through Friday for Charlotte Club Baseball practice. The club registered as an organization on campus in 2001. Charlotte Club Baseball has established itself by developing its members’ skills in the competitive sport and in teamwork.
President Marcus Woodard, super senior and Graphic Design major, said that this club is for those looking to play competitively and have fun.
This year’s motto is, “you are going to get out what you put into the team,” and “if you are dedicated to the team and can be a leader you will get a lot of playing time,” said Woodard. “I know it is sort of cheesy but the guys that are on the team basically become friends for life. Everyone is really close and we hang out and spend lots of time with each other away from baseball.”
Woodard said why he decided to become the clubs president, “I wanted to bring a positive improvement.”
Yet, this year’s numbers are down, so the club is looking for anyone wanting to play, and there is no skill level necessary. Just the desire for improvement and teamwork is required. As of now, there are 12 regular players.
“We really need pitchers and catchers the most. We lost one of each to the varsity team just recently. However, we’re looking to improve in all areas, so anyone that can play we want out there. No positions are locked up as of now,” said Secretary Aaron Glick, junior and Business major. Glick has been playing on the club for two years and plays centerfield.
The club plays a total of 18 games in the fall and 25 in the spring. During spring break the team goes to Florida and plays teams from across the country.
“Last year we played teams like Michigan State, Illinois State, Bowling Green [Ohio], Central Michigan, and Appalachian State,” Glick said.
Every year DeMarini Bat Company, which sponsors the team’s efforts, gives Charlotte Club Baseball free bats. According to Glick’s experience and observation, a good bat will last for one season. After a season’s worth of practice and games, a worn bat is a sign of endurance and devotion to the sport made by players.
Conference games are played in the spring, and this year’s competitors are N.C. State, Elon, Chapel Hill, Wake Forest and East Carolina University.
It’s been less than a month since this year’s fall season started, which was the weekend of Sept. 12, and according to Glick, the team took two of three from Clemson’s club team, and then 1-1 with Wytheville Community College. Also, Glick mentioned that they play “three games just about every weekend and still have about three more weekend series left.”
The team drives, carpooling together, up and down the East Coast to attend and play its scheduled games. The team just took a chilly trip up to Ohio to play the University of Akron and Kent State University. They played a total of four games over the weekend. Ohio is the farthest North the team will travel this season, and the next trip upward will be to Charlottesville, Va. The team will travel down to Tampa Fla. during the spring season.
In theory of true sportsmanship, winning is not everything. With a short glimpse at Charlotte Club Baseball it’s apparent that it is the comraderie and enjoyment of playing on the team that moves them forward in each game. According to Glick and Woodard, a warm and open welcome is waiting for anyone wanting to join the team. For more information regarding Charlotte Club Baseball contact Marcus Woodard at mkwoodar@uncc.edu.
1 comments