CLUB ROUNDUP: Baseball club offer spressure-free atmosphere

In an era in which the game of baseball has suffered greatly due to conflicts between owners and players, it is refreshing to find individuals who play solely for the love of the game. That is the story for the University of Pennsylvania men's club baseball team. The team recruits players from around campus who were either cut from the varsity team or who want to play without the stress that comes with competing on the varsity level. After putting up a number of flyers and advertising around campus, the team holds open tryouts for all those interested. With a healthy turnout expected, the team is normally composed of about 20 players. "It is good for young kids who want to prepare for the next level, or for those who just want to have fun with it," co-captain Eric Tavell said. Although it is not funded by the University, the team takes player dues and aid from the Student Activities Council in order to function. One of the major needs for the team is a home field. The team does not have a field to call its own and therefore all its games are played on the road. Combined with the fact that it is not granted any access to indoor facilities, it has to deal with the weather as well as the lack of a field. It does hold practices on Murphy Field near the Philadelphia Civic Center, but that is used by a number of club teams and is not considered a suitable playing surface. This spring the club team will be traveling to play a number of small school varsity teams as well as some larger schools' junior varsity teams. Its first game will be at Ursinus and after that it travels to other local schools, including Haverford, Swarthmore, Albright and Widener. By the end of the season the club will have played approximately 20 to 25 games. The schedule is void of postseason opportunities or league championship races. By scheduling varsity and junior varsity teams, it still plays quality opponents in a lighter atmosphere than Penn's varsity teams do. This works well for younger players, who are not yet ready to deal with school as well as sports. Without a field, much financial support or new equipment, club baseball is not the most glamorous sport on campus. Yet as prospective club team member Matt Ogden said, "it gives me the chance to reminisce about the glory days in high school, while still playing competitive baseball." In an era where big time sports have become almost entirely business-like, it is club sports such as these that are to be commended. They have to deal with a lack of support, but they continue to compete because of how the players feel about the game itself.