Photoessay #281 - Waiting in the wings

Four young girls watch the University of Oregon softball team in the spring of 2005. Erin Goodell, the second baseman at that time up to bat. Looks like my daughter, Susanna, is on deck. They may be playing Oregon State (the colors are right), the so-called Civil War. Possibly, thesey oung players dream of playing Pac 10 softball. Howe Field definitely has personality and presence though it does lack some basic amenities...like safe seating. It's an intimate venue, you can stand right up behind the batters.

Howe Field likely the oldest softball field used in NCAA Division 1 softball; converted from the baseball field originally built in the 1930s. University of Oregon cut baseball for fiscal reasons in the early 1970s. Recently, they announced that they will reinstate baseball, though wrestling will be cut. To deal with Title IX, Oregon will now field a competitive cheer squad. The current Athletic Director at Oregon, an insurance executive and major donor, who works for free, just announced that he personally will give an additional 1 million dollar gift to the university mostly for academics. But part of the money will cover some improvements for non-revenue sports including lighting the softball field. Great news, our local high school has lights but University of Oregon, a Pac 10 school, plays on an unlighted field.

I chatted with everybody when I first started going to games as a parent of an active player. High school players attended with their fan parents. During her first year, when I chatted with these parents, they were eager to talk about their daughters. I would listen and say "She sounds great, does she want to play here?" And they would look at me like I was out of my mind and mumble. I realized that I should stop asking this rhetorical question. University of Oregon is one of three Division 1 programs in the state. Oregon and Oregon State, as Pac 10 programs, reign as the top teams in the state. Very dumb question. Of COURSE, they would like to play there.

So I'm assuming that the four girls leaning on the fence watching the action up close would like to take their place on Howe Field as University of Oregon Ducks.