Miami University Women's Baseball Club To Debut April 19

By Dylan Srocki

Miami University journalism student

On April 19, the first official scheduled event of the Miami University Women’s Club Baseball Team is set to take place at Cook Field.

The women involved hope to show the university what they can do and have some fun in the process.

The idea for the club came from Callie Maddox. Maddox is an assistant professor at Miami specializing in Sports Sociology and is passionate about fighting for equity and equality in sport.

Told No Women In Baseball

Maddox grew up loving baseball, but was told when she got to high school that women do not play baseball, and that she would be welcome to try out for the softball team.

Maddox says that, often, the argument is presented that since softball and baseball are similar sports, they are allowed to be segregated under Title IX. (The federal law prohibits gender discrimination in any program receiving assistance from the federal government.)

However, Maddox and others take issue with this argument, and believe that both sports have room for people of all genders.

"I think it’s interesting that this is a men’s sport -- there’s softball, which is like the women’s counterpart and its similar to lacrosse in that they’re supposed to be the same, but they’re different," says Morgan Wright, a sophomore Sports Leadership and Management major and club member.

Club President Lexi Ross agrees. She hopes this club can become a place for women who feel awkward wanting to play a traditionally male-dominated sport.

"You’re in that in-between stage, you’re not in a man’s sport and there’s no such thing as a women’s sport, to be honest."

Club Vice-President Catie Beaman says she wants this club to unite people who have shared the experience of not quite fitting in.

"I feel like this is a bridge between two different types of girls," Beaman says. "We don’t do the stereotypical girl sports, but we’re not really welcome in the boys sports either, so you’re kind of in the middle and you work with that. I think this is a good club for those kinds of people, who want to join this kind of bridge sport."

Trail Blazers

Part of the appeal of the club for some of the athletes is the ability to be pioneers. Although Saint Mary’s College in Indiana was the first college to form a women’s baseball club, they do not have a team anymore, and Miami would become the only active women’s collegiate club team.

The hope is that if this team were to be a success, it could be a springboard for other colleges and future Miami athletes.

"Our vision is we do want to establish this club here, and then start elsewhere," Ross says. "We want to branch out to other universities. It’s more than just a club getting together, it’s a movement."

Faculty advisor Maddox echoed similar sentiments when asked about her ultimate vision for the club.

"I think that’s the goal, right? To make this a movement. Regional movement, national movement. We’re a little behind on this international side, because there are university teams internationally, but yeah, make it a movement."

Club Safety Officer Maria Pappas says this is about much more than a game.

"We should continue to be proactive and ever-changing and keep evolving within society, and see how people take this club, and if they’re like ah, 'women can’t do this,' whatever, then we try to prove them wrong...Because it’s more than just us playing, I think."

A League Of Their Own?

Everyone involved in the club, while hoping to be trailblazers, also brings her own motivations to the baseball diamond.

For some, like Wright, baseball is a passion.

"I don’t know, I’m just a really big baseball fan."

For others, the appeal of friendship is the biggest potential attraction of the club.

"To be honest, the first time I saw the Facebook post, I was like oh! The League of Their Own, the movie," Beaman says. "That’s what I immediately thought of, and I don’t have big dreams of that’s going to happen, but just like, I liked how much of a team they were, a group, and they just did everything together -- just a group that does the same things and has the same mindset and wants to achieve goals together -- I think that’s kind of what everybody looks for on campus, a group."

For Ross, the chance to make a positive impact on others is one that was too difficult to pass up.

"Women’s baseball, it’s something you don’t hear every day, and it’s something that can definitely change history," Ross says. "Which is amazing to think, you could be a part of something that can ultimately change the overall attitude. Any time you can change something for the minority, for the overall good, I think that’s amazing."

For Maddox, there is an opportunity not to change history, but to remind others of what used to be.

"A connection that I’m trying to work on, that I want to get everyone involved in, is sort of this scholarship side and academic side. Tying in some research, historical research. I went to the archives this past week, I found some really cool things at the archives," Maddox says.

"This is, having this club, almost a revival of what was here in the past. Western College had several women’s baseball teams, Miami had at least one women’s baseball team that I found evidence for...I really like this idea of reviving what was once here. We can come back and recreate what was once here, in this town, on this campus."

Looking Forward

The first public event for the team is a sort of showcase, designed to raise awareness and recruit.

If you are interested in more information or in joining the club before the showcase event takes place, the next general club meeting is scheduled for March 29, at 5:30 p.m. in 123 Phillips Hall.

Photo: At their last meeting, all involved in the creation of the club posed for a picture in Phillips Hall. --Photo by Dylan Srocki