Sept. 11, 2009
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State softball team is set to begin its fall season by welcoming back 28 former players as it hosts the annual alumni game at 1 p.m. Sunday at Marian Kneer Softball Stadium.
"We started the alumni game tradition a few years ago," said head coach Melinda Fischer. "Initially, we had the alumni came back and play each other in their own era. Then, we got in a situation of having many alumni who recently graduated wanting to come back and play. So, we decided to make this a competitive game between current players and alumni. We have received great response ever since we started this."
Among the 28 returning players, 14 will be on the alumni roster including Amy Ehret, Jennifer Brown, Stacy Birk, Katie Mathis, Priscilla Welch-Delaere, April Schermann, Shannon Nicholson, Shae Wesley, Cutie Taylor, Jessie Buker, Kerri Bartolow, Tricia Gaither, Heather Stella and Bridget Fournie.
"Bragging rights are at stake in the alumni game," said Fischer. "The players that have been in the program definitely don't wait to lose to the younger players. A few years ago, Priscilla Welch started the bragging-rights gnome. The gnome stays with the group who wins for the entire year. Then, we bring it back out every alumni game. It is definitely a challenge for both teams because both know what the other is doing. We have a lot of fun with it with a potluck afterwards. It is a great way for our current players to see what the building blocks of this program were with many All-Americans on the field."
Seven All-Americans will be taking the field Sunday including Schermann, Nicholson, Wesley, Taylor, Stella, Fournie and current player Kara Nelson.
"This will be the Redbirds first game this year," said Fischer. "I can't think of a better opponent to test our team and see what we have with our current players."
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