Totally unbiased coverage of the student/faculty-staff kickball game
The Students vs. Employees Kickball Challenge was held on Sept. 27 at Langell-Whittingham Field. The game was close and then tied until the bottom of the seventh inning, when the students scored the winning run for a 12-11 victory. The Pulse asked each side to share their commentary on the game. Here’s what student and staff participants had to say:
THE STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
by Jake Lininger, M2
In a heart-pounding showdown between the students and faculty/staff of NEOMED, the students emerged victorious in the bottom of the seventh inning, sealing a memorable victory in a kickball game for the ages. It was a game filled with laughter, camaraderie, and unexpected drama on the field.
Every sportsbook in Ohio had the students as favorites all week with odds as low as -2000. The underdog faculty and staff had their work cut out for them. However, with fears of Behavioral Concern Notes and negative write ups in the Medical Student Performance Evaluation letter (written by faculty team member Corrie Stofcho), the students bravely took the field first.
The students turned to their ace on the mound, second-year medicine student Rahul Chandra. Chandra struggled to find the strike zone at first, as the ball provided by referee Brian Butler was nowhere near spherical. Despite the rigged ball, Chandra rolled a gem with the help of lights out fielding by his fellow peers, including Shaarav Ghose, M2, slipping and falling while sticking with it to make a catch.
The faculty made it interesting as they were able to rally some fans (i.e., forced their family members to support them) for their side resulting in an added two runs to their score, but late fan arrivals for the students leveled the cheering sections. Through the fourth inning, the students held an 8-6 lead as they took the field for an eventful top half of the fifth. With two outs, a routine flyball found the ground on first-year pharmacy student Brady Weber. Weber then took things into his own hands running with the ball from right field toward third base in an attempt to throw out faculty member Nate Flath. An errant toss attempt resulted in Weber’s momentum carrying him into Flath, tackling the faculty member. Flath reached home despite the take down and referee Brian Butler gave Weber a somewhat deserved yellow card.
The students were able to rally and hold a two-run lead into the sixth inning. Chandra, still on the mound, but fatiguing in the humid fall Ohio air, only needed one out to get out of a jam with runners on second and third. Chandra faced Dr. Corrie Stofcho, who booted the ball high in the air, but within reach for outfielder second-year medicine student Max Dawson. Dawson, feeling confident, turned around for an attempted behind-the-back catch and inevitably failed, allowing runs to score.
The faculty took an 11-10 lead into the bottom of the seventh with the students getting one more chance at making history. Finally mastering the art of bunting, the students quickly loaded the bases, and before long, knotted the game at 11, although, aggressive baserunning led to a vacant third base. Former Division I soccer player and current second-year medicine student Emily Arellano casually reloaded the bases. The scene was set for who else but Brady Weber. Weber blasted one to left field, driving in the winning run.
The students had done what everybody expected. They didn’t let the smack talk get in their heads or the threat of damaging marks on their student file steer them away from taking care of business. This rendition of the student versus faculty/staff kickball game will go down in history as one of the most unforgettable events on campus. The students may have won on the scoreboard, but the true victors were the bonds of friendship, sportsmanship and community that were strengthened on that hallowed kickball field.
The Employee Perspective
by Brian Butler, student services
The Week of Wellness Student vs. Faculty/Staff Kickball game was nothing short of a triumph. Over 70 people committed to staying on campus after 5 p.m. with no more than the promise of juice boxes and a shot at glory. It was a perfect evening for this test of athleticism and teamwork for anyone who enjoys slightly damp grass and overcast skies. Despite having to fight through challenges such as an oddly misshapen ball, a grass field without lines and a referee that shamelessly made up rules as he went, both teams really put on one heck of a show! The game was surprisingly close for one where questions about “mercy rules” were being asked in the first inning. After seven innings (yeah, you only play 7 in kickball, I looked it up) of fierce competition, Team Students emerged victorious with a 12 to 11 win.
Dr. Sebastian R. Diaz, the reluctant captain of Team Faculty/Staff by virtue of being the first to respond to an email, truly put it all on the line, making sure to harass the referee any time a call was made in the favor of Team Students.
Kelly Shrock, who led the team in walks to base, was disappointed to find that the cartwheels she performed awarded her no additional points.
Tori “I’m lightning fast, but not great at kicking” Carpenter went the whole game without being mistaken for a student. Color-coded shirts may have helped here.
Craig Theissen led the team in “runs scored while accompanied by his 8-year-old daughter, Grace.”
Nate Flath showed genuine athleticism with many impressive outfield catches, and the only tackle of the game. Spectators questioned if the rule “the runner can take any path they choose to the next base” was interpreted too literally when he decided to run through a student.
Special thanks are owed to the staff who supported the event without having to change clothes: Phil Jenkinson for running a full scoreboard because the referee can’t reliably count to 3, Dr. Sandra MacPherson for playing the “walk-up song” selected by each player and bringing the “soccer mom snacks,” and Tamra Caruthers for retrieving last-minute batteries because Brian doesn’t know how wireless electronics work.
“Many will be quick to praise the performance of the athletes, but it is the referee that really stood out to me. Fair, consistent and with an encyclopedic knowledge of the World Kickball Association’s rules and regulations. And his shorts were the perfect length, in my opinion!” - Anonymous