By Michael Belmont

Gargoyle senior editor


Posted Friday, Sept. 22, 2006, The OG, news & sports

BASEBALL MAY BE America's favorite pastime, but if it was ever Uni High's, it won't be this spring. After reviewing the situation this year, administrators and involved staff decided over the summer to terminate Uni's coed team, ending a program dating back to 1995.

In an e-mail sent to all students in July, Director/Principal Kassie Patton explained the myriad of reasons behind the decision.

According to Patton, concerns over inadequate facilities, exacerbated by the unavailability this year of staff at Uni's home field in Rantoul to prepare the field for games, the high cost of daily transportation to makeshift practice grounds and games miles from the school, and a shortage of experienced players all contributed to the final verdict.

Last year's team, which graduated six seniors, finished 4-12 overall and placed second in the East Central Illinois Conference. Five of last year's seniors were starters. Outside of conference play, Uni often competed against junior varsity competition.

According to a PE department survey cited by Patton, only three current freshmen indicated a desire to play. By combining this number with the returning members of last year's team, involved staff predicted that this year's squad would consist of a mere 12 people.

Nevertheless, the decision upset players from both the upper- and underclassman ranks.

“The explanation sent out in the e-mail was fairly weak, and gave only one factual problem that faced this year's team as opposed to the past few years', and that was the lack of a home field,” said junior Mike Renner. “The team did play without a home field in the past though, so it's not that large a predicament.”

As for student interest, Renner challenged the staff's figures. “I would even go as far as saying that there were more people serious about baseball coming back this year than almost all of the last five years,” he said.

Freshman Chris Yoder was so disappointed that he sent his own e-mail imploring students to go out for the team in hopes of reviving the program. According to Yoder, at least four freshmen would play if given the opportunity.

“One of the reasons that I applied to Uni was to be able to play for their baseball team,” Yoder said.

Complaints also came from among the less experienced players.

“The point of Uni's no-cut policy is to encourage people to play sports even if they aren't as good as the students at other schools,” said sophomore Rachel Hyman. “It felt like they were telling us we couldn't play baseball because we weren't good enough. I just want to play baseball, even if it's on a softball field.”

Athletic Director Sally Walker was not impressed by student complaints. She said in an interview that she had heard rumors of returning players planning on leaving the team before the decision to cut the program was made, and that no players contacted her directly to oppose the decision after it was announced.

As for the logistical problems, Walker maintains there are no sustainable solutions.

“There's no [suitable] baseball field around here [for long-term Uni use]. We know that,” she said.

When asked if there was a chance for baseball to return, Walker was certain. “It's not gonna happen within the next couple years,” she said.