Baseball, softball rivalry to be settled on field
By Nader Ihmoud
As I walked into the final team meeting of the Varsity Boys 16′ Softball Team’s season, I could see that my teammates and coach were riled up. The newspaper lying on Coach Stavrakas’s desk was turned to an article on the differences between softball and baseball.
In the article, which appeared in October’s issue of the Warrior, varsity baseball player, Reynaldo Gonzalez, Div. 185, was quoted as saying, “Softball is for girls.”
Gonzalez’s statement fired up the Boys Softball Team, and Coach Stavrakas assured his players that something would be done.
In an interview with Lane Tech Local Broadcasting (LTLB) TV, softball players Brad Jursa, Div. 040, and Patrick O’Connell, Div. 182, challenged the baseball team to a 16′ softball game. However, due to technical difficulties the interview never aired. Stavrakas sent the message more directly by interrupting 8th period Team Baseball while they were in the weight room and delivering the challenge in person.
“I’ll take my guys against your top ten guys any day of the week! You won’t stand a chance!” he yelled.
Most members of the Baseball Team don’t consider the softball players serious competition.
“[The challenge is] pointless,” said baseball player, Kyle Huber, Div. 028. “The baseball team will roll over [the softball team].”
Still, a majority of players on both teams welcome the game.
“I like inter-school competition,” said baseball player, Jack Clancy, Div. 046.
“It would be like a Green vs. Gold game,” said baseball player Jensen Rohlfs, Div. 030.
“It should be held every year like the Turkey Bowl,” said softball player, Brad Jursa, Div. 040.
Though the game could potentially be played for fun, like Turkey Bowl or the Green vs. Gold game, both teams have taken the intensity up a notch.
“This is our sport,” said Jursa. “No one can play softball better than us.”
Members of the baseball team understand that softball is not their sport, but will not allow that to be an excuse on the day of the challenge.
“Anyone can play softball,” said Huber.
Coach Telles believes that if his baseball players can adapt to softball’s high arc pitching and the size of the infield, it will put them over the top.
“They will have the early advantage with the shorter bases,” he said. “We will adjust quickly and beat them in the end.”
Softball is different from baseball in many ways: the size of the ball used is much larger, the field of play is much smaller which forces the defense of react faster, and no gloves are used. These differences also call for several offensive and defensive strategies different from those used in baseball.
“The ball is pitched at a high arc; it is tough to put a level swing on the ball,” said Stavrakas. “[But] the biggest challenge is catching barehanded. [The Baseball Team] may be able to hit, but the difference maker is going to be defense,” said Stavrakas. “We are going to score a lot in the first [inning]; they will score none. We will score a lot in the second [inning]; they will score none. We will score more in the third [inning]; they will score none again. We won’t score in the fourth [inning] because we will be tired from scoring so much, and they will score a few runs. Then we will score a lot more in the fifth [inning] and put them away.”
Stavrakas’s confidence in his players seems only trumped by the baseball players’ confidence in themselves.
“We are better athletes, and that will be the difference in the game,” said Rohlfs.
Others baseball players gave me less specific reasons for why they think they will win, simply saying things like “We are the best team in the school,” and “You guys are going to get tanked.”
Most of the baseball players are certain their baseball skills will easily transition to the softball field. They may have reason to be confident based on their success this season in which they defeated Lake Forest, Maine South, Rolling Meadows, and Schaumburg – all teams they had never before beaten.
Even so, the softball players believe the baseball team’s confidence is ill founded and think their experience in their own sport will help them win the game.
“We are a group of power hitters that can place the ball where it needs to be,” said softball player, Richie Wagner, Div. 024.
The softball Team has been plenty successful as well. Since softball was implemented as a CPS sport 11 years ago, Lane has won eight City championships.
“Who has been winning championships?” asked O’Connell. “What [has the baseball team] accomplished?”
Baseball player Jackson Perri, Div. 185, says comparing championships is not a valid measure of pure skill since the two teams face different levels of competition.
“We have to hit an 88 mph fastball,” said Perri. “[For them] it’s a 16-inch softball. How don’t you destroy it?”
While the words between the teams continue to heat up, the weather just gets colder. The game will likely not be played until this spring to play each other.
