Nathan Wunderli ‘22
Sports Editor
I feel bad for 1Ls. I’m sure at this point they are sick of being pitied (there’s enough pity going around for all of us), but what really gets me is the fact that 1Ls missed out on what could have been the greatest sporting triumph (or failure) of their entire lives due to the disease-that shall-not-be-named. Of course, I feel even worse for myself. As the Sports Editor of the Virginia Law Weekly, there has been a dearth of material to pen about. Yes, life is tough for a law school sports editor without any law school sports. I would feel worse for the 1Ls, but I have yet to actually meet a 1L in person, and I am yet to be convinced they exist as a species. But, to make up for my absence, and in preparation for softball’s triumphant return, I have resolved to make a guide for 1Ls. Something to catch them up to speed in the softball world, as well as simultaneously make them jealous of the experiences they are missing out on. So, here are three keys to a successful softball team.
Number One: Fielding
You will soon find out that law school, while full of bright, motivated, intelligent human beings, is not exactly a breeding ground for talented athletes. Most sections are going to be equipped with one or two great players, another two or three competent players, followed by, well, smart and lovable law students. Putting your talent in the best possible position to make plays is critical to your team’s success.
There are three positions that are absolutely essential: the pitcher, shortstop, and first baseman. The pitcher must be able to throw strikes. When a weak hitter comes up, sometimes the only way they can get on base is through a walk. Generally, it is best to avoid the piercing gaze from your infielders that happens when you walk a poor hitter only to find a good hitter up next. The best pitchers place pitches to try and force people to hit it towards one side of the field (and therefore towards their best fielders). For instance, throwing a ball to the inside portion of the plate to direct a hitter to pull the ball towards the shortstop. Good pitchers also know when they can get a batter to chase a bad pitch and will pitch out of the zone on purpose to get the intended effect. A majority of batted balls also go to one of two positions, the pitcher or the shortstop. The pitcher has to be able to run up to a weakly hit ground ball, turn, then fire accurately to first base. The shortstop is tasked with a variety of ground balls, as well as ranging all across the field for short fly balls, even ranging to second base or short centerfield. Being a ball hog is just about the biggest compliment one can give to a shortstop in section softball. On any ground ball, in order to make the out, the first baseman must be able to catch. The better the first baseman is, the less pressure the shortstop and pitcher have to make a perfect throw. By locking down these positions, you are going to get the simple outs you must make, thereby avoiding the dreaded 10+ run innings that can be catastrophic to your team’s morale. Having an outfield and third and second basemen who can make plays will make your team elite, but making sure you fill the three key positions will prevent a blowout and keep you competitive in most games.
Number Two: Batting
An electrifying offense is key to any squad looking to make a run for the title. Unlike in fielding where talent can be sparse, the best offensive teams have deep lineups where everyone is capable of getting on base, providing no easy outs for the opposition. So how to build this sort of offensive juggernaut? This is where one must decide where one’s priorities lie. Typically, a good section can find nine to ten players who can hit, and the shorter the lineup, the more your best hitters are going to be able to come to the plate. Section J made its name last year (and took the title) by having the fewest number of players show up to the tournament, allowing ex-college players like Nick Roberti ’22 to bat just about any time he felt like it. Nothing is more frustrating as a defense to see a guy score and then come up again two batters later. Did anybody like Section J after the tournament? No. Did we accuse them of scaring away the rest of their section, prioritizing winning over fun? Most definitely. But they did get some sweet photos with the trophy for their Instagram feeds, which I’m sure got them tons of followers. On the contrary, section C managed to get 20+ players to come and participate during the tournament. I respect and sometimes envy section C for their stalwart attendance, but unfortunately being the most welcoming section has a direct inverse relationship to wins. So, if you want to score lots of runs, come tournament time it may be best to come up with a short, effective lineup. Then again, you may decide that your goal is just to get as many players to participate as possible. This is also a noble goal, just one that can lead to a quick tournament exit.
Pictured: UVA Law is known as 'Softball-University' for a reason. Photo Courtesy of ngsl.com
Number Three: Baserunning
Often one of the most overlooked facets of the game of slow pitch softball is baserunning. My section lost our first game to an underwhelming section E team solely on baserunning mistakes, as we were caught in two triple plays and a double play because of a misunderstanding of the tag-up rule. Explain the tag-up rule early and often, but also send baserunning coaches who understand the game to make sure teammates know when to go and to hold. Knowing when to stretch a triple to a home run, or when to stay put are situational decisions that take time and experience. For instance, if you got your best batter up next, you may just want to play conservatively and wait to be driven home. However, if you see that the ball is being relayed to the second baseman who you know does not have a good arm, it may be safe to go for extra bases. Again, having a baserunning coach can simplify the game for everyone and minimize frustrating mistakes.
Editor’s Note
That concludes the first official guide to a 1L softball title. The extended version is available online in PDF form or for purchase on Audible. You may be thinking, what gives me the credentials to write an article on winning a section softball tournament? You may have gathered that unfortunately the softball gods have yet to grace my beloved Section A with a title of their own. We have had great wins, once coming back from eleven runs down in the final inning to capture our first victory; and crushing defeats, losing to the same team months later in the tournament semifinals with a comeback of their own (still waiting for the grudge match, Section G). Through the ups and downs, we have forged friendship, trash-talked opposing teams, cried a little, laughed a lot, and experienced the wide array of emotions that comes from competitive sports. For many, softball provides a fun, relaxing escape from the rigors of higher education. But it can also provide much more than that. Softball and sports, in a way, are a sort of life within a life, often detached from reality but posing real-world challenges though a different lens. As someone who has competed in sports from a young age all the way through the college level, I am no stranger to the emotional hills and valleys a game can provide. But even I was surprised at the raw excitement and emotion that comes after hitting a walk-off homerun or the sinking feeling in my stomach when my section suffered a brutal defeat in the tournament. The mistakes, the luck, good and bad, the unpredictability, and triumph of achievement can all be experienced within an hour-long softball match at UVA’s own Copley Field.
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nw7cz@virginia.edu