COURTNEY STEWART/Daily Bruin Sophomore Keira
Goerl hurls the ball against the Alumni team on
Saturday.
By Michael Sneag
Daily Bruin Contributor
Trying to find a gap between 14 fielders and having seven
runners score on a single home run is not something that happens
every day, but it did on Saturday at the UCLA softball alumni game
at Easton Stadium.
Current and former Bruins were split into two mixed teams, but
it was all a big party as the players enjoyed a few hours of
goofiness.
The final score was completely academic, given the fact that the
fifth inning opened with current Bruin catcher Stacey Nuveman at
the plate and four runners on the basepaths, including two at third
base.
“I mean, having to knock in two runners on third, that is
tough,” head coach Sue Enquist joked. “Good to see how
they manage things like that.”
Instead of the usual hip-hop and Top 40 songs, playing the
Sister Sledge disco groove “We are Family” would have
been more appropriate between innings.
The bleachers at Easton were filled with family and friends, and
nobody seemed to mind that the rules were being bent slightly.
B’Ann Burns, who pitched for the Bruins from 1994-1997,
and owns several Bruins records, including most career victories
(96) and most appearances (131), pitched the sixth inning.
Despite all her credentials, she managed to somehow serve up a
seven-run home run to current Bruin Tairia Mims in the mayhem, but
explained it was all just fun.
“I haven’t pitched in two years, so it is just going
out there and having a good time, ” Burns said. “This
is the only time we really get to see each other. It is all fun
anyway, and it always ends up being goofy.”
The Alumni were gathered from 1980s and 1990s teams, and looking
at the nine NCAA championship banners on the outfield wall, it was
easy to see that there was plenty of talent to choose from.
Even with the immense talent, the point of the day was about
fun.
“We have so much history that comes back, and they get to
share that with the current players, and I love that the most,
” Enquist explained.
As current Bruin standout pitcher Amanda Freed explained, when
asked if it was the first time she had scored on a sac fly with
someone else:
“There’s a first time for everything.”