Biola University First Year Student Journals

UCLA Game

November 4, 2005 | 4 comments

We had been bragging about it for weeks. We were going to play UCLA, an eleven-time NCAA Champion, and we were excited to say the least. Coach told us what to expect, facilities wise, so that we wouldn't go into shock when we viewed the grandstand stadium seating, or the eleven huge posters lining the outfield fence that bragged of their glory from years past, or their new clubhouse which was far more than a simple locker room. All of this was amazing compared to our field located in the corner of lower campus. It seems every time I meet someone new and mention that I play softball, they ask "Where is the softball field?" or "Oh! I didn't know we had a team.' Biola has plenty of spirit for its athletic teams; it just seems like most of that energy is put toward the teams that play in a more convenient or noticeable area. But I did see that our team's parents outnumbered the UCLA fans last week.

The game was a good one, very competitive and exciting. We did lose in the end, but I have been sure to brag "We were beating them for almost 3 innings!" At the end of every game we invite the opposing team to pray with us, and this time - to our surprise - the entire squad came out to hold hands with us as we were lead in prayer by one of the girls on our team. It's interesting to see how secular schools react to our offer to pray, and it's exciting to see an entire team come out when they have the option of walking away. Even some religious schools don't seem completely thrilled with the notion of prayer. Yet we still pray for both teams whether they choose to join us or not. We have been turned down, sneered at, and even laughed at during this time, but it's a great and simple way to witness to the girls we play.

Practices back at school were interesting for the next few days. We came to our humble field, practiced, and cleaned up just as we always do, but I realized that I love our field, even after playing on a spectacular one. We work every day to keep it dragged, swept, and watered. The only other person who works on it is our field man who is practically a part of the team. He even came out to pray with us once before practice began. There is something said for putting hard work into a diamond of dirt and seeing the results - feeling the results under your cleats. Of course, I would never complain if Biola suddenly decided to give us a clubhouse or stadium seating, but I think it's humbling for us to do this work before and after practice.

So whether you currently go to Biola or are considering it, I hope you will stop by our field and maybe even watch a game. Hopefully you'll make the hike that we all take to the field - up the hill, behind Hart Hall. We may not be national champions, but we have an awesome team with lots of potential, and we could always use another fan.

Journal Entries

• A Swinging Balance
• Red Shirting
• UCLA Game
• India Missions Trip
• Longest Week
• Winter in California
• Initiation
• March Madness
• Countdown

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