January 17, 2003
"What did you do over Christmas break?" That's a common question around town, as Texas A&M students returned to campus for the spring semester. But for members of the nationally-ranked Aggie softball team, there is a lot more than usual to talk about. The 16-member squad, along with coaches, support staff and even a few parents, spent eight days in Italy getting a "head start" on what is a promising 2003 season. Along the way they cruised to a pair of big wins, logged some valuable practice time and got to tour some of Italy's most famous landmarks. "The trip was such a positive experience for me because the players enjoyed it so much," A&M head coach Jo Evans said. "We all get along really well and enjoyed being around each other (on a long trip). We have a schedule this year where we don't have one weekend off, so it better be a team that gets along well and understands each other's differences. This was a very good start for us and gives us a real strong foundation of what's to come." After traveling all day and overnight Thursday, the weary but excited group arrived at Rome's Fuimicino Airport in the early afternoon of the third. Once somewhat settled into their rooms, the Aggies toured the Pantheon, which houses the body of the first king to rule over Italy as well as the body of the artist Raphael. They also viewed a monument to the great emperor Marcus Aurelius, the fountains of Trevi and Fium, and got to explore St. Mary's Cathedral along with experiencing a whole different culture. "There's nothing like going to a different country where they speak a whole other language," Evans said. "You try to describe things with your hands, pick up a little vocabulary, and learn enough to get by. It felt like we played eight days worth of charades." Saturday the team viewed some of the most famous landmarks in not only Rome but in all of Europe. Vatican City is home to the Pope as well as St. Peter's Basilica, the largest of its kind in the world. Vatican City also houses the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo spent seven years painting the ceilings and walls with beautiful Christian art. That afternoon, the Aggies visited the famous Colosseum, the site where gladiators fought in front of 70,000 spectators.
Sunday afforded those interested the opportunity to attend Mass at St. Peter's as well as the Papal blessing in the courtyard outside. Others visited the catacombs, ancient Roman underground burial sites that consist of four different levels and are made up of 12 miles of subterranean tunnels. "On the trip, everyone was just really close and got to know each other even better," freshman first baseman Lindsay Park said. "My favorite part was the Vatican City, getting to see St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. It was definitely an experience I will never forget." The Aggies flew to the island of Sicily Sunday evening and spent Monday touring Palermo's churches and historic sites, including the Capella Palatina (Palatine Chapel) along with the Cathedral of Monreale located in the nearby village of the same name. A&M was scheduled to play one game each day against an Italian All-Star team based in Palermo, but inclement weather forced the cancellation of Tuesday's contest, one the entire group was eagerly looking forward to. "Oh yeah, (the girls) were ready to go," Evans said. "It was fun to sightsee and all of that but after a few days you could sense that everyone was itching to get out and play." Finally getting on the playing field, the Aggies blanked the Italian squad on both Wednesday and Thursday by the scores of 20-0 and 17-0. Adrian Gregory (4 home runs) and Selena Collins (3 home runs) provided just some of the fireworks for the A&M bats, while the pitching staff-Jessica Slataper, Lindsey Rippee, Jill Weynand and Linsday Wilhelmson-didn't allow a hit either day. A trip to a nearby fishing village and a going-away dinner on Thursday capped the trip, and late Friday night after another exhausting travel day, the group finally made it home.
Sometimes international experiences make Americans count their blessings, and that was certainly the case on this trip. The field of play in Palermo had no grass, no scoreboard and occasionally featured wild dogs running across the field of play. Did a tractor to drag the infield before the game? Nope. Try an old, beat-up Renault with a rusty gate tied behind it. All part of the experience, Evans points out. "I think we all recognized how privileged we are here," Evans said. "Our girls could clearly see that (we were playing against) these women (who) just love to play the sport. They love to play on a field that doesn't have a blade of grass on it. We saw this and recognized how lucky we are to be at a place like Texas A&M." Evans looked at the trip as not only an opportunity to train, get better and get to know each other better, but as a reward of sorts for the five-member senior class. The 7th-year skipper gives much of the credit for the team's recent successes to Collins, Jennifer Davis, Cheryl Fowler, Crystal Martin and Rippee and their contributions to the A&M softball program. "I definitely thought it was the opportunity of a lifetime," senior All-American catcher Selena Collins said. "It's something that I probably wouldn't have done on my own, and I'm glad I had that experience with the team. You get a good outlook on a different culture and how others live, and with that definitely learn to appreciate what you have as an American." |
