With temperatures threatening triple-digits and thunderstorms in the forecast, Lipscomb students still came out to participate in the annual kickball tournament on Saturday.
SAC intramural graduate assistant Kyle Erickson was very pleased with the attendance despite the extreme conditions.
“It’s been a great day so far, we’ve had a pretty good turnout. It’s been hot, but it’s been a lot of fun,” Erickson said.
The first pitch was delayed after the tournament had to be moved from the intramural fields to Draper Diamond due to the field conditions. Eight teams competed in the single-elimination format with one winner being declared in the end.
The tournament featured a dunk tank (which was very beneficial considering the heat), hot dogs and hamburgers, and many laughs to go along.
Freshman Danny Marsh enjoyed his first kickball experience, and was very optimistic about his team’s chances.
“We’re going in with high hopes, coming back with this championship team from last year. We have huge expectations, and we’re looking for good results,” Marsh said.
Participants did admit that the humidity did have some effect on them, and it was crucial to stay hydrated.
“I definitely think it’s going to take a bit of a toll on us, but I think these boys are ready to push through,” Marsh said.
While some teams strategically assembled their rosters, others had to scramble at the last minute to try and put together a lineup.
“It kind of was a little bit of a ‘rag-tag’ put together right at the end, but the guys in Sewell Hall are pretty much all athletes, so we have a good team going for us,” Marsh said.
In the end, it was “Kicks and Giggles” who took home bragging rights when all the dust was settled.
Senior Kyle Neal said he didn’t expect to win the whole tournament, but was very excited with the outcome.
“We had a lot of fun playing together. We’re looking forward to having our team picture displayed in the SAC,” Neal said.
Neal also said that the unpredictable weather played a major role during the day.
“We were losing lots of fluids, so hydration was key,” Neal added. “During the semifinal game, a thunderstorm blew up. It gave us a second wind, both figuratively and literally.”
He explained that it was a gust of wind that may have been the difference between winning and losing.
“In the bottom of the last inning we were down by one run, when one of our guys kicked a deep, what looked to be a foul ball, but the wind caught it and blew it fair,” Neal said. This drove in the tying run and we went on to score another run to win the game. It was a real nail-biter.”
Overall, the tournament was a great kickoff heading into the fall intramural season. For more information about upcoming intramural sports, visit www.lipscomb.edu/campusrecreation.