2008 Woodie Awards
Cheering fuels softball team's intensity
Antonio Graves
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: Sports
Originally published: 4/24/08 at 4:32 PM EST
Last update: 4/24/08 at 5:30 PM EST
With the Plattsburgh State softball team up 3-0 against the Brockport Golden Eagles during the second half of Monday's doubleheader, the Lady Cards were still thirsty for more runs. During the first game, the Lady Cards needed a sacrifice bunt in an extra inning to finish off the Golden Eagles.
The game was in the bottom of the fifth inning and junior-lefthander Tarah Wetherby, from the stern look on her face, was set to prevent the Cards from adding to the Golden Eagles' deficit. However, Wetherby's sternness looked like it quickly turned into nervousness once she glanced at the Cards' dugout. The Cards were violently chanting one of their many chants before Wetherby threw her first pitch against sophomore Amy Woo.
"This is the inning where we're going to score, we're gonna hit your pitcher, more and more," the Plattsburgh State softball team violently chanted. Wetherby buckled from the intimidation of the cheers as she gave up a line drive single to right field. As the chants continued, she gave up another hit as sophomore-outfielder Danielle Gjergji blasted a shot out to center for a double.
The cheers proved to be a powerful tool that added an intimidation factor to the game.
"It drives me nuts, but depends on who's ahead," Brockport Head Coach John Dumaw said in reference to the Lady Cards' game chants.
Although the Cards' game chants usually do a number on their opponent's psyche, the aim is mainly to impact their own focus.
"We do it so that we keep our confidence-level high," PSUC Head Coach Sean Cotter said in reference to the cheers. "It helps us to never get down in the dumps, so we're always just being positive."
Their fans will always hear the loud, yet skillfully synchronized chants for the entire game; whether the Cards are up or down three runs. While they were down 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth of the first game, the Cards repeatedly started chanting, "we won't shut up till we get a hit, got to get a hit." They asked for a hit but Gjergji provided them with much more as she hit a two-run rocket over the right-field gate.
The game was in the bottom of the fifth inning and junior-lefthander Tarah Wetherby, from the stern look on her face, was set to prevent the Cards from adding to the Golden Eagles' deficit. However, Wetherby's sternness looked like it quickly turned into nervousness once she glanced at the Cards' dugout. The Cards were violently chanting one of their many chants before Wetherby threw her first pitch against sophomore Amy Woo.
"This is the inning where we're going to score, we're gonna hit your pitcher, more and more," the Plattsburgh State softball team violently chanted. Wetherby buckled from the intimidation of the cheers as she gave up a line drive single to right field. As the chants continued, she gave up another hit as sophomore-outfielder Danielle Gjergji blasted a shot out to center for a double.
The cheers proved to be a powerful tool that added an intimidation factor to the game.
"It drives me nuts, but depends on who's ahead," Brockport Head Coach John Dumaw said in reference to the Lady Cards' game chants.
Although the Cards' game chants usually do a number on their opponent's psyche, the aim is mainly to impact their own focus.
"We do it so that we keep our confidence-level high," PSUC Head Coach Sean Cotter said in reference to the cheers. "It helps us to never get down in the dumps, so we're always just being positive."
Their fans will always hear the loud, yet skillfully synchronized chants for the entire game; whether the Cards are up or down three runs. While they were down 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth of the first game, the Cards repeatedly started chanting, "we won't shut up till we get a hit, got to get a hit." They asked for a hit but Gjergji provided them with much more as she hit a two-run rocket over the right-field gate.
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