Hey, I just wanted to be a sports writer.
I kept asking to write sports articles and, finally, the old sports editor, Austin Johnson, gave me an assignment — a softball game versus Campbell.
Ah, [expletive]. Softball? In February?
Once I got directions to the team’s temporary home at Walnut Creek, I grudgingly prepared for my first job at Technician Sports.
Fold-up camping chair?
Check.
Bottle of fruit punch Gatorade and some “David’s Jalapeno Sunflower Seeds”?
Check.
Extra layer of clothing to keep warm?
Check.
Pad of paper and at least two pens?
Check and check.
Once I found the darn place, I situated myself along the third-base line and semi-patiently waited for the game to start.
“She’s kind of cute,” I thought to myself as former N.C. State shortstop Renee LaCroix fielded a warm-up grounder.
The first thing I noticed about softball was the banshee-like support erupting from each team’s dugout. It’s absolutely unparalleled in any other sport.
They hoop. They holler. They sing songs and chant chants.
I’ve often thought about how nice it would be to have the softball team over my right shoulder when I’m taking an exam.
“You got it, Tanner! Answer those questions! Don’t let Dr. Baker’s exam scare you! Pick ‘B!’ Pick ‘B!’ “
Whatever, Dr. Baker’s exams aren’t even multiple choice.
The first player who impressed me was pitcher Shaina Ervin — who was on fire that night, sending torpedo after torpedo to her twin sister Miranda behind the plate.
The control. The power.
I wasn’t sold, but this softball thing had my attention.
Ervin had runners on base late in the game, but she held up, and State won the game 5-4.
After the game, I awkwardly conducted my first coach and player interviews, went home and wrote my first story for Technician Sports.
I owe a lot to the softball team.
Coach Lisa Navas — while not one of State’s most approachable coaches — is a credit to the University. In three years, she’s taken nothing — the team was non-existent three years ago — and assembled a hard-hitting, fast-pitching squad the ACC coaches ranked fifth in the preseason this year. Navas has guided her young State team to records of 31-27 and 41-25 over the past two seasons.
The University is building the team its own complex, which will be on campus — a far cry from the conditions the team plays in now.
But in the meantime, look into going to one of the team’s games at Walnut Creek.
Let’s get The Pirate Captain and our Student Senate to charter some Wolfline buses to take us out to one of the team’s games.
Here, I’ll pick a date: March 18 against Boston College at 3 p.m. It’s the team’s start of conference play, and it’s the team’s first home game in more than a month.
Consider this a call to arms, if you will.
We’re lucky enough to be students here during a time when two of our mainstream sports teams — basketball and baseball — could be in the national championship hunt, but there are other teams on the rise under our noses.
Fan support shows the powers-that-be at our University that our teams — which are really just our fellow students — are worth investing in.
Fan support equates to better recruits and more scholarships.
Better recruits and more scholarships equate to ACC and national championships.
Championships in non-revenue sports strengthen the prime-time programs and generate excitement around the University.
And that’s good for all of us — not just the athletes.
So, go to a softball game.
March 18 at 3 p.m. versus Boston College.
I’ll see you there.
Tanner can be reached at sports@technicianoline.com