Transcripts
Softball squad makes spring splash
[over the public address system]
…#7, Brittany Weil! The head coach for the Iowa Hawkeyes is Gayle Blevins, assisted by Diane Stevenson and Shane Bouman…
[Blevins]
When I was finally able to get close enough, which was probably a good four to five days into the actual flooding, to be able to see, I was standing at the edge of Carver-Hawkeye, and all I could see was probably 2 inches of the top of our fence. The entire bottom of the facility and the dugouts were gone, and the water was up into the seats in the grandstand area. The entire area was a lake.
I thought our team did a great job in the fall working through what we all had to deal with. We kind of described ourselves as vagabonds; we had to travel everywhere to find a place to practice. We had to practice on the recreation sport fields, we went out to City West High School, we did some things at our complex in a very small space. We did the very best we could for the longest time and it wasn’t until the first part of October that we actually had the field back, and then we were able to have the tournament that we had scheduled, just minus having any access to the building itself.
I’m happy we had the tournament in the fall, because I think it kind of gave a sense of urgency to recovery efforts and helped push that complex along. I’m just real impressed with all the work that went on. It wasn’t just our field; it was also recovering those other three fields out there too, putting those in some semblance of order, too. The teams that came in—Nebraska, Western Illinois, and Kansas, those three teams that came in—they were just amazed when I explained to them what the damage was, that the facility looked as good as it did.
A big thing that we talked a lot about with the team is if we just keep working hard, we’re going to develop just like our facility is going to develop. If we keep working hard, this facility is going to come around because there are a lot of people dedicated to it. It’s the same mentality we need to have as a team. If anything, it’s probably helped us in some respects.
Audio File
Here is a link to the slideshow audio file.
Photo Gallery
Four softballs sitting on a dry field.
Closeup of ball in a mitt with sunglasses.
A mud-covered softball base.
Helmets and mitts in a 12-hole cubby.
Aerial view looking west along the Coralville strip. The softball diamond and all the buildings in the area are totally flooded.
Batter hits ball toward the pitcher. Fans in the stands in the background are bundled up, huddled against the cold.
Player throws a ball. The Tigerhawk logo is visible on the fence in the background.
Two softball players practice on a dry field.
Softballs and gloves on a bench.
Player touches base and moves on.
Players give each other a "high five" between innings.
Person wearing tigerhawk sunglasses and earrings.
Game in progress on the reconstucted field.
Player sprints toward first base. Softball is visible in background.
Young fan in the stands smiles at the photographer. "Number One" foam finger in the foreground.
Batter connects with the ball. Catcher and umpire are at the left of the photo.
Gayle Blevins consults with home plate umpire.
Player winds up for the pitch.
Pitcher almost ready to release the ball.
Pitcher follows through on pitch.
Player sprints for home with teammates cheering in the background.
Player peeks out from the tied hood of her hooded sweatshirt. It's cold!
Player reaches homebase.
Iowa players mill around near the dugout.
Batter bunts the ball into play.
Player walks up stairway to the bleachers.
Links to other slideshow transcript/gallery pages:
- Loyce Arthur: The show must go on
- Isabel Barbuzza: Artists find unity in revamped facility
- Chris Coretsopoulos: Researchers scramble out of high-tech home
- Keri Hornbuckle: Engineering students embrace educational opportunity
- Renée Houser: Finding a place for displaced classes
- Julia Howell: Iowa City welcomes myriad musicians
- Nancy Kraft: UI Libraries lend hand to preservation efforts
- Rod Lehnertz: Living with the river remains a priority
- Ferman Milster: Power Plant surges back after shutdown
- Kate Tomka: Students choose service over spring break
- Larry Weber: Mitigation group boasts expertise from across campus