Written by Arianna Hurst
Softball launched Harding’s fall season of intramural sports Monday, Sept. 6.For those who may be unfamiliar with intramurals, here is a quick overview: Jim Gowen is the director of the men’s intramural sports and Tom Ritchie leads the women. Gowen is starting his 14th year as director while Ritchie is beginning his first.The divisions within intramural sports include team, singles, doubles, sports skill and club. Intramural athletes can marshal points toward awards. This point system is intended for athletes who are anxious to participate.Students who total the most points at the end of the year are qualified to earn a letter jacket or blanket. Students who letter are not necessarily the most gifted athletes, but those who are actively involved within the program. Any student affiliated with Harding is welcome to participate. Undergraduate students must be enrolled in six hours and graduate students must take three.Outstanding points can qualify a student for the intramural athlete of the year award. Last year’s winner was Harding graduate Daniel White. “The intramural athlete of the year has to compete in all sports: all team sports, all the races, half of the sports skills and all of the singles and doubles competitions,” Gowen said.Other awards are the sports skill award and a spirit award that was awarded to Clay Williams last year.Ritchie said the intramural program allows athletes to stay involved in sports.”There are so many athletes coming into Harding that played in high school at a varsity level and they need an outlet for that to continue,” Ritchie said. “I think we’ve covered most of the major sports.”The sports offered include: softball, tennis, flag football, and volleyball in the fall and basketball, swimming, soccer, racquetball and a second round of softball in the spring. Individual activities include tennis, cross-country, table tennis, swimming, racquetball and a pursuit race.”A pursuit race is where we line all the participants up around the football field and we start them running and when you get passed you have to drop out and it’s the last man standing,” Ritchie said.Ritchie and Gowen said they hope to expand the intramural program to include skill training.”We want to build the program,” Ritchie said. “We’re hoping to have some clinics prior to sports to show some of the basic skills.”Intramural signups will be posted in the student center near the bookstore. Announcements will also be made in chapel and game schedules will be posted on the intramural bulletins.
