It takes time and dedication and determination to create a sports team at a college that focuses on the arts more than sports.

Softball team captains Alexis Knox, a sophomore advertising major, and Ally Durbin, a sophomore art + design major, began assembling the girls-only softball team last fall, and the team is now officially recognized an Renegades team.

“When we first heard the Renegades wanted to start a softball team, we were both on the same page of wanting to play again,” Durbin said. “Even though Columbia isn’t a sports-oriented school, it’s been rewarding so far because we have encountered girls who feel the same way. They want to get back into playing softball and doing something they love.”

Knox said starting the team has been a great way to meet people who share the same interests and said being at an arts school does not mean students are against sports. 

Knox said the team would have been up and running for the Spring 2015 Semester, but progress was slowed by paperwork and the process of becoming a recognized team.

One of the biggest challenges that the captains are facing is trying to get players to stay committed for the fall, Knox said. The team needs nine players in order to play in the league, and the captains are trying to amass the numbers so nothing prevents the team from competing during the Fall 2015 Semester.   

“By the time we were recognized, we were looking into leagues that we wanted to join, and it was too late to sign up,” Knox said. “The league [we found] starts in September and hosts games year-round.”

Knox said the Renegades team held two interest meetings before Spring Break in attempt to recruit more players. Although only three girls showed up, the captains were still content with the turnout, she said.

“Right now we are still organizing and trying to get all the other girls back into the groove of playing,” Durbin said. “Most of us haven’t played in a year or two, so we are just practicing and getting ourselves organized.”

Miranda Slupski, a freshman ASL-English major, said she joined the team because they needed more players and because she has been a softball player all her life.

“It will be nice to play for fun and have it back into my life again—it’s really great,” Slupski said. “It’s not as serious, it’s just for fun and nobody is judging you. It doesn’t matter what your experience is. Just go out to play.” 

Durbin said the team joined the National Club Softball Association and would be in the Great Lakes West Conference. She said there are other schools that have softball teams they would be competing against such as Loyola, Illinois University, Marquette and other schools in Wisconsin.

“My goal is to have more people join so that we can travel and play other schools and become more involved in the community,” Slupski said.

In the meantime, the Renegades are practicing in Roosevelt University during the colder months, but when the weather gets warmer they will begin practicing in Grant Park, Knox said. 

“We can also start going to batting cages as well, once we start fundraising,” Knox said, “but that is in more in the distant future.”

Knox said the Renegades organization has been helpful to the captains in terms of getting the team organized and up and running. 

“They really helped us out with getting recognized and helped us join the league,” Knox said. “The majority of the [Renegades] board has played for or is on the baseball team. They are in the National Club Baseball Association, which is the same company that our softball league is in. The Renegades are really helpful and eager to help us.”