Stickball . . . Wheaton Style
If you have ever walked by Chapel Field on a Friday afternoon, you may have felt the brilliance of creation emanating from the field. That's because you are witnessing Phil Dauria '07 and ten of his friends inventing a new sport right on Chapel Field. According to Dauria, Stickball is the derivative of a game called "Extreme Rock Smash," developed on a pre-orientation trip by Dauria, Nick Mrozowski and Adam Minton. When "Extreme Rock Smash" became dangerous on this busy campus, the three guys discovered the sewer drain near Meneely as a perfect home plate. With a broomstick, some tennis balls and three players, Chapel Field was transformed into the first Stickball stadium. Since then, the league has grown in both size and tradition.
Each week, as the guys limp or saunter on to Chapel Field, the teams are pulled out of a hat, the bases (Frisbees) paced and placed in the correct spot, the tennis balls are collected from Buildings and Grounds and the game begins. Watching the game, the close-knit relationship between the players is obvious. Constant banter fills the air, usually involving reminders of great plays from the past as well as embarrassing and uncoordinated moments, perhaps better forgotten. Amidst the banter, a game of Stickball is played with nine innings of play, no called strikes and some interesting fielding rules- check out their site for an in-depth rule book. These rules are often the subject of animated, highly amusing arguments, frequently lasting up to ten or fifteen minutes and resolved by either a burst of laughter or a concession.
While the goal of the league is to have fun and get ready for the weekend, the Stickball Player's Association keeps careful statistics of the league's eleven players on their website. Steve De Martino is the league statistician, namely because of his patience and attention to detail. After every play, he pulls a scrap of paper and a pen out of his pocket, marking down the events. All of the players, however, seem to keep track of the Stickball highlight reel, and had some trouble thinking of one shining moment in Stickball history. They finally settled on the Friday when Greg Pinto '07, hit a home run that landed on the sun deck behind Admission-a momentous achievement in the Stickball Player's Association's three year lifespan.
Sadly, all of the Stickball players are seniors so Wheaties only have one more semester to both enjoy and learn this unique game from the original creators. Next spring, Dauria and the Association hope to host a Stickball tournament to attract more players and "keep the tradition alive when we graduate." To see a full roster, read the rules and see some fun photos, click here. Enjoy this mild fall and head over the Chapel Field on Friday afternoon to witness this exciting new sport.