Arizona Heat softball player Nichole Thompson (23) takes advantage of the extra time before practice and media day to do some laundry at the locker room at Hi Corbett.
Women have a monopoly on glamour in a lot of areas of life, but professional sport is not one of them.
At Hi Corbett Field, the Arizona Heat pro softball team went through its preseason training where the Colorado Rockies prepare in the spring for their season.
There is no glam here. There is only bam in terms of hits, bats and outs. Where the Rockies come gliding into camp in Hummers, this workaday women’s team hauls in its own laundry.
Not that these players for the three-year-old Heat don’t feel truly blessed to be in a bare bones Rockies locker room. But this is normally where MLB has catered luncheons even for the press. This National Pro Fastpitch softball team has a cooler full of Gatorade, for players only, please.
This is where love of the game trumps even a pitch by Wildcat ace Alicia Hollowell. UA player Hollowell, who remains unsigned, is expected to join the team after the Wildcats’ run in the Women’s College World Series run is over.
The Heat start their season at home at 7 tonight without her. But with no less than five UA former players, they face the Texas Thunder. Their opening home stand continues through Sunday, each game at 7 p.m. at Hi Corbett Field.
But most players say they can’t give up playing, when the real world (after college) calls to them in so many ways.
“It’s hard work, but I can’t quit playing,” said former UA player Shelly Schultz. “I’d go through withdrawals. I’d start twitching.”
But this is as healthy as any drive can be. Both Schultz and infielder Rebekah Quiroz live in Tucson and assist with coaching at Pima Community College during the offseason.
However, this is where the luxury box aspect comes in. They get to play for Stacy Iveson, who is coming off leading her second team to the national junior college championship.
“We’re just here trying to make the league successful, the amenities can come later,” Iveson said.
Schultz said playing for Iveson is nothing short of amazing. “Coaching with her is one thing, but now I want to improve as a player and she can be right there in my face if I start missing ground balls.”
Quiroz said she’s driven to play to be a healthy role model for the players she coaches. “I had to prove to myself I can still play, so I can be out on the field with the players coming up,” Quiroz said.
Do you think you know love of the game? Nichole Thompson, a returning 2005 Arizona Heat player and former ASU player, moves to Tucson for the summer from California.
This is year three of the NPF and the Arizona Heat. If this league can survive Tucson in the summer, which it has so far, the league should grow.
If you grew up loving baseball at Hi Corbett Field and the Toros, these games will make you remember it. Last year, the sprinklers went off during a very late, extra innings game. And the glorious girls of summer cooled off and played in the rain, loving it.
Arizona Heat softball player Kristina Schmallen autographs the shirt of fan Aaron Moore during media day at Hi Corbett Field on Wednesday. Arizona opens its National Pro Fastpitch season today.
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PRO SOFTBALL
Who: Texas at Arizona
When: Today-Sunday, 7 p.m.
Where: Hi Corbett Field
Tickets: $5-$10 (juniors, seniors, military $4; 5-under free).
More info: 296-9595