JGSM Softballers Make Impression at Darden
Tom Schryver `02
Issue date: 5/14/01 Section: Sports
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The Johnson School men’s and co-ed softball teams wrapped up two days of dominance at the Darden tournament in April. The co-ed team notched the first ‘W’ with a compelling forfeit win against a home Darden team, followed up by a gripping victory over Case Western that was capped by a come-from-behind final inning to clinch the win. The afternoon saw a nail-biting 27-0 loss to a team of UVA undergrads. A strongly worded pep talk by Rob Chesley (“was it over when the Germans burned Pear Harbie”?) was for naught as the skill of the former members of UVA’s varsity squad proved too much. The men’s competitive team also struggled valiantly, ultimately falling to the Darden team that went on to win their tournament.
The teams demonstrated Cornell’s expertise in Operations by engaging in profit maximization at the Saturday evening party – by racking up a hefty bill on a night with free beer. The time constraint was lifted, however, as the Cornell team was invited to stay on after closing while the other party-goers left – including the Darden prospectives there for Darden Days (which facilitated some pre-selling before Destination Johnson as well). The team also demonstrated its out-of-the-box thinking by inventing a new drink, Red Bull & vodka by the pitcher, leading other patrons to ask, “who ARE those guys?” Fortunately, the matching red visors and occasional Cornell cheer made it clear who we were, and that we were dominant at something, if not softball.
The trip also facilitated exploration of the wide-open spaces between Charlottesville and Ithaca, spaces even slightly more wide open than Charlottesville or Ithaca themselves. Highlights included the metropolis of Winchester, VA, where the team was inexplicably confused for a church group at an Arby’s; Pottsville, PA, home of Yuengling and the most traffic lights per capita in the world; and Minersville, PA, which is notable for its Turkey Hill Mini Mart that sells less chewing gum than beef jerky—including Wild Bill’s version, whose tagline is “ya don’t need teef to enjoy our beef.” (There is strong suspicion of a new Wild Bill’s Brand case study in the works for the Class of ’03.) Unfortunately, despite entreaties to corporate officers of the company, the team was unable to find a Wawa for lunch, thereby missing the renowned “Wawa experience.”
However, all that means is that there is more to be done next year. Recruiting is underway to find leaders to fill the large shoes of van captains Pete Loncto and Sean Alexander to facilitate next year’s adventure– and one can only hope that they schedule it during Darden Days again, although chances are this year’s experience may dissuade them. Until then, give me a ‘C’!
The teams demonstrated Cornell’s expertise in Operations by engaging in profit maximization at the Saturday evening party – by racking up a hefty bill on a night with free beer. The time constraint was lifted, however, as the Cornell team was invited to stay on after closing while the other party-goers left – including the Darden prospectives there for Darden Days (which facilitated some pre-selling before Destination Johnson as well). The team also demonstrated its out-of-the-box thinking by inventing a new drink, Red Bull & vodka by the pitcher, leading other patrons to ask, “who ARE those guys?” Fortunately, the matching red visors and occasional Cornell cheer made it clear who we were, and that we were dominant at something, if not softball.
The trip also facilitated exploration of the wide-open spaces between Charlottesville and Ithaca, spaces even slightly more wide open than Charlottesville or Ithaca themselves. Highlights included the metropolis of Winchester, VA, where the team was inexplicably confused for a church group at an Arby’s; Pottsville, PA, home of Yuengling and the most traffic lights per capita in the world; and Minersville, PA, which is notable for its Turkey Hill Mini Mart that sells less chewing gum than beef jerky—including Wild Bill’s version, whose tagline is “ya don’t need teef to enjoy our beef.” (There is strong suspicion of a new Wild Bill’s Brand case study in the works for the Class of ’03.) Unfortunately, despite entreaties to corporate officers of the company, the team was unable to find a Wawa for lunch, thereby missing the renowned “Wawa experience.”
However, all that means is that there is more to be done next year. Recruiting is underway to find leaders to fill the large shoes of van captains Pete Loncto and Sean Alexander to facilitate next year’s adventure– and one can only hope that they schedule it during Darden Days again, although chances are this year’s experience may dissuade them. Until then, give me a ‘C’!