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Preseason team bonding takes many different forms in the realm of college sports. Teams have done everything from high ropes courses, to whitewater rafting, to traveling to China and fighting people. This year's Xavier squad eschewed all that in favor of the of the favorite sport of the somewhat less athletically gifted. Yes, this year was the very first Xavier World Series of slow pitch softball.
While we're waiting - here's a preview ICYMI - http://t.co/NrG41uuzce #XavierNation
— cliffyballgame (@cliffyballgame) August 1, 2014
Just to clarify, this was the draft order by Dee Davis and @mstainbrook40, not the batting order. #GoingYardAt2pm pic.twitter.com/OMl7LMry9y
— Chris Mack (@CoachChrisMack) July 31, 2014
Team Davis and Team Stain were the sides and, of course, hashtags and TwitPics were the preferred battleground of the trash talkers.
This also in: @CoachChrisMack taking batting practice today #xavier #softball #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/p2F440uYfP
— Matt Stainbrook (@mstainbrook40) July 31, 2014
Hey Team Stainbrook, never too late to follow @Softball_Tutor. Might come in handy for the beginners in that weak line-up of yours.
— Chris Mack (@CoachChrisMack) July 31, 2014
Come the hour of the game, come more pictures on Twitter and a set of players that seemed to be genuinely enjoying the chance to take each other on in a game usually played by guys with Matt Stainbrook's weight and Dee Davis' height.
Getting ready for our 1st annual Xavier Softball game! Team Stainbrook is about to take it home!⚾️ pic.twitter.com/360OYk36MN
— Trevon Bluiett (@TrevonBluiett) July 31, 2014
A kid. A field. And a dream. #TeamDee pic.twitter.com/SuQO4oJfys
— Chris Mack (@CoachChrisMack) July 31, 2014
Squad is ready to take the field make it happen! Teamwork makes the dream work! #teamdavis pic.twitter.com/zLBTvj1Njl
— Darwin Davis Jr. (@DeeDavisX) July 31, 2014
It has to be difficult to try to look hard before a softball game, but kudos to the guys for trying. After a snack for Dee Davis, and some batting practice (?), it was on.
I hope there's a concession stand at the game! I need my sunflower seeds.. First pitch at 2:15pm
— Darwin Davis Jr. (@DeeDavisX) July 31, 2014
@CoachChrisMack is the only one who has hit it out of the park in BP. #xavier
— Shannon Russell (@slrussell) July 31, 2014
There is an official scorer here. No joke. Lot of bragging rights on the line. #xavier pic.twitter.com/cRvmNEoFFM
— Shannon Russell (@slrussell) July 31, 2014
Team Stainbrook leapt to an early lead, but then a disturbing trend emerged. College athletes started striking out, swinging, in a game of softball.
And Remy Abell is our first strikeout victim of the day. Dee Davis threw a nasty 6 foot arch in there.
— Rick Broering (@RickBroering) July 31, 2014
Jalen Reynolds is our second strikeout victim, but the damage was done by Team Davis. 4-4 middle of 2nd.
— Rick Broering (@musketeerreport) July 31, 2014
We have three strikeouts in less than two innings of a slow pitch softball game after Mike Pegues goes down swinging.
— Rick Broering (@musketeerreport) July 31, 2014
Team Davis has moved Dee Davis behind the plate and Travis Steele out to the mound. Steele gets Abell swinging for a second time.
— Rick Broering (@musketeerreport) July 31, 2014
Jalen Reynolds with his second strikeout. He was a little eager to swing, surprisingly.
— Rick Broering (@musketeerreport) July 31, 2014
That's embarrassing, guys. Team Stainbrook powered out to a massive early lead thanks to their talismanic captain, but perhaps the most competitive person in the program wasn't going down without a fight.
Matt Stainbrook laughs at your shift. The lefty with another RBI triple - this one off the wall in left field. 11-4.
— Rick Broering (@RickBroering) July 31, 2014
@CoachChrisMack Hit the ball off the left field wall. This game is all offense. 12-7, team Stain. pic.twitter.com/R1Obw3F2Bj
— Shannon Russell (@slrussell) July 31, 2014
It was high drama as the game entered the seventh with the coach and his point guard having trailed all game.
Team Stainbrook 13 Team Davis 8 - After 6th - Davis down to their final at bat.
— Rick Broering (@musketeerreport) July 31, 2014
Coach Mack called for his team to put on rally caps.... I'd say 60% of the team had no idea what he meant.
— Rick Broering (@musketeerreport) July 31, 2014
Apparently all the swinging and missing was just a ploy, because...
The Mighty Casey AKA Jalen Reynolds comes up with the RBI triple to tie the game after previously striking out twice. Unreal drama.
— Rick Broering (@musketeerreport) July 31, 2014
Now Randolph brings in Reynolds to take the lead, and Rick Carter scores Randolph on an RBI triple 15-13 Team Davis now.
— Rick Broering (@musketeerreport) July 31, 2014
Myles Davis records all three outs in the bottom of the seventh... and Team Davis pulls off the come from behind win.
— Rick Broering (@musketeerreport) July 31, 2014
During Xavier bball's softball game, Dee Davis & MVP Jalen Reynolds celebrate 7th inning rally. More photos tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/Ca7c8wmk5p
— Xavier Musketeers (@XUAthletics) July 31, 2014
This trophy is no joke.
Team Davis celebrates their 15-13 win at the first ever Xavier Hoops Softball World Series. http://t.co/5HbVllU05B
— Rick Broering (@RickBroering) July 31, 2014
Team Davis poses with their trophy. http://t.co/jqXDcozhmu
— Rick Broering (@RickBroering) July 31, 2014
Crickets!! #TeamDee #7RunsInThe7th #15to13 pic.twitter.com/vr6kRJZAM3
— Chris Mack (@CoachChrisMack) July 31, 2014
story book ending rally in the top of the last inning to give "Team Davis" the win! #xaviernation #teamdavis pic.twitter.com/vit9VM5FY7
— Darwin Davis Jr. (@DeeDavisX) July 31, 2014
It wouldn't be the social media age if there weren't immediately videos available from the field. If you've tuned out to this point, you'll want to tune back in to watch Jalen Reynolds describe his approach at the plate.
Sent out a duplicate link before, here's the other video of XU's Jalen Reynolds accepting his MVP trophy http://t.co/duQeVZolO7
— Rick Broering (@musketeerreport) July 31, 2014
Xavier's Jalen Reynolds talks about his final at-bat in his softball MVP performance. http://t.co/4tBHP8yUO1
— Rick Broering (@musketeerreport) July 31, 2014
Highlights from them game:
And it is finished! Highlights from today's EPIC battle at #Xavier - http://t.co/aPbRSR5jVC #LetsGoX
— cliffyballgame (@cliffyballgame) August 1, 2014
A note of thanks to Rick Broering and Cliff Jenkins for the work they did yesterday to bring everyone pictures and play by play from the game. The boys of winter may not be diamond ready, but it's good to see basketball making headlines around Xavier again.