St. Thomas seminarians got back outside for a shortened annual wiffle ball tournament after last year’s spring 2020 tournament was canceled because of COVID-19.
This year’s tournament, which consisted of an eight-game regular season schedule and a 5-team playoff bracket, took place over two weeks with eight total teams taking part. This year would have been the 20th annual tournament, but due to the cancellation of the spring 2020 tournament, it was only the 19th.
“I think guys were really jonesing to get out, but we were definitely super cautious. We got back from spring break and we typically start immediately after,” junior Bailey Peterson, commissioner of this year’s tournament, said.
This year’s tournament was shortened from a month to just under two weeks to allow the seminarians to self-quarantine for two weeks after spring break before beginning game-play.
“Typically it goes much longer. This year we just smushed as much as we could in so we could get it done before finals week,” Peterson said.
The games mainly took place over convo hour and in the early afternoon on Tuesday and Thursday on a makeshift field between Ireland Hall and the Saint John Vianney College Seminary.
Although the games are not mandatory, Peterson said around 95% of the seminarians participate. His teammate, sophomore Alex Paiz, said that it is a great bonding experience.
“To have this opportunity to play wiffle ball has just been something really beautiful to both participate in, but also witness to see how brothers just come together,” Paiz said.
One thing that they have bonded over during the tournament is their fondness for Mary Frame. Frame is the administrative assistant in the St. John Vianney seminary and the wiffle ball field gets its namesake “Mary Frame Field” from her.
“She typically throws out the first pitch on the first game of the season. Whenever she’s there it’s a grand occasion, so we named it in homage of Mary,” Peterson said.
However, Frame was unable to throw out the first pitch due to contracting COVID-19 right before the season began.
To honor her absence, the seminarians did something special for her until she returned from her quarantine.
“We had our opening game ball still in the box,” Peterson said. “We just had it sitting by the mound the entire first five games.”
Frame was able to return for the latter half of the playoffs and was there for the championship game to watch the fourth floor upperclassmen win the tournament.
The winning team, team USA, took home the traveling trophy this season with Mary Frame sitting in the front row to witness it.
Paiz was excited to have Frame back in attendance for the final few games to watch the friendly competition between him and his brothers.
“Wiffle ball, in two fashions, is a great way to honor her, as well as grow in brotherhood,” Paiz said.
Cam Kauffman can be reached at kauf8536@stthomas.edu.