• A PROPOSAL FOR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ SOFTBALL IN TRACY CLEARED THE FENCES IN MAY OF THIS YEAR.
On a unanimous vote, Tracy and Milroy school board members approved girls’ softball as a school-sponsored sport beginning next spring. The Panther girls’ softball team will play in the 212 Conference.
The vote came after lengthy and sometimes impassioned comments from softball supporters. The crowd included about 12 girls from the Balaton school district who plan to attend school at Tracy Area High School next year and also play softball.
Arguments heard in favor of girls’ softball included:
• Girls would have an opportunity to participate in a popular, lifetime sport activity.
• The added girls’ sport would address inequities in the number of Panther boys and girls sports now offered, and boost numbers of female sport participants. Adding girls softball would show an effort to comply with Title IX equal agreement opportunity laws.
• Balaton students, who have already played softball for two seasons at Balaton High School, would provide enthusiasm and skills for a Panther softball program.
• Girls’ softball would welcome and ease the transition for Balaton girls who choose to attend Tracy Area Hjgh School next year. (The Balaton and Tracy school boards have agreed to a tuitioning agreement that allows next year’s Balaton students in grades 9-12 to attend class in Tracy).
Dave Sogge, Balaton High School teacher and coach, and Rick Anderson, former Balaton school board member, said Balaton people would do “whatever it takes” to help establish girls’ softball as a Panther sport. Both felt there were good possibilities to obtain donations to defray start-up expenses. They also felt that the Balaton school board might be willing to allow the use of Balaton’s softball equipment.
“I see no reason why the program can’t be successful,” said Sogge. He defined success as the participants having fun, learning the fundamentals of the game and learning to play hard.
• Last week’s answer: Tracy City Council members decided to change the name of the Tracy Prairie Pavilion in March 2005.
