Photos and text by Taylor Carroll
On a sunny afternoon on Saturday, March 23, 2019, the Allen University softball team played a doubleheader against Bryan College. Allen University is a historically black school, and their home field resides in Martin Luther King Park. The Allen University Yellow Jackets consist of twelve players, while the opposing team had almost double their numbers.
The Yellow Jackets put up a good fight during the first game, leading the score board for most of the game until running out of steam towards the final innings. The first game ended with Bryan College climbing to the top of the scoreboard, 8-5. The second game picked up quickly after the first, however, it became evident that Allen University had become very tired and this was reflected in the final score with Bryan College winning 7-0. Despite losing two games in a row, the Allen University softball team’s spirt never wavered. The girls’ energy was ecstatic as they cheered their teammates on from the dugout and danced to music, it was evident that the team was extremely close. At the end of the day, both teams joined hands in a circle to come together and pray. This unique post-game act was a beautiful scene and embodied the meaning of true sportsmanship. The softball teams wished each other the best of luck in the rest of their season and planned to part ways until discovering the showers in the locker rooms were broken. In a giant act of kindness, the Allen University coach, Tatjana Matthews, invited Bryan College back to their personal locker rooms to share. This gesture further showed the kind spirits and camaraderie of the Allen University softball team and not only their love for one another, but for their competitor as well.
Taylor Carroll
I’m a senior public relations major with a minor in the fine arts, specifically focused on photography and film. My interest in photography began the summer after my freshmen year of college when I became a whitewater rafting guide. The company I worked for ended up needing to replace their photographer about half way through the season and I somehow ended up filling the position. Prior to the experience, I had never held a DSLR camera before but after that I fell in love with photography. From there, I have taken photography courses in both the journalism and art schools and even as far as Australia during my semester abroad.