Ferris Begins Florida Trip Today With Two Games

The Ferris State University softball team resumes its season today in Florida with a pair of games to open competition in the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla.

The trip to Florida generally is a tough one for the Bulldogs. Perhaps, however, the season-opening trip to Alabama has eased the transition for the Bulldogs into competition they will face during the next week-plus in the Sunshine State.

Here is the schedule for the Bulldogs of head coach Keri Becker today in the Rebel Spring Games. First up, Ferris faces an old rival in former Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference member Gannon University before taking on North Dakota-based Mary in an early-afternoon contest in central Florida led by standouts such as shortstop Lynsay Weaver (pictured).

3/6/10

Softball

Ferris State
Gannon (Pa.)

11:00 AM

@ Kissimmee, Fla.
Florida Rebel Spring Tournament

3/6/10
Softball

Mary (N.D.)
Ferris State

1:00 PM

@ Kissimmee, Fla.
Florida Rebel Spring Tournament

These should be interesting games to see if the Bulldogs can get off to a nice start in Florida and return to Michigan with a record well above 500.

The Bulldogs (2-4 this season so far) will play 14 games in seven days (with a day off for relaxation).

One Of The Friendly Faces To Great At The Rebel Spring Games

This is such sad news.

She was always such a friendly face when we came into the gates of the Osceola County Softball Complex in Kissimmee, Fla. for the Rebel Spring Games:

This is from the Rebel Spring Games Web site:

Norma Metrolis, 84, passed away Tuesday, February 2,2010 at her home in Melbourne, Fl. Born in Kittery Maine, Norma moved to Florida in 1939. She will be dearly missed by her many friends. Norma is survived by her brother, George Metrolis of Collingsville, MS and her sister Phyliss Pettyjohn of Stillwater, OK.

Norma worked for the US Department of Agriculture for thirty years. She played proffessional baseball at the catcher position for five years and is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. After retiring, she became an avid golfer and is credited with six holes in one.

For the past several years Norma worked at the gate at the Rebel Spring Games and often was called upon to talk to teams of her days in the All American Girls Baseball League (a league of their own).

Players, coaches fans, and umpires wishing to contribute to the Norma Metrolis Memorial Fund may do so at the games. A donation box will be available at the gate. All contributions will go towards the promotion of women's softball.