The UC Club Baseball Team was created in the fall of 2005. It started after the Varsity tryouts in October. Several strong players were cut from the team, leaving them discouraged. For many, a baseball career ended there, but one had the motivation to come up with an alternative for those who wanted to continue playing throughout their college career. This individual is Drew Donkin.
Drew started by speaking with the head caoch, Brian Cleary. After that meeting, Drew proceeded to the Office of Student Activities and Leadership Development(SALD). There he was directed to the Club Sports director and the inception of Club Baseball at UC ensued. Upon filling out the necessary paperwork, Drew needed someone interested in helping pursue the creation and development of a club baseball team. Remembering some people from the tryout with a great deal of interest in continuing a baseball career, Drew went on a mission. In order to comply with the standards of the University and Club Sports, Drew needed fellow officers. He then contacted Chris Majercak and appointed him Vice-President as well as Mike Shane as treasurer.
The Club Baseball team was made official in the Spring of 2006, once the paperwork was submitted and approved. Throughout this process, Drew researched and found the National Club Baseball Association. It was at this time that the idea was becoming reality. In contacting the NCBA, Drew was able to prepare the team for great things for the future. While UC Club Baseball would not be a member until the following season, the foundation was layed. No games were played during this academic year.
Beginning in the fall of the ensuing academic year, 2006, the Cincinnati Recreation Commission was contacted to register a team for the fall season. Every weekend a group of interested guys got together and played in the CRC fall league. Later in the fall, the varsity team held their annual tryouts, keeping a couple but leaving more wanting to play baseball. At this time, many of the "cut" players sought the club baseball team and were welcomed.
With no funding coming from the University Funding Board for the innaugural year of the team, the club baseball members were forced to come up with ways to raise money for the Spring season. As part of the guidlines of a new club sport, a team must show they are capable of raising funds in order to receive funds. The baseball players found an event to work downtown, called Tall Stacks, working security. Furthermore, a fund raiser through a local bar, Martino's, proved very successful in generating revenue for the first few years.
After a short tryout and a few practices, the roster was formed. The uniforms were ordered and received in time for the Spring season to start. In March of 2007, the UC Club Baseball team took on their first opponent as a club team, in Ohio State. Since this time, UC has been participating in the CRC fall baseball league and the NCBA in the Spring.
Now, we are able to find release in the form of club baseball at UC. The University of Cincinnati Club Baseball Team is a student-run organization that participates in intercollegiate athletic competition. The main objective of the group is to provide a chance for students to play intercollegiate baseball not at the varisty level. UC is a member of the National Club Baseball Association(NCBA) as a part of the Great Lakes Conference in the East Region.
