Sophomore Catcher Emily Calder with bowling teammate Shawn.

DECATUR, Ala. – One day before they compete in their first ever NAIA National Tournament, the Park University softball team spent Wednesday morning bowling with many Special Olympians from a local organization.

The 15 member team put on their bowling shoes at the AMF River City Lanes in Decatur, Ala.

The event was part of the “Giving Back to Decatur”, NAIA Champions of Character program that teams were given a chance to participate in.

Park head coach Amy Reif also took part in the festivities on Wednesday morning.

“The kids we bowled with had so much fun”, sophomore Nicole Wilson said. “Whether they bowled a one or a ten it was always a strike for them and that was really great to see.”

Three other teams joined the Pirates for the festivities and will now prepare for the 29th Annual NAIA National Championship from May 14-20.

Park will compete in Pool Play from May 14-16 and will take on No. 22 ranked Friends University on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. on Field 1 at the Wilson Morgan Softball Complex.

On day two of Pool Play, Park will go up against No. 1 seeded California Baptist at 11:30 a.m. on Field 2 and on Saturday the Pirates will face Hastings College at 6:00 p.m. on Field 3.

Park is 26-11 on the year and won the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Championship on May 1 by defeating Bellevue University, 7-6, to qualify for its first NAIA National Tournament.

Fans will be able to follow Park’s National Tournament play pitch by pitch by way of live stats provided by the NAIA at www.parkathletics.com.

-PARK-