Imagine standing on the pitcher's mound, staring down a batter you know can knock any pitch you give him right to the gaps in the outfield. Now imagine that slugger is Harvey A. Feldman, a renowned law professor at Penn State and an expert in property, privacy and land use control law. This isn't your average softball game.
Although it may seem bizarre, this scenario exists at the annual Virginia Law School Softball Invitational, a tournament now in its 22nd year, which attracts teams of law school students and faculty from the east coast and beyond.
The tournament, scheduled to take place this weekend on fields across Charlottesville, is a mix of partying, socializing and competitive softball that lets future lawyers and faculty take the edge off their cutthroat instincts outside the courtroom.
Although not quite as exciting as passing the bar, the invitational is renowned in legal circles and was the subject of a recent article in National Jurist magazine entitled, "Who says law school is no fun?"
"The tournament is definitely well-known," director Billy Bey said. Bey, who is pursuing joint MBA and JD degrees, said he's heard lawyers raving about the invitational far away from Charlottesville.
"Even in my summer experience at different law firms, when lawyers find out I went to U.Va., they talk about how they had a great time at the softball tournament," Bey said. "I've heard this all the way up to the partner level."
Another big draw for law students is the chance to experience the balmy spring weather in Charlottesville on what is traditionally one of the first warm weekends of the year.
"A lot of the schools are up north, so the players get down here with the awesome weather, and they're all excited," Virginia co-ed team member Margaret Cantrell said. "It's cool to meet people from all across the country."
As most people can imagine, however, putting so many legal experts together can lead to some heated moments.
"It's more competitive than you would think," Cantrell said. "I feel bad for the referees because people will ask all kinds of ridiculous hypothetical questions about the rules."
In the end, all the competition goes toward a good cause. Last year, the invitational, run by the North Grounds Softball League, was able to donate $8,000 to Children, Youth and Family Services, Inc., a foundation that works to improve the lives of local youth.
In addition to contributing to charity, the tournament serves as a break from the regular routine of law school.
"Once you get down to the top eight teams, competitive nature takes over," Bey said. "But at the end of the game, everyone parties together and has a good time. It's a good, healthy mix."
Bey and other participants encourage fans to stop by and watch the games this weekend, which will take place at The Park and other locations across the City.
Although there are plenty of teams to cheer for, Virginia has been especially good at fielding talented squads over the years. The Law School has put together three all-male teams and three co-ed teams for the 2005 tournament and is the reigning champion in both divisions.
"Our Regular Gold men's team has four or five guys that played college baseball," Bey said.
During what will hopefully be one of the first beautiful weekends of the spring, there's no better time to catch some competitive softball across Charlottesville. Just remember that whatever you do, don't give Professor Feldman a pitch over the plate.
Read More
Phenomenal pitching lifts Virginia softball to crucial road victory over No. 8 Florida State
By Ben McNiff | 7 hours agoWhen people look back on this specific iteration of Cavalier softball, they will remember this 2-0 victory on the road.
Live tracker: the men’s basketball offseason
By Michael Liebermann , Emory Huffman and Xander Tilock | 21 hours agoA frenetic offseason likely awaits.
Virginia is getting ‘better and better,’ and it was all on display against Syracuse
By Michael Liebermann | YesterdayVirginia did almost everything right in its best performance of the season.
