I like to complain about how nobody comes to basketball games and let me tell you I’m not proud of attendance at baseball games either. Even though the team is playing really good ball, all I see when I look around are a lof of blue seats.

The Panther baseball team seems to be trying everything in attempt to get students to come to games. Let’s run down the list of “everything.” Did I just quote myself?

First of all, if you haven’t been to a baseball game, you may not know the Panthers now have bat girls. Yes my friends, bat girls.

In my mind the bat girls were intended to target males between the ages of 18-22. When guys hear the term bat girl they probably start to think of knee high socks and short skirts like in the movie “A League of Their Own.”

However, the bat girls are just regular girls dressed in jeans and a Panther jersey, who grab the players’ bats after the play is over. Personally I love the bat girls. I think it was a great idea; however, I don’t think attendance has gotten out of hand since they were unveiled.

Another ploy at baseball games is the number on your program. When you walk in, pick up a program. If the number on your program matches the number called over the loud speaker during the game, you get a chance to win a certain amount of money. It started off as $20 at the first home game. But if nobody wins, it increases. I don’t know what it’s up to now. Go to the games and find out. Even if it is only $20, at least it’s beer money.

Not sold yet?

How about a little Panther BINGO? That’s right sports fans. Certain plays on the field correspond to bingo numbers. On certain days every fan is offered a bingo card on the way into the stadium, and if you win you get a prize! Don’t yell bingo just for the sake of yelling bingo though. Bingo goes on forever and if you yell bingo you get some pretty dirty looks.

The last little perk about going to a ball game at Coaches Stadium is if you go fetch a foul ball and can find the bat girl with the tickets, you get a free drink at the concession stand. I like to bet on who will win the race to the next foul ball. It’s fun!

With all these things to do at the ball game besides watch the game, I have no idea why attendance seems to be low.

Wait, could it be all you students actually go to class?

For those of you who haven’t noticed, O’Brien Stadium is the only sports venue without the capability to have a night game.

Why is that you ask?

Well in order to play a sport at night, you have to be able to see what you’re doing.

And you can’t see what you’re doing without any light. That’s exactly why the Panther baseball or softball teams never play at night. The field, Coach’s Stadium and Williams Field is not equipped with lights.

Part of the problem is the fact that the baseball and softball teams both play their weekday games at 2 or 3 p.m. I don’t know about any of you, but I have a class at 3 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday. Therefore, I can’t be at those games.

If the games started later, lets say 6 p.m. I would be able to go to any game on any day. However, we don’t have lights so I can’t go watch baseball games and some students, who otherwise might attend ball games, may be in the same boat I am.

I may not be the only one that thinks lights at Coach’s Stadium would boost attendance. However, I may be the only one at Eastern who still believes in the tooth fairy. Go figure.