Utah State Softball Seniors Present the first Beehive Trophy

As the 2008 Utah State softball seniors’ season comes to a close, they knew they didn't want to leave USU without starting a tradition. Leaving a legacy was the purpose behind the Beehive Trophy which was thought up by USU's second baseman Tara Evans, catcher Heather Haak and third baseman Amy Schaible, as well as Utah's five senior softball players.

"We wanted to start a tradition for all the underclassmen and players to come," Schaible said. "We chose an in-state rivalry because we wanted it to mean something."

 

The trophy will be awarded to the winner of the Utah State - Utah softball series each season with this year’s focus being to get the idea started this season and then continue it from year to year. The trophy is designed in the shape of a beehive to represent the state of Utah and features two softball bats crossed at the top of the hive, while each school’s logo is presented at the bottom of the trophy. It has been designed and donated by Nate Barton from Crowns Trophy in Taylorsville, Utah.

 

"The whole idea was a part of one of our team goals this season, which is to 'Break the fate in 2008.' We wanted to start something new and something that could be carried on from year to year," Evans said. "It's also a great way to make a good in-state rivalry even bigger."

 

This is the first season the trophy will be presented and so far the series is tied at 1-1. The Aggies won the first game of a doubleheader, 3-1, on March 26, while the Utes won game two, 9-4, in Logan. The second match-up this season is set for Tuesday, April 15 at Salt Lake City. (Canceled due to inclement weather.)

 

"We wanted to do something specific with Utah so that it makes the games that we play against them to mean a lot more and make them more important," Haak said. "It's already a good rivalry and we wanted to add to it to make it that much more of a rivalry."

 

It's no longer just about winning a game but the trophy will add so much more meaning to these specific games and the team would like to carry it on each year so that when the two teams play against each other 10 years from now, it's about winning the games, to win a trophy and show a sense of state pride.