The Future of Yellow Cheese Softball

Seven season ago, a group of rag-tag misfits from the University of Minnesota got together and formed a softball team.  It was about the love of the game, small ball, and fun.  In true inside-joke fashion, the team was coined "Yellow Cheese."  Our opponents are consistently perplexed by the name and that fact that our jersey's are never yellow, which only adds to our mistique and ability to intimidate.

Here's a picture from the early days.  Courtesy of team captain Missy Benson (then Luk), the first team was named "Omalicia"--a blend of Alicia and Omarosa from the tv show "The Apprentice."  (Thankfully, the name didn't stick and I don't have three t-shirts that say Omarosa in my closet.)

This was before the days of matching uniforms (and good cameras), but the seeds of something beautiful were being planted.

Circa 2004.  Still no uniforms.  After we made an early exit from the playoffs.  (Too many smiles in my opinion.)

After a couple of years at the University of Minnesota, it was time to move from A to AA ball.  We played in North St. Paul against some pretty good competition and came into our own as a team.

This is a picture after Yellow Cheese won it's first ever championship.  Unfortunately, there were no playoffs so we did not have the thrill of an elimination championship game.  We wore our championship t-shirts proudly. 

After winning it all in North St. Paul it was time to move to AAA ball in Roseville, and we got uniforms too.

This is a picture after winning our first championship in Roseville.  The trophy has been displayed proudly in our entryway, of all places, since we brought it home many years ago.

Yellow Cheese with our favorite (now-retired) umpire. 

  After 7 seasons, and all of this history, the next generation of Yellow Cheese has arrived.

Future slugger and first baseman Josie Kopp.  (It's not clear how the orange tutu became part of the uniform.)  Hopefully, she'll be a lefty like her Dad.

Future center fielder Elijah Benson has already grown out of his uniform (this picture is many months old).  He's going to hit the long ball like his Mom (and hopefully all that weight isn't going to keep him from running like his speedy father).  I think he's modeling his game after Kirby.

Future shortstop/outfielder Anika Freeman with her proud coaches.  Anika is already basing her swing on Joe Mauer's and modeling her fielding skills off of Ozzie Smith's.

Future left fielder and run-producing extraordinaire Evangeline (what's-my-Dad-going-to-do-if-I-end-up-a-Cubs-fan) Wilsford.

While the rest of junior Yellow Cheese is training hard in Minneapolis, future big bopper Callan Johnson is galavanting around Arizona, worrying about his hair and driving fast cars.

Future smoke-throwing pitcher Claire Tainter and future slugger and player-coach Austin Tainter round out the future Yellow Cheesers.

Yellow Cheese started off the season Friday night with a convincing 13-7 win.  No team picture due to the weather.  Next week!