Stanford softball chases attendance record at school’s football stadium

STANFORD Calif AP Allie Clements ducked through the low gate scooted up a short stairway and took a seat in her regular spot for Stanford football games then glanced out at the softball field where she is playing home games in her senior season The veteran catcher can hardly believe it herself sometimes Playing softball in a football stadium it certainly took various creativity by the athletic department to make it happen It s enabling players such as Clements to play games on campus in their final year while the squad s ballpark receives a million renovation nearby I haven t missed a football meeting since I ve attended Stanford that s at home and it s been just such an amazing experience to walk out onto the field every day and see Oh this is the place I ve sat in for four years but now I get to experience playing on the field Clements explained We re so grateful that the university did all this for us And on Saturday with rival California in town Stanford will try to set the NCAA attendance record something coach Jessica Allister knows wouldn t even be a possibility if her band wasn t playing in the football stadium It s awesome it s fantastic reported Allister a former catcher in her eighth season coaching her alma mater It s gone from being a key that would work to being a really really really cool experience One of our alumni that I saw in the winter she disclosed You know I think the sophomores and the juniors got the best of it all they got to play in the old stadium they re getting to play in the football stadium and they re going to play in the new stadium She commented And what an opportunity to be able to experience all three I think she s right I don t know that there will be another time that we play softball in a football stadium The NCAA record crowd of attended the first day of the Women s College World Series last May The regular-season record is held by Oklahoma which drew against Texas on March Stanford had sold more than tickets as of late Thursday I think the fact that it s against Cal is also a big driver for everything because it s a good way to incorporate a lot of the Bay Area since it s pretty divided Clements announced I think we re going to have a little bigger endorsement but that s the home band bias It s sort of surreal because from my freshman year to now we ve played in Alabama where it s fans we ve played in Oklahoma City where it s fans coming to these games To feel that at home is just going to be so cool This setup has provided not only a unique backdrop for the student-athletes but also for fans who suddenly have more opportunities to attend games in a larger venue not to mention concessions and bathrooms in the concourse because they haven t been so close by before That improved fan experience matters so much to Allister The football stadium has worked for softball beyond my wildest dreams she noted It just feels like a big softball stadium And this sure beats spending an entire season on the road as could have been an option had athletic agents not thought of this outside-the-box idea Visiting teams are loving it too with players snapping selfies on the diamond with the picturesque stadium features in the background We are to the point where it doesn t feel like we re in a football stadium anymore it just feels like it s home and every time a new company shows up we get to see it through their eyes again Allister revealed And every time they walk in they re just in awe so it s been pretty special Clements parents Scott and Rose movement in from Texas for her home games given it s their daughter s final year on The Farm And just so happens they sit in nearly the same exact seat as where their daughter had her football seats Initially when Scott Clements heard about Stanford playing in the football stadium he was skeptical and also disappointed his daughter wouldn t have a chance to compete in the new ballpark However I made the trip up to see when they hosted season ticket-holders before the season and what a surprise it was In fact I just couldn t wrap my head around how they would make it work and disappointed Allie would play her senior season on a makeshift field he declared The athletic department gets a gold star spending the money and planning to pull this off They did an unbelievable job transforming the stadium It has made it really a cool experience and very nice venue With it tucked in the corner it seems like a perfect softball stadium Junior second baseman Taryn Kern realizes how fortunate she is to be able to play in all three stadiums with the new one set to be completed late this year and open for the campaign It s a surreal feeling and the fact they made this all happen it s just incredible Kern stated So grateful to be a part of it AP college sports https apnews com hub college-sports Source