Spring Break
League of their own
Andres Cuevas Jr.
Issue date: 10/22/08 Section: News
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Donte and Dominic Morris, twin brothers and both junior business majors, started the league in 2007 as they played catch in front of the campus residence halls. While they played catch, they noticed that several other students did the same and shared their same passion.
"My brother and I got the idea to do something combining our passion with our major," Donte said.
The Morris brothers and the rest of the players held their second season opening night on Oct. 13. The league has doubled the number of teams and players after only one season.
"The league has made me respect the game more because I realize how much work goes into it all," Dominic said.
Now with four teams, the league's schedule has expanded so that each team plays the other teams at least twice. The league will also hold playoffs this season that include all four teams. The two winners of the playoff games go on to play in the Morris Championship.
The way the league is set up reflects the way the players play the game and relate to one another. Every team makes the playoffs and has an equal shot at playing in the Morris Championship, regardless of their record in the regular season.
"I am very happy with our increase in teams and players, but I would also like to see more fans come out to see the games. And (I would) also (like to see) an expansion to different schools," Dominic said.
The Morris League games take place at McAuliffe Field on State University Drive East, and teams typically play two to three times per week.
The brothers both said they are pleased with how the league is going so far this season.
Aside from an increase in size, the league also added the Morris League media team that includes Sac State students gaining experience recording and editing game footage that they use to make highlight films for themselves and post on the Morris League website.
"I think the media team adds another element to the league and makes it seem more professional," Donte said.
Kenneth Sauceda, junior family and consumer sciences major and part of the Morris League camera crew, said that the first couple of games this year had a pretty good turnout and the games went smoothly.
Aside from the new media team, the league's expansion to four teams really makes the Morris brothers feel like they are heading in the right direction.
"I believe the league got 100 percent better with the expansion of the teams," Dominic said.
Chris Simpson, sophomore marketing major who is also in charge of marketing for the Morris League, feels the league creates a lot of positive opportunities for people.
Simpson is a friend of the Morris brothers and along with helping his friends out, he feels his position allows him to learn a lot.
"The league basically taught me how to run my own business. You have to handle money, deal with insurance, things like that. It's a great experience and teaches me things I will need to know in the future," Simpson said.
Within the league there is diversity among the players.
Masashi "Bob" Nakamura is an international exchange student from Japan who heard about the league through a friend and decided to join. His friend was another Japanese exchange student who played in the league last year.
He came to Sac State for a year to study abroad and see what Sacramento had to offer.
Nakamura got in contact with the Morris brothers and attended a tryout, earning a spot on a team.
"I think having Bob gives the league a different perspective on the game and I think we learn from him as much as he learns from us," Donte said.
Nakamura, an international communications major, feels that studying abroad is a great experience and being allowed to play baseball makes things a lot easier.
"The fact that I could play baseball helps me out because I feel comfortable playing the game, whether I am in Japan or the United States," Nakamura said.
Jorge Munoz, spectator at the opening games, took his family to watch the games.
"I've always liked to watch baseball and I want to get my sons into it too. Even though I don't know anybody in the league, I have fun just coming out to watch some good baseball being played," Munoz said.
On opening night, fans cheered and watched two close and entertaining games that showed a glimpse of what the rest of the season holds.
Andres Cuevas can be reached at acuevas@statehornet.com
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