For the first time, NIU will have a women’s club softball team.

The first tryout will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Outdoor Recreation Sports Complex’s softball field. It’s an open tryout, and anyone is welcome to attend.

Jordan Davis, sophomore physical education major, is the president of the club. She transferred to NIU this year but played club softball at Illinois State University last year.

The team will play in the fall and the spring, but because the club is just starting it will only play spring games this year. Anybody is welcome to try out. Playing time is not guaranteed.

“Not everyone will get playing time,” Davis said. “There may be two teams, but no other school has ‘B’ teams so we will put our best nine on the field.”

There is no coach for the team; a board of players take the role.

“The board is made up of players from the team,” Davis said. “[There are] five board members, which includes me and the coaches.”

One person planning on trying out is senior meteorology major Morgan Nelson.

“I miss the sport and being active,” Nelson said. “As soon as I heard that one of my residents was trying to start a club softball team, I was so excited. I came to NIU wanting to play sports, but as we all know, not just anyone can get on the teams. So this is the next-closest thing and I can’t wait to play again.”

Nelson has played softball since she was a little girl and loves being out on the diamond.

“I have played softball since I could walk. I definitely love the feeling of making plays and catching pop-flies,” Nelson said.

Another team hopeful, Kaitlin Susalla, sophomore special education major, likes the fun parts of softball.

“I am doing it competitively because I used to play and I am a competitive person,” Susalla said. “I’m doing it for fun because I could make friends out of this club with possible similar interests as me.”