Introducing the Diamond Girls Baseball strengthens rapport with students

The Southern University Jaguars baseball team (9-30, 6-15 SWAC) may not have had the best season to start the Kerrick Jackson era on the Bluff. However, there are signs that the program is gaining a following, thanks to increasing the ways that students could get involved.
Ashante Crenshaw is a freshman nursing student from Baton Rouge, LA. In her short time at Southern, she has already cemented her place in history as being among the first members of the Southern University Diamond Girls.
“I feel like we help bring more people to the game…the more people…the more the crowd is hype, the hyper the players get, and more money it makes.”
The Diamond Girls are a group of female students who assist the baseball team with their home game day operations at Lee Hines Field. Some tasks they have done this season included working in the concession stand and handling tickets. Some members even baked and decorated fresh cupcakes for the baseball team and placed one in each locker in honor of their first home game.
Southern University is the only school in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and potentially the only HBCU, to offer such a program to its students, according to its advisor, Southern graduate and assistant baseball coach Elliot Jones.
Being a member of the group has its privileges. Members have cited clothing, food, and service hours as some of the perks that come with being a Diamond Girl.
Diamond Girl and freshman nursing student Charlestine Haney noticed an improvement in her communication skills, thanks to the organization. “[Usually] I don’t like talking to people unless they talk to me. Now…when customers come to the concession stand I feel more comfortable holding a conversation with them.”
“[They] helped me become more friendly,” added Diamond Girl and freshman nursing student Mia Jefferson, “[they] also helped me with time management,”
Crenshaw credited the group on improving her patience. “Sometimes you have to be patient with people because people see different from your and have different opinions. [The Diamond Girls] taught us how to be versatile in our thinking,”
The opportunity has also exposed her to the game of baseball. “We’re not experts at [baseball], but we [now] know the basics,”
Elliott Jones, a native of Shreveport, LA, has been credited as the creator of the group, citing that the student fan base wasn’t where it could be compared to football and basketball games. “This is a way to reach to specifically females on campus, have them understand the game, and have school pride.”
Jones said that he was looking for young women who didn’t mind putting forth the effort that comes with putting ideas together, working games, and giving back to campus. “You go to other big schools such as LSU, Southern Miss, and Mississippi State and, in particular the baseball programs, and they have something with females helping out with the baseball program.”
When asked about the inspiration behind the name, he replied,” I chose the name ‘Diamond Girls’ because baseball is a diamond sport.”
Jones did reveal some challenges that came with starting up the group, including making sure the Diamond Girls chosen would be dedicated and committed enough to give up time over the weekend. He also stressed that applicants shouldn’t accept this position just to be around the baseball team.
To say that he is a busy man, he always comes through,” says Crenshaw when asked about Jones’ leadership, “He is very professional to say he is working with a whole bunch of girls by himself.”
The Diamond Girls have already gained support from the rest of the coaching staff and the administration, who commended the group for their effort. Jones strives to set lofty goals for the group. “He said he wanted us to be international,” Haney said.
Haney provided advice to future Diamond Girls “Be open minded. Give your ideas if you something would be good to help out the team or be fun for the Diamond Girls”
Jones accepted 50 applications this past season, accepting 25 Diamond Girls for the inaugural season. With these 25 being the first members, they have the option to remain with the Diamond Girls without need to reapply. Creshaw, Jefferson, and Haney have all verbally committed to being a member of the Diamond Girls for as long as possible, barring circumstances.
The group will be seeking to increase their membership from this season. Interested applicants should check the The Southern Digest official website for the application. The application deadline will be in September 2018.
When asked if she was proud to be consider a Diamond Girl, Haney had two words:
“Hell yeah!”