Foul Balls, Fowl Calls: Pirate Softball has Squeaky Secret!

Inside the dugout of the Lady Pirates, celebration doesn’t just come in the form of chants and high fives alone. Instead, it’s punctuated by the unmistakable sound of rubber chickens, some small enough to tuck into a back pocket, others towering at nearly two feet tall and dressed in festive Santa suits. It’s quirky, it’s loud, and most importantly, it’s become a defining tradition for the Lady Pirate softball team.

Head Coach Heather Damron traces the origins back to post-COVID-19, when teams were navigating new rules, including restrictions on certain noise-makers. Somewhere along the way, squealing featherless rubber chickens made their debut.

“I’m not even 100% sure how it came to be chickens exactly,” Damron said. “I bought little, small chickens for all the girls and they would do different things with them.”

What began as a handful of small chickens grew into something bigger. Players started carrying them in creative ways, even tucking them into uniform pockets with their heads sticking out. Before long, the dugout housed what the team affectionately calls “the farm,” a container filled with an ever-growing collection of animals and noise-makers. Among them is an amphibian adding its own croaky contribution to the chaos.

“We also have a frog that makes noise, and we always hang him upside down on the fence,” senior right fielder Ava Cook said.

Cook has become closely associated with the team’s most recognizable mascots: two oversized rubber chickens named Hei Hei and Fey Fey.

“Hei Hei was actually here before I was a freshman,” Cook said. “I loved carrying him around at games, and at some point it became my thing.”

But as the seasons passed, Hei Hei began to show signs of wear, most notably, losing his signature squeak. That’s when Cook stepped in to expand the roster.

“This year, I bought another chicken because poor Hei Hei is starting to lose his voice,” she said.

The new addition, a bright orange counterpart named Fey Fey, now shares the spotlight.

The chickens’ purpose is rooted in team unity and energy. After a big hit or simply to keep spirits high, the Lady Pirates reach for their squeaky companions.

“We love to use them when we make good plays and just to hype the team up,” Cook said.

The impact extends beyond the dugout. Opposing teams and curious spectators often take notice.

“I love the moments when I walk by other teams, and they ask about Hei Hei,” Cook said. “Hei Hei is always a staple piece when we travel to away games.”