Late last month, the Edgewood Warriors softball team traveled to Orlando, Florida to play scrimmages and games.
The Warriors went 1-3 in the south.
“The team had a great time in Florida, and it was great prep for the season,” Warriors coach Randy Vencill said. “We were really excited, and then we came back and we have not been able to get on the field since.”
Since returning to Ohio, Edgewood has played just one game — Wednesday, as the Warriors blanked Cardinal 15-0 in five innings.
“Sometimes it feels like we’re back to square one,” Vencill said. “Disappointed, but always hopeful.”
Edgewood is scheduled to play Monday at Perry.
Other area softball and baseball teams are in a similiar situation as once again, spring is off to a slow start due to inclement weather, such as rain and cold, at times.
The spring regular season typically starts at the end of March.
Conneaut’s softball team is 0-1 after a 20-1 Chagrin Valley Conference Lake Division five-inning loss to Madison Wednesday.
“This spring has been one we will never forget,” Spartans coach Lexi Zappitelli said. “We have had seven games postponed or cancelled due to this weather.
“It’s not easy being stuck inside the gym. We are trying to make the best of it.”
Conneaut is scheduled to host Jefferson Monday in a conference game.
The Blue Streaks baseball team, which won the CVC Lake Division title last season, is 1-0 after an 11-0 win over Edgewood Wednesday.
“The biggest challenge has been trying to balance practices in a way that keeps the kids sharp and engaged,” Madison coach Brian Titman said. “It’s also a delicate situation trying to keep our pitchers in rhythm.
“When you don’t know if you can or can’t play for two days, you want to get your pitchers’ work, but also make sure they are available if the rain doesn’t show up.”
A key area with softball and baseball is playing every or nearly every day to get some rhythm.
“The toughest thing is baseball is a sport of timing,” Titman said. “When you play, then sit four or five days or this case more, it really impacts a players’ timing at the plate.”
But Titman believes his team has the right makeup to get through this stretch and be play ready when the warm and sunny weather arrives.
“I am fortunate at this moment to have a group that really enjoys the process of baseball,” he said. “They have done a great job keeping our practices energetic and using all of this down time in a productive way to sharpen their mental and physical games, trying to stay ready and control what we can control.”
The Blue Streaks are scheduled to play at Girard today.
It hasn’t been all bad news to start the campaign.
Saint John’s baseball team is 5-2 thus far, which includes four games in South Carolina.
The Jefferson softball squad has also played seven games.
