Staff photo / Brian Yauger Austintown Fitch softball coach Steve Ward gives freshman Sydnie Watts a fist bump after she hit a home run earlier this season.

With the abysmal start to spring, poor weather has meant high school baseball and softball in the Mahoning Valley is off to a slow start.

Coaches in the area are finding it difficult for their teams to get quality practices when they take place indoors or at hitting facilities when the game is meant to be played outdoors. Among many of the concerns is making sure the teams get live at-bats, the fielders get good reps and the pitchers start to fall into a routine.

Kennedy head baseball coach Jim Ciambotti said his team is fortunate to have an indoor facility where ground balls and some outfield routes can happen, but he ultimately knows being outside is where his team needs to be.

“We’ve had one outdoor practice, three scrimmages and four games. I’ve been doing this for 30 years and this season is one of the worst I’ve seen,” he said. “This game is meant to be played consistently and it hurts that you cant get out there and get a read on the players and on your team. ”

Champion’s skipper Andrew Barker also shared the same sentiment. He said not being on a practice field this season has proven difficult for his team to fall into a routine. His concern is when his squad takes the field, the difference from fielding grounders in a gym compared to a field will be noticeable.

“Once you hit the field you get a different bounce than on the hardwood,” he said.

He also noted that the indoor facility the team uses for batting practice is good, but doesn’t compare to live at-bats.

For Champion’s softball team, head coach Cheryl Weaver said hitting is what her team is focusing on when indoors, but knows her girls need time outdoors to iron out some communication issues in the outfield.

“(Being indoors) has really affected our outfield and communication of where the ball has to go… it affects a lot of the game,” Weaver said.

Aside from practicing indoors, Weaver noted that going from playing games outdoors and then going indoors for practice takes a toll.

“We spent so much time inside in the beginning that you can’t wait to be outside. We didn’t get out until our first game,” Weaver said. “Now with (the weather), you can’t even be outside. It’s kind of depressing. After you’ve been outside playing games and going back inside, it hurts.”

Ursuline head baseball coach Paul Kempe said his team is trying to take adavantage of being outside as best as they can, however he said getting in the rythym of playing games is the hardest part.

“The big thing I’ve preached with the staff is that the weather is like this for everyone. We have to be ready to go with every opportunity we have. I think our guys have done a great job with it and I credit them with always being ready,” Kempe said.

Unlike some teams in the Valley, Ursuline has been able to get nine games in so far this season and Kempe said the team is fortunate to have been able to play that many.

“We’re able to do some things in the gym, but you don’t get the same experience. At the end of the day it gets on you a little bit because you can’t get into that rythym. Our guys have done a great job of buying into everything we’ve said,” he said.

Matthews’ head baseball coach Jared Terlecky said the rocky start to the season has been made worse due trying to break in new players to different positions. With only one practice outdoors, Terlecky said it’s difficult to explain newer positions while indoors or on a modified field in a parking lot.

“It’s never the same on the field,” he said. “You’re at the mercy of the weather and it’s been a challenging year. It’s almost depressing going back to the gym after playing a game. It’s OK to get by like that in the winter, but it’s counter productive this time of year.”

For Austintown Fitch, however, the season has been just chilly for the Falcons. With 11 games under their belt, the team has been able to practice outdoors for most of the season, according to skipper Joe Paris. In fact, Tuesday’s game cancelation is the first for the Falcons.

“We really try not to go inside if we don’t have to. We were blessed to get our games in,” he said. “We’ve only been inside two or three times. If it’s 37 or 38 degrees out the guys want to go outside. We can’t do much indoors… I’d rather go an hour outside than an hour and a half inside.”

Playing and practicing on turf has been a blessing, however Paris is looking forward to road games so the team can get reps on grass infields.

“I’m looking forward to playing on the road. When you’re playing on turf, it’s more true. It’s not that much quicker. You don’t get those bad hops and those are things you have to worry about on the road,” he said. “When we do go on the road, I do anticipate some difference, but we’ve got some good ballplayers so I don’t think it will take that long to adjust.”

The Falcons’ softball head coach Steve Ward also sees the turf field as an advantage.

“It keeps our routine the same. For us to be able to be outside really gives us a boost of confidence that we’re going to play that day or at the very least have some practice outside,” he said. “Having the turf facilities is a big advantage. We’ve been outside more and get more games in. Having those game reps does place us at an advantage.”

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