The softball season started in late February for most high school teams but it felt like it just began last week. Rain, rain and more rain and then Spring Break week has gotten the season off to a soggy, sporadic start.
Most teams were able to get in two or three games last week and every schedule is full for the rest of the season. Last week’s play was indicative of the season with spotty fielding and poor timing at the plate. The weather has played a factor for most teams.
“I think it’s hurt all the teams, not just our team,” said Smackover coach Dennis Steele. “You go a week off and the next week is spring break and we missed a game on Monday. It’s horrible. I’m not making excuses. But not playing for eight or nine days and you can’t practice. That’s going to hurt all of the teams.”
The Lady Bucks are 5-4 on the season. They won at Parkers Chapel on Tuesday and beat Harmony Grove Thursday before falling at DeWitt on Friday. Smackover had five games canceled or postponed and went from May 14 to May 26 without playing.
Parkers Chapel (2-3) was idle from May 11 to May 26. The Lady Trojans also got a late start due to their run to the basketball state tournament.
Coach Justin Welch’s squad dropped games to Smackover and Junction City last week. But he said the time off wasn’t a complete negative for the players.
“I don’t think it’s been necessarily a bad thing nor a good thing. I know that sounds odd but it’s given the girls that have come over from other sports a well deserved rest while also, at the same time, denying us the ability to get into a rhythm,” he explained. “This group is a veteran group so we’ll find our groove soon. We’re really close to it right now. Our bats are starting to wake up and our pitching is improving everyday now so I’m excited to see how things play out as the season progresses.”
One team that hasn’t appeared to be impacted at all has been Junction City. The Lady Dragons were able to get four jamboree games in, two at Summerfield before Spring Break and two at Horatio at the end of the break. Junction City brings an 8-2 record and a six-game winning streak into a week that has games scheduled against Smackover, Woodlawn, El Dorado and Ouachita.
“We haven’t missed any games due to the weather,” said Junction City coach Jay Burroughs. “We scheduled light during spring break knowing this week starts off our conference and the stretch run.”
Parkers Chapel has Hampton, Ouachita and Woodlawn scheduled this week with Smackover set to play Smackover and Lake Village.