Thursday, March 30, 2017

WEATHER RESTRICTS WIZARD BASEBALL IN THE SEASON’S EARLY STAGES

By ROBBIE STRATAKOS

Last year, both the varsity and junior varsity boys’ baseball teams at Washingtonville High School were blessed with great weather. That weather, while windy, didn't bring upon too much precipitation, allowing both teams to practice outdoors nearly every day.  It was quite a luxury for the program, as it helped them get prepared for the 2016 season. This year, regrettably, has been a completely different story.

ROBBIE STRATAKOS FOR WIZARD WEEKLY
Thanks to a blizzard which brought upon nearly two feet of snow two weeks ago, both teams have been unable to hold even one practice on their respective field. The rainfall and cold temperatures have also played a factor in that. The rain has made the fields wet and unplayable, making it tough for both teams to do even simulated drills outdoors. As a result, both teams have gotten little to no on-field exposure. That means infielders haven't taken ground balls, and outfielders haven’t seen a fly ball off a bat. That’s quite the liability.  “It’s tough to get a grasp for how good you are as a team when you don’t get any time on the field,” coach Bauer woefully explained.  In addition to being unable to practice on their own field, varsity’s recent scrimmage didn’t help with their real game exposure either.

On Wednesday, the varsity boys’ partook in a scrimmage versus Chester, at The Rock- a baseball training facility in Chester. While The Rock does have a number of fields of its own, they are all turf fields. This means that while the facility does offer an open field and a chance to play outdoors, it does not offer teams a chance at playing on a real baseball field. That, as well as their practice restrictions, have held the Wizards’ growth as a team back a bit. 

While the weather has severely affected Washingtonville’s baseball team, that same weather has also affected others teams in Orange County. That means that while the Wizards are victims of the weather, others teams have fallen victim as well; however, how each program responds to the setbacks in their growth as a team will play a big part in their success this season. With the season just a few days away, it will be interesting to see how the beginning of the year pans out for both Varsity and JV boys.

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