Staggering to the Starting Gate

What with injuries, concussions and family travel we'll be starting this season with thin rosters. As I sit here Thursday morning we have only 21 eligible players for both rosters. Because varsity takes priority, JV will probably play Friday with only 10 players -- no courtesy runners, no DP, and one emergency sub if there’s an injury. Obviously, not the way we drew it up. 

There will, undoubtedly, be more changes and players moving between squads as the year progresses. We should have two more players meeting the 14-practice minimum on Monday, be back at full (JV) strength by next Friday. The ankle injury to senior Bree Schatz, an entrenched starter, makes the varsity thin, however, which means we’ll probably be loaning at least one of our starters to Coach Gibson for the foreseeable future.

You never want to see a game postponed, but not playing tomorrow due to heat might not be the worst thing to happen. With so few players and a stifling heat index, it will be essential for the girls to pre-hydrate (lots of water today and tomorrow) not only before the game but during the contest, as well. I’ll have three “cooling towels,” but if that’s something in your kit, feel free to pack it for the next couple weeks.

When I have a surer handle on our lineup for tomorrow, I’ll invite you to follow us on GameChanger™. You don’t have to wait for the invite, of course, but I think I have e-mail addresses for everyone and you can look for that this evening. You can, at least in theory, follow us on Twitter (@CoachBerndt) and via-e-mail by signing up in the area above the headline but below the header.

Looking forward to an “interesting” season, as in the Irish Curse, “May you live in interesting times.” I have been assured, however, that neither world peace nor local strife hangs in the balance. I plan to have fun, and hope you and your daughters will join in.