Warriors ready to play despite rain-soaked season
Sports reporter
Eleven games postponed. Three canceled completely. And not one week with a full slate of games and practices.
It hasn't always been fun for the Marion High School softball team, but it is what is, and despite the rain the Warriors are ready to hit the field no matter what.
"It's been kind of frustrating," head coach Sandy Black said of the terrible weather all season. "We're ready to play. We'd like to get back on the field."
Despite all the rainouts, the Warriors were set to play all but one of the 20 scheduled games.
That was until Mother Nature said no again Monday when the girls were to travel to Nickerson for a make-up game.
They still had four more on the schedule (two Tuesday at home against Hesston, and two Friday at Lyons), but it's possible they will have only 13 games under their belt heading into next week's regional.
"I hope we can play a few more games before then so we can work on a few things," Black said.
One of the biggest aspects they would work on Black said is just maintaining focus so the offense and defense are in tune at the same time.
Both have been great at times this season, but rarely in synch.
It happened Friday in a makeup game against Sterling.
A three-run third inning for Sterling in game one helped the Black Bears to a 4-3 victory, and despite four first-inning Warrior runs in game two, the defense allowed 10 in a three-run loss.
"We didn't play bad," Black said. "We just had a few bad innings."
Sonja Steinborn pitched both games for the Warriors who fell to 2-11 on the season.
Morgan Cady had two hits and an RBI in game one, while Kristen Waner crossed the plate twice for MHS in game two.
The Warriors will play either Monday or Tuesday in a 3A regional at Southeast of Saline. The regional includes: SE of Saline, Herington/White City, Hesston, Hillsboro, and Wichita Collegiate.
The second round and championship games will be held at SE of Saline as well.
