The Virginia softball team heads south this weekend to open their season at the Triangle Classic in Raleigh, N.C. The Cavaliers will play four round-robin games, beginning with North Carolina-Wilmington at noon Friday and concluding with Virginia Tech at noon Saturday. Bracket play opens Saturday afternoon and Sunday.
Virginia is eager to hit the field after training since the fall season.
Despite excitement in the locker room and preparation throughout the preseason, the outcome of this weekend's tournament depends as much on cooperation from the weather as it does on the Cavaliers' efforts. Coach Cheryl Sprangel described the forecast as questionable and expressed hope that no games would be cancelled due to the predicted freezing rain.
"We just want to play," Sprangel said. "We want to get out and start working together and get as much game experience as possible for our pitchers."
Inclement weather kept the Cavaliers indoors for much of the preseason, but has not hindered the learning or bonding of a fairly young team. With junior Joanna Barstad as the only returning pitcher, Virginia will turn to their two healthy freshman hurlers, Christina Grimm and Erin Horn, to shoulder some of the burden on the mound.
"Our freshman pitchers have to step up and play well quickly," Sprangel said. "Between the two of them, one will have to step up. Hopefully, it will be both."
The graduation of Kristen Dennis in the spring of 2002 cost the Cavaliers their ace pitcher -
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