Spring break means going home or traveling the globe for that fun-filled spot to let it all hang out with other collegians from around the country.
For the spring athletic programs, spring break means the start of their quests for the 2003 league championships. Leading the way are the baseball and softball teams.
Ed Flaherty’s troops are looking to regain the form from two years ago when their consecutive string of 15 straight appearances in the NCAA tournament was broken. This year their run for the Little East and NCAA tournaments starts with a match-up with Castleton State to be played on Cape Cod on March 15 followed by the annual Florida run at Ft. Myers.
Bonny Brown-Dennico’s Lady Husky softballers are also looking to get back into the NCAA tournament after their season-ending 1-0 heartbreak loss to Clark University in the ECAC tournament of a year ago. Replacing the bats Tina West (.438), Renee Heath (.431), Beth Fulton (.333) and Amy Ouelette (.417) will not be easy. However the Huskies will have the strong pitching of Melissa Henderson (16-8, 1.19 ERA) to lead the way once again. The Lady Huskies begin their season in Ft. Myers on March 20 when they take on Trinity College.
The women’s outdoor track and field team will also be making their way to Florida during this spring break to take care of business at the Florida State Relays in Tallahassee. The lady tricksters are coming off one of their most productive winter campaigns in recent history. During the winter season a number of records fell and the ladies show no signs of letting up this spring. Nikki Freeman, Kim Brewer and Amy Swanberg anchor down one of George Towle’s finest teams assembled.
For those not traveling to Florida or abroad, there’s no need to worry. Here on the homefront the men and women’s lacrosse teams start their seasons on the road around New England.
Ken Tubbs’ men’s squad opens up in Massachusetts at Emerson College where Tubbs feels “they are one of the toughest places to play on our schedule.” Emerson is just the start of a six game road trip that will cover Maine Maritime Academy, Manhattanville (NY), Salve Regina, and the University of New England.
The ladies of the lacrosse pitch also open their season playing six of their first seven games on the road including four in a row to start the campaign.
Dave Venditti’s ladies will show what they are made of quickly, playing at Bowdoin, University of New England, and at Manhattanville in New York staring on March 13.
So, whether you are traveling to Florida or staying here in New England, why not take a day and enjoy some of the best that the spring athletics program has to offer.