Webster Parish received almost 4 inches of snow Wednesday, as baseballs were replaced with snowballs.
With most of North Louisiana covered in snow – and more rain and thunderstorms expected to begin next week – area baseball coaches have been scrambling to adjust.
Practice schedules have been changed, tournament games rescheduled or canceled, and travel plans carefully dissected.
Here is a look at how each area team has coped with the elements, as well as a preview of where you can hope to find each team over the weekend and into next week.
Minden Crimson Tide
The Crimson Tide took on Captain Shreve on Thursday and will face the Haughton Buccaneers Friday at 5 p.m.
“Surprisingly nothing has changed with our schedule,” Tide head coach Dean Francis said. “It’s cold like this every year at this time. Here we are going into a game with 5 days off in a row, but everyone’s in the same boat as us. It’s tough when you get in a groove and then you have five days off. I bet we could beat anybody if we played in a gym as much time as we’ve spent in there.”
Glenbrook Apaches
The Glenbrook Apaches were originally scheduled to take part in the Pine Tree tournament in Texas, but after the surge of winter weather it has been canceled. With rain in the forecast for next week it could be March 5 before the Apaches are back on the diamond in the Kilgore, Texas tournament.
“With the tournament being canceled we will do what we can as far as practice goes,” Apache head coach Jonathan Hardy said. “We will do what we can to keep our arms and legs in shape. We will hit a good bit in our enclosed hitting facility. We have to be flexible mentally because there’s never a perfect situation with weather this time of year.”
Lakeside Warriors
The Lakeside baseball team will compete in the North Desoto tournament against Loyola Friday at 3 p.m. and then again versus Northwood Saturday at 5 p.m.
“This is the time of year you need to get better,” head coach Bob Gray said. “There’s no way you can get that done if you can’t get on the field. These first 10 ball games are vitally important to your season. This has kind of put a hinderance on that process.”
