Let the real season begin.
Or so says Utah softball first baseman Staci Hemingway of today’s conference-opening double-header against Colorado State.
“This is definitely hype, this is game time,” Hemingway said of the team’s overall sense of urgency. “Our record has now started over in our minds.”
The Utes (17-16) will need to shake off the rust since they last played Utah State on March 26. Three games scheduled for last weekend against struggling UVSC were cancelled due to inclement weather.Hemingway, for one, appreciated the time off.
“I wouldn’t say (the layoff) hurt us,” she said. “It would’ve been nice to get those games in, but having the (extra) practice time was good to work on things we needed to and heal some of the injuries that the girls have been having.”
The injuries aren’t more than typical wear-and-tear and won’t keep any of the players off the field, though Hemingway is dealing with a hyper-extended elbow that slows her down.
“They won’t keep me out if I have my way,” Hemingway said. “We’re ready to get out there, and these first (conference) games are the most important to set the bar for the rest of the conference.”
The stakes, she insists, are much higher now.
“This is definitely not just another game,” Hemingway continued. “It’s definitely more intense. You win the conference, you get an automatic bid into the playoffs. So it’s like starting over now.”
The Ram pitching corps will try to be the first to slow the Utes’ new lineup. The Rams are led by the hot-hitting trio of Julia Kloppe, Lauren Cusick and Caitlan Stem. Each of the players is batting over .400 on the season. Ram pitchers Cayte Billman and Rebecca Penland are having nice seasons from the mound with 7-2 and 6-2 records, respectively.
“Their record shows that they’re pretty decent, but I think our strength of schedule definitely surpasses theirs,” Hemingway said of Utah’s non-conference lineup that featured multiple ranked teams. “I would think (we can handle them), but I’m not gonna say we’re not worried.”
The Utes’ inconsistency is certainly chronicled this season, having upset nationally-ranked Texas and DePaul but also falling to the lowly Aggies one week ago.
Today’s home games are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. After playing the Rams, Utah will host three games against New Mexico on Friday and Saturday.