By Bridgette Begle and Erika Thornsberry
With temperatures dropping into single digits in recent weeks, spring sports have seen little time outside on their fields, courts and courses.
Tennis, golf, baseball and softball are being forced to share time inside as the winter weather continues to blow through.
Senior golfer MacKenzy Carter says, “Being inside creates a disadvantage for us because we can’t actually hit off of real grass. The indoor mats and nets don’t allow us to actually see the ball flight and judge distance.”
Golf uses the nets on the side of the court in McQuiddy while baseball and softball share time in the upper levels where the pitching mounds and two hitting cages are located.
“Going from the field to a tiny space with only two cages limits space for the team to work together,” said sophomore softball player Tanner Sanders.
Sanders is a pitcher for the Lady Bison and goes on to say, “The lighting inside [McQuiddy] is terrible. Therefore our pitchers cannot pitch live inside the cages. Not to mention we will also need a lot of work on defense before season begins which isn’t possible if we are inside.”
Tennis is missing its outdoor courts because of the role that natural elements play in their game.
“The biggest difference between indoor and outdoor tennis are the sun, the wind and the temperature,” says senior Stuart Tierney. “Outdoors you have to play with the elements. You have to understand which way the wind is blowing, and where the sun is in the sky.”
This cold weather isn’t the only thing bringing these spring sport athletes together. A new unofficial Twitter account called LU Unwanted Ones is definitely making waves around campus.
“Unwanted” is referring to the seemingly apparent belief that spring sports do not receive the support or promotion that fall sports get.
With already over 90 followers, multiple tweets are sent out a day by this anonymous account with countdowns to each sport’s opener.
“As an athlete that plays a spring sport, I think it is awesome how fast it has spread. Whoever is doing this deserves to hear our ‘thank you,’” said sophomore softball player Dee Baddley.
Junior track runner, Kenny Smith appreciates the account for the attention it is giving multiple different athletes.
“I love this page,” says Smith, “Not only because it gives the spring sports publicity, but it shows off the athletes that don’t get recognized all that often. If you follow the page, they have a picture up of all the different athletes just about everyday.”
Men’s basketball player, junior Malcolm Smith, a fall sport player says, “I think the Twitter page will really help the spring sports get student support. It’s a good way that everyone can be informed on the up in coming games.”
Spring sports are in a count down to season openers including baseball Feb. 14, men’s golf Feb. 17 and women’s golf March 3.