As soon as the softball team took its first steps off the plane for a 10-game stretch in Clermont, Fla., last week, it was clear the Bombers were not in central New York anymore. After gritting through weeks of avoiding freezing outdoor temperatures in the stuffy Ben Light Gymnasium, the team got a breath of fresh air. Fitted in a better climate for softball, sophomore third baseman Allison Greaney said she had no problem getting back into the game.

“Everything comes back so quickly,” she said. “Fielding the ball off the grass and seeing the ball in the sky instead of the gym rafters is a lot nicer.”

One of the most important parts of the spring break trip is the adjustment period. Often, the way the team comes together after those first few games outside is more important than the win-loss record.

“In those first couple games we are really feeling each other out,” junior tri-captain outfielder Katherine Wilson said. “We were finally able to actually play and see what everyone could do.”  

It did not take long for the athletes to adjust to both the game and each other. The team went 7–3 during the trip, finishing with two wins in a doubleheader over Northwestern College and Bates College. That will serve as a big psychological boost going into the regional part of the schedule.

“We are really excited about what we saw,” Greaney said. “The three losses we had were all only by one run, and we ended on a positive note.”

Two out of those three losses were even closer than the scoreboard showed, having gone into extra innings.

“We know we can play with anyone,” Wilson said. “We just hope to win those extra-inning games in the future.”

In those games, Ithaca scored many of its runs with two outs, which kept the score close. The players proved to each other they can produce in clutch situations, an experience that will be vital when the postseason rolls around.

“We work well together,” junior Caitlin Ryan said. “We don’t let things get to us and are very even keeled.”

In the games where the Bombers fell short, fielding mistakes led to the opposition capitalizing and taking the lead.

“Errors are what caused a couple of the losses,” Greaney said. “It is kind of a positive in a negative way though, knowing we just have to fix that to win those games.”

After playing 10 games in six days, Ithaca will have a full week of practice to mend its mistakes. Coming back to South Hill, the team is hoping to be able to practice on Kostrinsky Field for the first time all season. While the Ben Light Gymnasium does provide a serviceable venue, the Bombers noticed that most of their rust came because of being cooped up inside.

“Most of the things we struggled at were things we couldn’t necessarily work on in the gym,” Ryan said.

If they get ideal weather, it will be much easier to prepare for their next onslaught of games — a four-game stretch this weekend in Salisbury, Md. As a part of the Salisbury Invitational, they will once again be put to the test, with two doubleheaders in two days.   

When the Bombers return, they will have their first home game Wednesday against No. 6 SUNY-Cortland. Though it won’t be the southern atmosphere the team has gotten used to, a green Kostrinsky Field will be a welcome sight for the Blue and Gold.