It has been an interesting season so far for the BHSU women’s softball team. The team was set to play Colorado’s Metro State on March 24, but due to severe winter weather in the Black Hills region the game was cancelled. The Black Hills State women’s softball season began on Feb. 7 with games in Las Vegas.

According to player Katherine Drake, the season has been going great so far. “Our entire team has been working hard every day in practice and pushing each other past our limits so we can continue to improve daily. We have really started to connect as a team and it’s beginning to show on the field.”

Although there has been 14 game cancelationsso far this season, the women have kept a positive attitude and keep working toward the games they do get to play.

Coach Chad Kruckenberg is looking forward to the rest of the season. Krunkenberg said it is disappointing when games are cancelled because the whole team knows that they are the fun part of the sport. Of the 14 canceled games, 12 have been home games.

It’s not all just fun and games for the BHSU women’s softball team – the women have to practice five days a week, and the weather is not working out too well for a sport that is played outdoors. In fact, the team has had to make many sacrifices due to the snow, wind, and cold temperatures this winter and spring.

Rather than going outdoors to the field to practice, the team has had to make other arrangements to practice, like going into the BHSU field house, or onto the turf field due to the softball field being in bad condition.

“Weather plays a huge role in practice.But we’ve got great indoor facilities,and the addition of the turf to the football fields gets us outside even if our field is in poor shape,” Kruckenberg said.

Many on the team hope the weather will work out to their benefit. Both the players and the coaches are excited for the rest of the season. There are many games left for the team to make its mark in the RMAC.

The BHSU women’s softball team will be taking the field on March 29 at noon to take on New Mexico Highlands University.