Otterbein spring student-athletes' seasons will return back to normal after fall sports were delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions last year.
Otterbein softball will start the season with their spring break competition beginning Sunday, March 6, in Clermont, Florida, against University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Lakeland University (Wisconsin).
“I think we’re excited to have the season back to normal, as normal as that can be,” said Otterbein softball Head Coach Bruce Anderson. “We’re moving forward as if nothing ever happened. The team is excited to get back and not have that strange schedule that we had last year.”
As for the Otterbein men’s lacrosse team, they will begin their season on Saturday, February 19, at Albion. They will play most of their games on Wednesday nights and Saturday afternoons with a couple Tuesday and Friday games sprinkled in.
“This group of sophomores had a very bizarre freshman year,” said Otterbein men’s lacrosse Head Coach Colin Hartnett. “There’s no one on the team that wasn’t pretty strongly affected by the last two years. To give them a season that’s as close to normal as we’ve had is good for the team, good for the culture, good for the coaches, good for everyone.”
The women’s lacrosse team, however, already opened their season Sunday, February 13, with a 17-4 win over Transylvania University. Their home opener will take place Tuesday, February 22, against Kenyon College.
“Having the spring sports season back to ourselves gives our team a little more excitement and confidence knowing that they have that time for themselves and a little bit more ‘all eyes on them’ recognition,” said first-year Otterbein women’s lacrosse Head Coach Rachael Griffith. “I think it gives them an extra boost to show out this season. It will be nice to have the spotlight on spring sports again.”
For the Otterbein men’s baseball team, they will begin their season at the Crossroads Crossover Series in Westfield, Indiana. They will compete against Anderson University on Friday, February 25, followed by Manchester University and Kalamazoo College on Saturday, February 26. The team will follow up with their spring break trip in Fort Myers, Florida, where they will play eight games over the span of a week starting on Saturday, March 5, through Saturday, March 12.
“The spring trip is vital and critical on so many levels,” said Otterbein men’s baseball Head Coach George Powell. “It’s a lifelong experience for these guys where all they can focus on is baseball. Comradery is built. Roles are developed. We weren’t able to do that last year. We just went into playing games. We didn’t know who was going to be the closer. We didn’t know who the starters were going to be. We just started playing games. That’s why the Florida trip is a vital part of our season and the development of the players.”
