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Montana Grizzlies softball powering through winter early in 2019 season

Posted at 6:37 PM, Jan 15, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-15 20:50:50-05

MISSOULA – The temperatures are starting to finally rise into the 20s, but Tuesday the Montana Grizzlies’ softball team was on the field getting ready for its 2019 campaign.

The Griz might have been practicing, but they don’t share the luxury that many schools get across the nation in winter: playing on an outdoor field.

Instead, the Griz will spend most of their time in their indoor facility, working on nearly everything with the exception of live pitching and fly balls.

While UM may be hindered by the weather at the beginning of the season, senior pitcher Maddy Stensby and head coach Melanie Meuchel said they don’t let any opportunities to get outside go by the wayside.

“I’m from Washington, actually, but I’ve been here for four years now, so I’m pretty used to it — the process of being in the snow and what it’s like to play indoors,” said Stensby. “I think that our facility people always find a way to get us outside at least a week or two before we go and play.”

“We really tried to work through everything, seeing live pitching and then just seeing some deep fly balls, but yeah, we’re fortunate,” said Meuchel. “We’ll take every opportunity. We’re not going to use anything as an excuse or a reason why. We are challenged at times, but we like that challenge, and that’s kind of our mindset.”