HELENA — It may not look like it outside, but college softball season is right around the corner.
The Carroll College Fighting Saints open their season this Friday at the NAIA College Classic. The anticipated difference in temperatures between Helena and Lake Elsinore, Calif., is about 60 degrees. While the Saints have only practiced outside a handful of times, they expect the temperature shift to benefit them in the long run.
“It’ll be a big temperature swing, an advantage for us. Those Southern California, those Arizona teams, the 50-degree weather is going to feel cold to them,” said head coach Aaron Jackson. “We’ll be out there in our T-shirts enjoying the sun and the warmth, and it’ll just be nice to get out of the bitter cold and finally get on some dirt.”
“I think our team has proven time and time again that we can fight through adversity with weather and everything thing like that,” said junior pitcher Ali Williams, noting the Saints played only one home game last season. “I don’t think we’re going to have many issues with it. There’s definitely going to be a few more teams there that have played a few more games than us in the warmer weather, but it’s OK. I think we’ll do just fine.”
The Saints will open their 2019 season on Friday against Saint Katherine.
