WAITING ANXIOUSLY: Eskymos Thinking 'Spring'

ESCANABA---The Escanaba High School baseball team was supposed to have home games this week against Iron Mountain, Marquette, and Norway.

But instead of enjoying a homestand, just like all of the other teams across the Upper Peninsula, the Eskymos have been cooling their heels indoors. The Eskymos have been splitting their practice time between the high school gym and the turf room in Wells.

The Eskymos had an 18-15 record last season, and have a lot of youth this season for new manager Scott Hanson.

"We're trying everything we can to keep it positive and keep it fresh," Hanson said. "But the reality is, we've got to get outside and play. It's not good right right now. The turf room is good for ground balls.

"The gym is better for us size-wise. We tried to do some live hitting in the cage today to give the kids a look at some live pitching, working on situational things...first-and-third, things like that. But the reality is, we've got to get outside soon."

"Obviously, we can't do much for outfielders, with fly balls and stuff like that," Eskymo senior Johnny Schlenvogt said. "And it's a lot more difficult to do infield, because there's nothing like reading the ball off the dirt. It's a lot different than reading it off the turf or the hard gym floor. But everyone's working to get to our full potential for the year."

"We're trapped inside, but we're making the best of it, and getting our work done," Eskymo senior Aaron Young said. "I think we're going to do pretty good. We have our goals set. For individuals and as a team. We have some young kids, and we just have to show what we've got."

Escanaba will also have a junior varsity baseball team for the first time.

The Eskymos hope to open their season on April 28th against the Appleton North Lightning in Appleton, and then finally play a home game against Gladstone on May 1st.

That is...if Mother Nature and Old Man Winter agree.