Gateway catcher Justin Edinger attempts to apply the tag to Easthampton’s Chris Starcun in a 2013 Western Massachusetts Division 3 tournament game. (Photo by Chris Putz)
HUNTINGTON – Despite another potential blast of snow, the Gateway Regional High School baseball team is attempting to think spring.
Baseball tryouts recently began for the Gateway Gators baseball team with the regular season fast approaching.
Gateway’s first regular season pitch is slated to come against host Granby April 7 at 4 p.m. After a long stretch of away games to start off the season, the Gators will finally return for their home opener April 21 against St. Mary’s. That game is also slated for 4 p.m.
Gateway has some key players returning from last year.
Senior Geoff Sobotka returns to the team after finishing second on the team in hits (16) and first in Runs Batted In (12). Sobotka will likely start at third base, and can pitch as well, team officials said. Senior Justin Edinger is coming off of a great 2013 season where he led the team in hits (19) and was fifth in RBIs (8). Edinger will be handling a majority of the catching this season, according to team officials.
The Gateway baseball team finished its season last year at 6-6 in the division, and 7-11 overall. The Gators will look to take advantage of having many of last year’s starters returning.
Even though Gateway’s first home game of the season is several weeks away, the snow and bad weather could affect the beginning of their season. The Gators have been forced to hold tryouts and practice indoors until the field can be cleared of snow and the ground is dry.
This may take some time and could force both the softball and baseball teams to reschedule some of their early home games to the end of the season.
“Usually we are inside for a week and can get outside somewhere during week two, but this year looks to be much different,” Gateway head baseball coach Gary St. Peter said. “The snow on the field is usually all gone by now… it is very depressing to see the amount of snow still left on the field, and the temps not changing much.”
Cold temperatures are expected much of the week, and the possibility for snow late Tuesday night into Wednesday exists. The cold snap is expected to break late in the week with temps possibly reaching as high as 60 degrees. – Gateway spokesperson Wendy Long contributed to this report
