Rain impacts baseball schedule

Published 12:02 am Friday, March 1, 2019

By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

The Callaway Cavaliers were geared up, prepared, and ready to play a baseball game.

In what has been a common occurrence over the past few weeks, though, Mother Nature had other ideas.

Callaway’s field was already wet when another storm hit the area Thursday afternoon, forcing the postponement of the scheduled game against Glenwood (Ala.)

Also on Thursday, Troup’s home game with Heard County was postponed.

Troup and Heard County will try again today at 5:30 p.m., and Callaway and Glenwood rescheduled their game for April 17.

“Our kids were ready to play today,” Callaway head coach Dusty Hubbard said. “They were excited. We had two pretty good practices and it rains. It’s frustrating. It’s hard right now to get in a rhythm of playing.”

Callaway (3-1) has played one complete game over the past two weeks, a 4-3 loss to Bowdon on Monday.

Last week, Callaway was leading Troup 3-1 when the game was called.

While the Cavaliers have lost games because of the weather, they’ve also had to change their practice routine.

“It affects you even if you’re not playing, because you can’t get on the field in practice,” Hubbard said. “It’s cages, and taking ground balls in the outfield, and that’s all well and good, but at a point that becomes a little monotonous for them. Everybody’s dealing with it, and you’ve got to do the best you can.”

Callaway is scheduled to play two games on Saturday at Upson-Lee.

Callaway will play Upson-Lee at 11:30 a.m., and Harris County at 1:30 p.m.

Callaway has games next week against Brookstone and LaGrange before opening Region 5-AA play on March 12 against Bremen.

Hubbard’s hope is that some players who have been dealing with injuries will be ready to go by the time the all-important region games begin.

One of those players is Wesley Marchman, who is projected to be the staff ace.

Marchman has been hitting, but he has been unable to throw because of an injury.

“Wesley is progressing nicely,” Hubbard said. “He may try to play third base. He’s not back on the mound pitching yet, but at least he’s throwing. Maybe he’s not too far away. We’ve got a couple of other guys that have been nursing some injuries, and they’re starting to get a little bit better.”

Troup (1-3) has also been impacted by the weather.

In addition to the Callaway game that was cut short last week, Troup lost three games when a tournament at Allatoona High was canceled.

Troup is set to host Heard County today and Auburn on Monday before heading to Bradenton, Fla. for the Perfect Game showdown.

Troup begins its Region 5-AAAA schedule on March 18 at Central-Carroll.