After having seven of their first 15 games cancelled because of rain, the Sulphur Lady Tors are hoping for good weather today when they host LaGrange in their District 3-5A opener at 4 p.m.
Game cancellations have been very disruptive to the Lady Tors this season with several players learning new positions.
“We have rained out almost as many games as we have played,” Lady Tor head coach Julie Mancuso said. “We had a good weekend and then not so much the next day.
“We have a couple of games this weekend to work on some things. I think it is just game experience with the girls at new position. You get fewer at bats and reps. We are tired of practicing indoors.”
In addition to their game today against LaGrange, the Lady Tors (3-5) will host the 2010 SHS Spring Classic on Friday and Saturday.
Sulphur hopes to return to the playoffs this season after missing out last year making a top finish in the district very important.
“It is real important that we start off with a win,” Mancuso said. “We have to work on placing first or second in district if we want to go to the playoffs.”
With just eight district games, there will not be much room for error for the Lady Tors.
This year’s district will be a little different from last year’s. Defending state champion St. Thomas More is no longer in the district and has been replaced by LaGrange. But 2009 5A state-up runner up Barbe is still in the district and expected to be the top contender for the district title.
“Barbe is going to be the team to beat,” Mancuso said. “They didn’t really lose anything.
“We are not going to over look Lafayette or Acadiana. I don’t know anything about LaGrange. Lafayette and Acadiana have potential to beat people. We can not take them lightly.”
Mancuso was pleased with the Lady Tors play against Dutchtown in the St. Amant tournament.
“We looked real good against Dutchtown,” Mancuso said. “We didn’t have many errors and they strung their hits together.
“Our pitchers were doing a good job with not so many walks.”
One thing the Lady Tors will be working on is leaving fewer runners stranded after leaving 20 on base in three games at the St. Amant Tournament.
“We are going to have to hit and eliminate some of the errors,” Mancuso said. “We have to string our hits together.
“We had a little trouble with that last week so hopefully we can do better this week.”
Note: The Lady Tors have rescheduled their game against New Iberia for March 29th at 1p.m. in Sulphur.
