SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University softball team opens its season this weekend in Greensburg with a Saturday non-conference doubleheader against Seton Hill. It begins a stretch of 42 scheduled games spanning the next nine weeks.
 
Yesterday, February 25, marked the first day that the Raiders held any sort of outdoor practice during their preseason. Since the team's return to campus in January, winter precipitation has wreaked havoc on the workout schedule, causing fifth-year head coach Ali Van Scyoc to cite the weather as the most prohibitive factor of a most unconventional preseason.
 
"I think at this point, we all understand what COVID is, and kind of what that is going to look like," Van Scyoc said. "But I would say the weather has been our biggest inhibitor, just being inside and not getting that feeling of outside."
 
Despite being limited to the confines of Henderson Gymnasium, all the while navigating a COVID-19 landscape by wearing masks, social distancing and adhering to health and well-being protocols, the prospect of simply having a season has motivated the Raiders.
 
"We lost the season last year, and then we had sort of a fall that was like, are we or aren't we going to have a spring?" Van Scyoc said. "When we got the news that we were definitely going to have a spring, it has been very exciting. Practices have good energy and have been upbeat."
 
The desire to compete is rampant among the Raiders and a unifying factor. When asked if there was one word she would use to describe her 2021 team, Van Scyoc chose relentless.
 
"I think the reason I picked that word is because they've gone with the flow, with all of what is happening," Van Scyoc said. "We've been inside the gym, and they just keep working hard every day, and I feel like they're relentless in their desire to be successful."
 
Glancing at the roster, the 2021 edition of the Raiders features 16 returners and nine true freshmen. Of the 25 players on the roster, 16 have freshman athletic eligibility.
 
"Honestly, I know that we appear young by grade, however, we don't feel young," Van Scyoc said. "I think we've had some growing pains, but because we have expedited the practice process, most of our players have really jumped on board quickly."
 
However, it has been difficult for the team to simulate certain in-game experiences while being confined to Henderson Gymnasium. Van Scyoc admitted that the first few games will be impactful as the Raiders acclimate to a new season.
 
"I think we're going to have a period in games where we're going to make some young mistakes, but I think we will bounce back in a more veteran-like manner," Van Scyoc said.
 
She added: "I feel very confident because their energy level is high. The physical part will come with it, but their confidence is high, and their energy is high."
 
There's another characteristic of the 2021 Raiders that has been vital to a successful transition to play.
 
"I think we have good leadership," Van Scyoc said. "The returners that we have that are older – people like Courtney Coy, Lacey Hunter, Hannah Marsteller, Morgan DeFeo and Sydney Reffner – I just think they sort of set the tone. This is our expectation, and they're good in the way that they give that message. It's not a negative message, it's a positive message. It has helped move our youth along."
 
With a schedule chock-full of games and a constantly-changing landscape due to COVID-19, the 2021 roster affords the team some flexibility both in the field and in the circle.
 
"We absolutely have depth at every position, even the designated player/hitter," Van Scyoc said. "It has made practice very competitive and has provided rapid growth. Our coaching staff has a lot of tough decisions ahead of us because our athletes are all pushing each other every day. In the year of COVID, it gives me some confidence that we have some depth if a player were to be out."
 
If there's one advantage that can be gleaned from the current COVID circumstances, it's that home games will hardly be a premium. With 12 home doubleheaders on the schedule, the Raiders are on pace to play a record 24 home games at Robb Field in 2021.
 
Shippensburg has never played more than 20 home games in a single season – even when including the playoffs.
 
"I think that was somewhat intentional on my part," Van Scyoc admitted. "I knew that we were going to start conference play earlier, and Farmer's Almanac said we were going to have a bad winter. My intention was to have as many home games as we could."
 
All in all, the opportunity to play, whether home or away, is not being taken for granted.
 
"One of the things we talk about a lot is no excuses," Van Scyoc said. "There's going to be a lot of changing from day to day to day. Don't have an excuse. Just get out there, be positive, optimistic, and be thankful that we're on the field again."
 
This weekend:
Seton Hill is allowing spectators at their home games, including this weekend's softball doubleheader, with the following restrictions: (1) Masks must be worn at all times, (2) Social Distancing be maintained outside of the family group, (3) no tailgating or gatherings before or after the game on any university property.