Softball gears up for warm weather, games in Florida

Augustana softball coach Gretta Melsted knew she had a good team coming into this season.

However, even she did not envision the outstanding start her team has put together to begin its 2011 season.

Augustana will look to improve on its perfect 9-0 record when it travels to Orlando, Fla., for the Rebel Spring Games.

The Vikings will play 10 games over a six day stretch from March 17-22.

The Vikings early season dominance has been evident as they have outscored their opponents in runs by an astonishing 98-18.

"They're doing a lot of the little things right right now that they need to do," Melsted said. "And they're just hitting the ball really well, which is what I expected, but maybe not to this extent."

So far this season, the Vikings have hit 20 home runs in their first nine games.

In two separate games, the Vikings managed to hit six home runs—a new school record.

 Out of the 10 games, six will be against either ranked teams or teams that have been ranked at some point this season.

The games should give Augustana a chance to play some closer games.

One team Melsted is looking forward to facing is Indianapolis.

"I'm excited to play them because they're ranked ahead of us," Melsted said. "And we get to play them twice. I've never played them before."

Wayne State (Mich.) is another team Melsted said she is excited to play, who they often play at the Rebel Spring Games.

Going up against some better teams should be exactly what the Vikings need at this point in the season.

In six of their nine games, the Vikings have managed to ten-run-rule (leading by ten or more after five innings) the teams.

Melsted realizes closer games will only benefit her team.

"We need some close games," Melsted said. "And we need some better competition and we need to learn how to win in close games instead of blowouts."

A few influential players  in the early season are senior infielder Traci Fransen, sophomore outfielder Theresa McMahon and junior pitcher Chelsey Durland.

The Vikings came into the season with question marks at the lead-off spot, a spot that McMahon has now filled, since she is playing at such a high level. McMahon saw minimal playing time last year as a freshman.

Fransen leads the Vikings in batting average and RBIs hitting .533 and driving in 17 runs.

Durland is 4-0 on the mound this season and has yet to allow an earned run.

"She's just played really well," Melsted said. "And she doesn't always start all games for us because she is really phenomenal coming in and finishing out games and is a great complement to our other pitchers."

Aside from the games itself, the Vikings will also be looking forward to the warmer climates  so they can get outside and play on dirt.

Currently, the team holds all of its practices inside the gym.

Any type of warm weather is something the Vikings always look forward to.

"It just gives you new life when you get to be outside," Melsted said. "Everyone else is sick of winter, we are too."