Baseball teams keeping busy thanks to snow and rain

As for most area baseball teams teams, the inclement weather has made this season tougher than any other. In the meantime, L.D. Bell and Trinity are doing everything they can to get as many reps in.

The Raiders are 7-5 and 1-0 in District 7-6A, but have missed about eight games between ice, snow and rain. The Trojans are 8-1 and 1-0 in district play and have missed about 10 games. They are coming off a 6-0 win against Colleyville Heritage on Wednesday.

Senior Mark Geisel was one strike away from a perfect game, but gave up a single on a 2-2 count. He added 11 strikeouts and hit two doubles from the plate with one run batted in.

Both squads are doing everything they can to make up games. Bell played eight games in five days during spring break, while Trinity played six in four days.

On tap for the Raiders: Coppell on Monday, Richland on Tuesday, at Richland on Friday. For the Trojans- at Colleyville Heritage on Monday, at Haltom on Tuesday, Haltom on Friday, Lamar on Saturday (in a non-district game).

Bell coach Paul Gibson has been with the team for 22 years, while Trinity coach Will Averitt has been with his for 13. In their time, neither have experienced weather like this.

“It's not good playing that many in that time period, but you have to do what you have to do. Everybody is the same boat,” Gibson said. “You just play as many kids as you can and see what roles that need to be established.”

“With so many rain-outs, it messes up the schedule – trying to find games and fields to play on. Sub-varsity suffers, too,” Averitt added. “We were scheduled to play every day last week.”

The Trojans and Raiders both have indoor facilities, which puts them at a slight advantage. They can still have practice despite the harsh conditions.

“We have a nice facility to get things done; practice-wise, it helps a lot,” Gibson said. Most area teams are stuck practicing what they can in gymnasiums.

Mason Peterson leads Bell in hitting (.400 batting average) and is one of two returning starters, alongside Jordan Satterwhite, who has a team-high 10 RBI. Preston Newman and Carter Cleveland lead the pitchers with a 1.62 ERA on the mound.

On the Trojans side, Wesley Engle joins Geisel in the rotation, and Phillips Childs has been a force at the plate for Averitt. With so many games being played so close together, it gives other players a chance to step up their game.

“The more pitching, the better. It gives a chance for other kids to step up and show their talents, so it's good and bad,” Averitt said.

This story was originally published March 23, 2015 at 11:57 AM with the headline "Baseball teams keeping busy thanks to snow and rain."