March 16, 2018
By Andy Kuros, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Coming off a stretch of 18 games over the course of four tournaments to start out the year, Penn State will finally get the opportunity to suit up on its home field over the weekend. The Blue and White will most certainly be looking forward to returning home and playing at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field for the first time this season.
"It's amazing. I think it's what we need," head coach Amanda Lehotak said. "Just to come home and be in front of our fans, our people, our field and what we're familiar with. It's exactly what we need to get the ball rolling here in a real positive way."
Last weekend, Penn State played five hard-fought games in the Houston Tournament, which concluded the team's five-week out-of-state tournament schedule. With the student-athletes of the softball team yelling "We're home!" upon stepping off the bus at 4 a.m. Monday morning in Happy Valley, Lehotak could tell there was an increased sense of energy throughout the team.
"You just get excited," Lehotak added. "We're entering phase two of our season and we finally get to play here at Beard Field. It's a renewing experience. It's nice to be in our facility and be the one everyone is cheering for."
Although the reinvigorated Nittany Lions will hope to use this positivity and energy to improve their play on the field, being at home also means competing in the frigid and unpredictable Pennsylvania weather, something that creates the need to make adjustments after lacing up the spikes in mostly warm climates all winter.
"Now that we're home, we're going to start playing in some really cold weather. Practice almost becomes maintenance," Lehotak said. "It's about how their bodies are feeling and what they need. We'll do even more hitting and watch a lot more film. It will be about trying to keep the healthy kids healthy if we can."
Lehotak also talked about some of the challenges that come with having to practice and play games in the cold weather.
"Just like anything, if it's cold you don't move well. The good thing is neither team moves well, but obviously after a while you're just not as fast in all areas," she noted. "You get stiff quicker. It's harder to recover the next day. Playing is fun, but it can be brutal."
Rain, snow, or shine, however, the Nittany Lions are ready and eager to play.
"Especially with a young team, we need to play. I think right now, if I had to pick between practice or playing, I want to play. We need experience, we need situational work."
"Everyone wants to win so it's frustrating. But it (playing hard) is the only way to get where we want to go," Lehotak continued. "I mean, their hearts are on their sleeves. I've never seen a teem with so much heart."
The Nittany Lions will host the Kent State Golden Eagles to kick off their home slate this weekend. The three-game series will begin with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m.