Change of venue doesn’t throw Solon, Regina baseball

SOLON - About 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Solon Coach Jeff Wick rolled up to the Iowa City Regina baseball field and knew there would be no game at the waterlogged diamond.

Just two hours from the first pitch of a doubleheader against the Regals, Wick and his Spartans headed home to prepare for a visit from Regina.

After the Regals took the first game, 6-2, and Solon won the second, 6-4, Wick said teams are starting to become familiar with trading home and away games to squeeze in time.

'This kind of thing happens all the time,” Wick said. 'We're constantly trying to figure out how to get games in. It's not uncommon, it just depends on who got rain and who didn't.”

Regina Coach Andy Gahan said his team often has a plan A and a plan B heading into each game. Regardless of where it's held, Gahan said, it's just important to get playing time in.

'We needed to play tonight and anything to get the game in here, so it was nice to get up here and play the ballgame,” Gahan said.

Theoretically, changing locations shouldn't affect the mind-set of players, Wick said.

But sometimes, change can get the best of teams.

'Ultimately, it shouldn't affect our preparation whatsoever, but we scheduled (batting practice) a half-hour earlier because we had to get on the road,” Wick said. 'It gets people out of sync, but you can't use that as an excuse.”

The Regals jumped out early with a four-run inning off numerous hits, giving them an edge in the first game. In the second game, the Spartans were able to knock in four runs in the fifth inning and a two-run homer in the sixth to cap the night.

Come rain or shine, both Wick and Gahan agreed when it comes to baseball season, weather can often be an equally challenging opponent.

l Comments: stephen.koenigsfeld@thegazettecompany.com