Softball teams encounter it everyday.

The weather.

Inclement, nasty weather that is the bane of players and coaches alike.

But they must deal with the conditions that are brought to their campus, and for the Eastern softball team this is no different.

The weather has already disrupted several of Eastern’s conference games.

Eastern was not able to finish its conference series against Tennessee-Martin on Sunday. The scheduled doubleheader was canceled because of poor field conditions caused by rain. The series will not be made up.

It’s unfortunate because at the collegiate level, the only thing that matters is conference play. Eastern could have had an opportunity to win both of those conference games.

The top six league teams make the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. Eastern (10-13, 5-3) could have picked up more wins and padded its conference record. Teams’ conference records are based on winning percentage.

Ergo, more wins and fewer losses mean everything. But Eastern has not had the chance to stockpile those extra wins.

Eastern head coach Kim Schuette said there were three inches of standing water in the outfield on Sunday in Martin, Tenn. The doubleheader was scheduled for noon.

It wasn’t supposed to be a doubleheader on Sunday. It was only supposed to be one game. But because of the weather on Saturday, Eastern was only able to get one game in.

The Panthers waited three hours and 15 minutes for their game on Saturday because of pouring rains.

But Sunday’s game was not the only game postponed this season.

Eastern’s game against OVC foe Austin Peay on March 22 was also canceled. That game was canceled not because of rain, but because it was simply too cold outside. The temperature was barely above freezing, and OVC softball rules state games can’t be played in temperatures less than 40 degrees.

Monday’s game against Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis was scheduled for March 5, but was postponed because of inclement weather.

But it was canceled for good on Monday as thunderstorms swept through Charleston dropping several inches of rain.

A doubleheader at Ball State was scheduled for March 18, but was postponed until April 22.

Games against Central Arkansas, Marshall and Wright State have also been canceled this season because of rain or freezing temperatures during early-season tournaments.

Cancellations are frustrating in non-conference games because coaches want to get their players experience and those games help teams prepare for conference games.

“You can’t control Mother Nature,” Schuette said. “You can’t win that battle.”

But Eastern’s canceled or postponed games don’t compare to IUPUI.

The Jaguars (1-12) have had several canceled games this season. IUPUI has had eight games wiped out because of rain or other weather-related conditions. A doubleheader against Eastern Kentucky was canceled. They had a three-game series against North Dakota State canceled. Games against Louisville, Bradley and Virginia were also cancelled.

The Panthers can only hope future OVC games are played as scheduled. Their tournament status might ride on that simple hope.

Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.

As the rain kept falling, Eastern’s softball team watched as some of the IUPUI softball players slid on the tarp of William’s Field on Monday afternoon. (John Bailey/ The Daily Eastern News)

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