Central head coach LeeAnne Shurette looks to her bench between innings in this file photo.The weather is finally warming up -- or at least drying out -- just in time for area district softball tournaments to begin today, Saturday or Monday.
Wet conditions have been a common theme for the entire season.
Most teams have played 10 to 15 fewer games than originally scheduled, which could increase the possibility for upsets in the opinion of area coaches.
"It's been hard to get in a groove," said Central coach LeeAnne Shurette, whose team earned the top seed in the District 6-AA tournament. "The weather snowed us out, then rained us out and we usually get in 40 games. We've played 28.
"It should be exciting to see what happens over the course of the net few days, and that's for all the districts."
The district tournaments are the start of playoffs. It's time for teams to play at their best or turn in their uniforms. Each of the tournaments is double-elimination, which allows for some wiggle room -- but not much.
"It's either that you win or the season is over," said Marion County coach Tom Long, whose team is the top seed in District 6-A. "All season long, you've always got tomorrow. But not anymore.
"Every pitch matters."
The approach to postseason games changes a little from team to team. Long and other area coaches attempt to direct their treams in the same manner this time of year as during the regular season.
"I don't think you can become a different coach when the tournament rolls around," Long said. "You try to use the season to work out your kinks, and hopefully you're the same guys this week that you were last week.
"You want players to be comfortable and reinforce short memory and build the team mentality."
This is the time of year when one mistake -- an error, a pitch left over the heart of the plate, a baserunning blunder -- can end a season.
"Everybody is ready at this point and time," said Ooltewah coach Jon Massey, whose team opens the District 5-AAA tournament at home today against Cleveland. "We played them in a tournament and they beat us 7-4; then we beat them 15-2. Clearly, we weren't ready and that tells you that you can't take anybody for granted."
After all, it's tournament time.
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP.