Practice update - 1:30 pm - Monday, 3/30

Anderson is out of the question as there is standing water in several locations.

Fairview is better as there is standing water in only one location. If the diamond gets dragged this afternoon, it will be perfect. If it does not, then practice at this location would be iffy, at best.

Therefore, all players (Varsity and JV) should meet in the small gym at 3:15 and await further directions. Every player should be prepared to practice inside (tennis shoes) and outside (cleats, sleeves and pants) during any part of tonight's practice.

Practice Update - Monday, March 30

Rain or shine, practice will be right after school. Make sure to bring sleeves and pants in case we are able to get outside. If we are outside, practice will run until 5:30.

Practice Update - Friday, March 27

We will practice from 3:30 - 6:30 today. Trade off is no practice tomorrow, Saturday, March 27.

3:15 - Everyone (varsity and JV) meet in small gym

3:30 - 4:45 - Everyone (varsity and JV) practice at Fairview

5:00 - 6:30 - Everyone (varsity and JV) practice at U-High

U-High Softball now on Twitter

I have set up a Twitter account to help in getting information out quickly when we are away from computers - think last night's practice. This site allows you to have texts sent to your cell phone with the messages I post. Search for "uhsoftball" and/or "Michael Sondgeroth".

Practice Update - Wednesday, March 25

It appears that the weather is going to cooperate today (unlike yesterday), so everyone should plan on being outside for practice from 3:30 - 5:30 pm. Same field assignments as yesterday. It won't be as warm, however, so be sure to have sleeves, pants, etc.

Practice Update - Tuesday, March 24

So far, so good! Weather.com is predicting that the rain should hold off until sometime during the 5:00 hour. That means we should still be able to get outside for practice tonight - same field assignments as last night. If we get significant rain during practice, however, we will NOT move back inside. We will just end the practices at the field and look ahead to Wednesday night.

CORRECTION - Monday, March 23

I misread the practice schedule ... if we practice inside today, it will run from 5 - 7!!!!!

So keep praying for sunshine so everyone can go out at 3:00.

Practice Update - Monday, March 23

It looks like the rain might miss us tonight/tomorrow, so we should be able to get outside (Varsity @ Anderson; JV @ Fairview). If we can not get outside, we have both gyms from 3:15 - 5:00.

Tuesday is still up in the air, as we have the gyms from 7 - 9 and there's a greater chance of rain. Keep praying for good weather.

Last note ... If you wanted to order any additional apparel, give the forms/check to me or Coach Pessman at the end of practice Monday or drop the form off at my office first thing Monday.

Second Apparel Order

We will be placing a second U-High Softball apparel order next Tuesday, March 24. If you have decided that you want something else, please download the order form, and return it with payment to me by the end of practice on Monday, March 23. The order form is available at: www.uhigh.ilstu.edu/math/sondgeroth/09_sb_order.pdf

One note ... We need at least 12 of a given type of print in order to submit an order. That is, we need at least 12 screen printed items (grey t-shirt or gray hooded sweatshirt) and/or at least 12 embroidered items (polo, fleece, windshirt, dri-fit t, visor, or trucker hat). Obviously, we stand a much better chance of getting to 12 embroidered items. It is less likely that we would get to 12 sweat pants or black t's, but I'll make every effort to make sure we get everything possible.

Practice Update - Saturday, March 21

The JV team will practice on Saturday morning from 10:00 am - 12:00 noon. We will start in the gyms at U-High and move to Fairview as the weather permits.

With weather in the forecast for Sunday - Thursday of next week, please pay close attention to the indoeer practice schedule posted on the U-High website.

No JV Game Saturday :(

Prairie Central has backed out of our tentative softball DH this Saturday. As a result, the JV will simply have practice. See the note below.

Additionally, please remove the DH w/ El Paso - Gridley from your schedule. They phoned today, stating that they did not have enough players to field a JV team.

Practice Update - March 19

All players should report to Fairview Park by 3:30 pm. It will be chilly, so remember to bring sweatpants and long sleeve shirts. Practice will end around 5:30 pm.

Tentative schedule for the rest of the week ...
Friday, March 20 - Varsity only from 3:30 to 5:30 at Fairview
Saturday, March 21 - JV only from 10:00 to 12:00 - we will start at U-High and finish at Fairview.

Possible JV Game on Sat, March 21

If we have enough girls available to play, we have the opportunity to play a JV double header on Saturday, March 21, at 10:00. We would leave from U-High around 8:00 am and return around 3:00 pm.

All JV players - please respond via e-mail to Coach Sondgeroth (sgrothfam@aol.com) asap to confirm or deny your availability for this contest.

Picture Clarification for JV Players

JV players should bring BOTH their shorts and their pants to practice tomorrow. We will make a final decision at 3:00 as to which you will wear.

If you own forest green or gold (PCSL yellow) socks, please bring them with you tomorrow. We will make a final decision at 3:00 as to what color everyone will wear.

Please remember to bring your completed envelope - along with check - with you to practice tomorrow. See the post below if you need another copy of the envelope.

Picture Day Updates

To download a copy of the envelope for photo purchases, go to:
http://www.uhigh.ilstu.edu/rssfeeds%5C0809links%5Cenv.pdf

Both teams will dress in their jerseys and long PANTS. Varsity players should also wear their belt. Bring a pair of forest , kelly or gold (yellow) long socks with you if you have them. We will decide on a color before the pictures tomorrow.

Team/Individual Photos - Wed, March 18

Team and individual photos on Wednesday, March 18, during our regularly scheduled practice from 3:15 - 5:00. Order envelopes will be distributed at practice tomorrow night. Orders, including full payment, are due when the photos are taken. Contact Photo by Kent if you have any additional questions.

Practice Update - Tuesday, March 17th

Coach Sondgeroth and Coach Sellers will run practice at Anderson.
Coach Pessman and all volunteer coaches will run practice Fairview. Meet in small gym at 3:00, if possible.

All seniors (3) and juniors (6) report to Anderson.

Warner and McCullough (2) report to Anderson.
All other sophomores (8) report to Fairview – meet in small gym first.

Hundman, Riddell, and McKeown (3) report to Anderson.
All other freshmen (6) report to Fairview – meet in small gym first.

Practice Update - Monday, March 16

We will go outside today!!!!! Players should meet in the locker room at 3:15 to load equipment. All players will practice at Fairview from 3:30 - 5:30 pm. Per school policy, players must find their own transportation to and from the fields. Players who will be walking to the diamond can place their bags in the back of Coach Sondgeroth's truck.

Parents should pick their players up at Fairview at 5:30 pm or back at the school around 5:45 pm.

Contact Coach Sondgeroth via cell phone at 530-2297 if you have any questions or concerns.

The Week Ahead

Weather forecast for Monday and Tuesday call for highs of 65 and 74, respectively. Assuming that we can find some dry ground, we definitely need to get outside.

We have two softball facilities available for our use in March - Fairview Park and Anderson Park. Please check the board outside the Activities Office after 1:00 to see where you have been assigned for practice each day. If we go outside, you should plan on practice running until 5:30 pm! It will be our first time out and it might feel cool, so I would encourage everyone to bring sweat pants and a sleeve

Don't forget team pictures are scheduled during practice on Wednesday. Combined with the forecast calling for rain, we will plan to go inside for practice. Please wear your uniform to practice so we don't have to waste time getting ready for the pictures.

Contact Coach Sondgeroth if you have any questions and/or concerns.

Weekend Update

Saturday, March 14 - Practice from 8:00 - 10:00 am with optional hitting practice from 10:00 - 11:00 am.

Sunday, March 15 - OPTIONAL hitting practice from 12:00 - 1:00 pm.

Practice Update for Friday, March 13

We will practice twice on Friday, March 13. The first session will run from 8:00 - 10:00 am. The second session, originally scheduled from 3:00 - 5:00 pm, will now run from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. An extended hitting session will run from 3:00 - 4:00 for anyone who wants to take extra swings in the batting cage. If this causes a problem for anyone, please contact Coach Sondgeroth as quickly as possible.

Game schedules now available online

Game schedules are posted online. For the varsity schedule, go to: www.highschoolsports.net/includes/calendarpdf/listing_print_html.cfm?schoolid=IL6176111768&year=2008&sport=8&lvl=1&division=2

For the JV schedule, go to: http://www.highschoolsports.net/includes/calendarpdf/listing_print_html.cfm?schoolid=IL6176111768&year=2008&sport=8&lvl=2&division=2

We are still trying to add 2-3 games to the varsity schedule and 3-5 games to the JV schedule. Check back regularly for any changes.

Change in practice time for Thursday, March 5

Girls soccer is giving up their early gym time, we will move our practice up to the 3:00 time slot. Girls should be in the gyms ready to practice by 3:20. We will practice until roughly 5:30. We will also distribute uniforms during this time.

Don't forget that softball apparel order forms are due to Coach Sondgeroth by the end of practice Thursday.

New Apparel Order Form Now Online

The updated apparel order form is available online at: www.uhigh.ilstu.edu/math/sondgeroth/09_sb_order.pdf

Order (with payment) are due to Coach Sondgeroth by the end of practice on Thursday, March 5. The only thing I am really pushing this year is that everyone has a black visor to wear for games. If you have purchased one in previous years and it still looks respectable, then I am OK with a player wearing that.

Orders are open to ANYONE associated with U-High Softball - players, coaches, parents, siblings, relatives, etc. Alos, if you want to order one of the embroidered items without the word "softball" below the U, that will be allowed as well. Just make a note of this on the order sheet in front of the item.

Contact Coach Sondgeroth if you have any questions.

Practice - Monday, March 2 - 5:00-7:00 pm

We will practice inside the entire time. Everyone should meet in the large gym at 5:00 ready to begin practice.

Practice officially begins TONIGHT

The 2009 softball season begins tonight, Monday, March 2, with our first official practice from 5:00 - 7:00 pm in both gyms. You must have a valid physical on file in the Athletic Office in order to practice tonight. Contact Ms. Smith of you have questions regarding your physical.