In its latest attempt to play baseball, Ball State University will travel to the University of Notre Dame today. The Cardinals haven't played in nine days because of snow and rain canceling their last five games.
Ball State beat Presbyterian College in its last game to bring its season record to 8-8. Following that game, the Cardinals' home opener against Anderson University was rained out, as was the University of Indianapolis home game the following day, and a three game series against the University of Akron was snowed out last weekend.
Ball State coach Greg Beals said the team will be a little rusty but focus will be key to today's 5 p.m. game against the Irish.
"More than anything you got to do it mentally," he said. "We are not going to be 100 percent physically ... the key is to not having mental mistakes to compound that."
Brenden Stines will get the start for the Cardinals on the mound. Stines grew up in the South Bend area and went to Penn High School in Mishawaka.
"I'm definitely excited to get the start at Notre Dame," he said. "... I drove past every day when I was living there so it's definitely a place I am familiar with."
Stines won't be pitching very deep into the game, however, as he said he expects to get two or three innings on the mound.
Stines is a weekend starter for the Cardinals and normally wouldn't pitch in a midweek game but with the cancellations, Beals said, his starters need to get some work.
"They've had a whole week off now," he said. "We need to get that whole pitching staff work so they will be ready for this weekend."
This means Tyler Pritchard and Kolbrin Vitek, the other weekend starting pitchers, will also work a few innings in the midweek games. Pritchard will pitch a few innings following Stines and Vitek will start Wednesday's makeup game against Anderson, Beals said.
Of course there is no guarantee the game today against Notre Dame will be played. The forecast is a high of 46 with a 70 percent chance of rain or snow in South Bend, according to weather.com.
Whether they get to play or not, Beals said, the team has to be prepared.
"When the bell rings you just got to be ready," he said.
In actionBall State at Notre Dame
Time: 5 p.m.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
