After the Olympics are over, when Bob Costas is back to waxing poetically about the mysticism of baseball, listen for how many times he mentions the beauty of hitting in wind tunnels.

There lies the problem of playing baseball in a climate where snow is falling through mid-March and opening day temperature on Beaver Field will be a hand-stinging 38 degrees.

As such, the Penn State baseball team will head South this weekend to take on Norfolk State Saturday at 1 and Sunday at 2.

This season at least, the Nittany Lions have some outdoor experience before the first pitch, as a result of the warm weather that has graced Happy Valley as of late, something coach Joe Hindelang said he's never had in his 12 years. Last Saturday, the team had an 11-inning scrimmage, which was the third day of outdoor practice.

"I couldn't believe we were outside and getting an actual game in with the competition. . .for me it was actually uplifting," Hindelang said.

The players agreed. Left fielder Chris Wright talked about getting to see the ball break from actual angles, something he said in nearly impossible indoors. The team also spoke of the outdoor excursion breaking up the monotony of training under a roof.

"I thought it was great to get outside," tomorrow's starting pitcher and team captain Mike Watson said. "Practicing indoors all the time before we play the first game kind of gets boring sometimes. . .I think it picked up a lot for the players."

The Lions will be getting plenty of outdoor experience in the coming weeks, as they will be spending their first 16 games on the road. While Hindelang would like to start the season later, something made impossible by the constraints of academic schedules, he has come to understand playing baseball the day after Major League spring training opens.

"It's typical. . .by the time we open up at home here in the last couple days of March, the first couple days of April it's when really the big leagues are starting," Hindelang said. "So it's an easier pill to swallow if we look at it like that."

Regardless, the team is tired of chomping at the bit in State College and sees this as an opportunity to jump start the year following a season of training more dedicated than previous ones.

"I think the maturity level is better than I've ever seen it, I think the practices are a lot more business-like," Watson said. "Everyone seems real focused this season."