There is one area Penn State coach Robbie Wine would like to see improved going into the upcoming week's nine-game Texas road trip.
Luckily for Wine, it's one of the most basic aspects of the game his team had the most trouble with -- fielding routine fly balls.
For the average fan, it would seem like an easy fix. But for the Penn State baseball coach, there's not much that can be done.
While opposing teams in other regions of the country are practicing outdoors in game-like conditions, the Nittany Lions are confined to Holuba Hall. The players were unable to prepare for the tricks Mother Nature can throw at them on the road, and miscommunication between them was somewhat of a concern for Wine this past weekend.
"It's early on in the season, and a lot of guys haven't been outside," junior Ben Heath said. "People don't understand how tough that is at times. You practice those things, but in a game there's a whole different element."
Heath, a catcher and a designated hitter, said he can't speak from an outfielder's perspective when it comes to trying to track down pop-flies being carried by the wind.
But he still knows about the difficulties that come with practicing inside and playing outdoors and added it is not an easy task.
As for what can be done about the communication problems, Wine said the team has to keep simulating games in practice as much as possible, as it has done all along.
Other than that, it is just a matter of waiting for the snow to melt to get outside.
"There's really not much you can do with that," Wine said. "You can do your best and keep working at it, and hopefully when we show up on Friday next week we catch some fly balls."
During spring break, Penn State travels to Texas to take on five teams from the Lone Star state -- all of which know what it is like practicing against the elements.
Two weeks ago at media day, Wine spoke about how baseball is a routine, and Penn State is at a disadvantage being unable to get comfortable playing in the grass and dirt.
He added the teams in Texas will be ahead of Penn State because they've faced the elements and played outdoors.
First baseman Joey DeBernardis pointed out how with every ground ball in Holuba Hall the "hops are perfect," and the fly balls don't travel but simply go "straight up and come down."
Nevertheless, the team isn't too concerned going into this week's Texas trip.
"We had some drops and miscommunication, but it wasn't a ton of errors," Heath said. "I think that will get better the more and more we play."
