Spring sports to start, rain or not

Chances of rain are not expected to interfere too much with those initial schedules, which often hinge on conditioning work that can take place indoors.

“We will practice rain, sleet, or shine,” said Steve Cotrell, who coaches the baseball team.

The Commerce Primary School’s gymnasium is used during times of inclement weather with outdoor practices and games taking place at the Commerce Recreation Department.

Many of the 25-30 players Cotrell expects on the varsity and junior varsity teams have started working out already. Their preseason exercises include weight training and what are known as two-on-one drills. For those drills, coaches work with two players at a time, an off-season practice that’s allowed by the Georgia High School Association.

“We get after it from the get-go,” Cotrell said.

The track and field team also will meet regardless of weather on Monday. Pam Canup, who coaches the track and field team along with Kendall Love, described initial workouts as involving a lot of conditioning.

The workouts will intensify as the winter sports wind down and some of those athletes join with other track competitors. She expects about 15-20 boys and the same number of girls to participate.

“We have most of the season set up, starting with a meet at East Jackson on Saturday, March 3,” Canup said, adding that 10 teams are expected for that first event.  

The competitions there on out will be fast and furious with the region meet scheduled little more than a month later on April 19 and April 20. Sectional and state meets will follow.

“The girls will be young but a good group returns,” Canup said, adding that the boys’ team is expected to be strong this year.

Teams the weather could impact are golf and tennis.

Golf coach Josh Shoemaker is expecting 6-8 boys and 4-6 girls to be on the team, which is scheduled to start practice on Monday, weather permitting.

“As far as practice goes, yes there is conditioning, skills work and definitely as many rounds as we can play,” Shoemaker said.

Most of the team’s practices take place at Deer Trail Country Club in Commerce. Tuesday practices and a bulk of the Tigers’ home matches are planned at Double Oaks Golf Club in Commerce.

Commerce’s first golf match is planned against Buford at Chateau Elan on Feb. 20, with the team’s first home match to follow at Double Oaks on Feb. 21 against Madison County.