DESPITE RAIN, WAVERLY LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM STAYS DRY FOR PRACTICE AT WAVERLY SPORTS COMPLEX (6 PHOTOS) (2023-05-01)

Valley Sports Report
WAVERLY — Despite a heavy, cold rain, the Waverly Red, a member of the Waverly Little League Majors Division, was dry and warm while taking batting practice, and getting some practice on the mound here at the Waverly Sports Complex.

“We touched base with the people at the Waverly Sports Complex, and they had an opening,” said Waverly Red assistant coach Lee Sharpsteen. “We were fortunate enough to get in here out of the rain.

“Instead of sitting home, the kids could get in here and hit baseballs for an hour-and-a-half,” he added.

Sharpsteen said being inside actually allows the coaching staff, led by head coach Patrick Bowman, to get more done with the team.

“I think it’s a huge advantage.

“We haven’t been able to do a lot of hitting … to be able to get in here is a bonus,” said Sharpsteen. “We have eight or nine hitting drills set up, and we can just keep hitting baseball for a straight 90 minutes versus trying to go live, and having a lot of down time.”

Sharpsteen said they’re trying to mix things up for the kids.

“Right now, we’re doing a lot of tee work.

“We also have a mound set up, so we’re getting everyone on the team to throw 30 pitches,” he said. “It’s still early in the season, so we don’t want younger kids throwing too many pitches.

“We’re have all 10 of the kids go through a rotation and throw their 30 pitches, while the rest of the group is moving station-to-station doing tee work, and we have an open cage, where we plan to have a machine set up,” noted Sharpsteen.

“We have different strike zone nets set up, so there’s a lot we can do while its raining.

“If we wanted, we could pull the nets back and take infield,” Sharpsteen added.

With the current forecast calling for rain through the end of the week, Sharpsteen said his team may become regulars at the Waverly Sports Complex.

“One of the coaches told me it’s suppose to rain until May 9, so we may be here awhile,” he laughed. “We may wear out our welcome.”

If you’re interested in renting out the Waverly Sports Complex for your team, you can do it directly by using the Calendly app.

You can also contact them through Facebook messenger, or via e-mail at highheatwest@yahoo.com.

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IN PHOTOS: Members of the Waverly Red at the Waverly Sports Complex. … PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.