As snowflakes and frigid temperatures blanket Green Country the Rogers State baseball and softball programs are busy preparing for Opening Day.
The RSU sports information office announced the release of the 2008 baseball and softball schedules Thursday.
The two programs will combine for 30 home dates at the year-old Hillcat Complex on the northwest corner of RSU’s Claremore campus.
The Hillcat baseball team, led by Coach Ron Bradley will be the first squad to take the field in 2008 as they host York College for four games Feb. 8 and 9. Coach Dawn Reed-Schultz’s softball team will open up at home Feb. 12, in a doubleheader vs. Arkansas Tech. Both teams will play a full slate of Sooner Athletic Conference games for the first time this spring.
The softball program is ranked No. 18 in the NAIA preseason poll after compiling a 31-15 record and reaching the Region VI Tournament in 2007. RSU baseball is coming off its first winning season after posting a 28-23 record last year.
RSU softball will host No. 1 Oklahoma City University, the defending national champions, Mar. 4, in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. Also highlighting the schedule are five tournaments and notable home dates with Oklahoma Christian (Feb. 27), Bacone (Mar. 5) and Oklahoma Baptist (April 1).
The baseball Hillcats will welcome preseason No. 9 Oklahoma City to Claremore Feb. 23, and No. 7 Lubbock Christian Mar. 14. New lights have been added to the Hillcat complex in time for the start of the ’08 season and RSU will host its first night game Mar. 27, as the baseball team takes on Oklahoma Baptist at 5 p.m. The Hillcats will take-on regional foe Northeastern State April 15, at 6 p.m.