Pine Prairie softball waits to get off the bench

PINE PRAIRIE -- The Pine Prairie softball team is playing a game -- the waiting game that is.
Due to COVID-19 protocols, the Lady Panthers have yet to take the field and play a game. Pine Prairie has been quarantined starting on Feb. 8 for two weeks, and then again for two weeks starting on March 1.
That means the earliest scheduled game Pine Prairie can play would be on Wednesday, March 17 against Mamou. All of that lost time has been immensely frustrating.
"It has been very difficult not seeing the girls or practicing together as a team," Pine Prairie softball coach Alycia Hebert said. "As a leader I have to make sure to keep my spirits up and head held high to show the girls that no matter what obstacles are thrown at you."
Hebert added, "It is important to show the girls that you can rise to the occasion and the end of the day we will overcome this together."
Pine Prairie ramped for the regular season when COVID-19 impacted the program.
After taking part in two scrimmage tournaments -- a total of six games -- in Tioga during the preseason, Pine Prairie had the start of its season wiped away due to COVID-19 issues.
"We are very upset about the entire situation and hope that we are able to get enough games in to make the playoff minimum," Hebert said. "We have planned on a very successful season and can only pray that COVID stays away."
The opener against Delcambre on Feb. 24 was cancelled, as were games against Northside Christian, Plainview and Sacred Heart.
In addition to missing those games, Pine Prairie has been unable to even practice together as a team due to following protocols set forth by the LHSAA and the CDC. So Hebert has been forced to get creative with coaching her team from afar.
"I send them workouts and drills to do on their own in hopes that we can still stay in practice mode," Hebert said. "I hold them accountable through our Remind Me App. I am very fortunate to have an awesome group of girls who respect me and send me videos of them hitting, fielding or pitching."
That doesn't mean that Hebert isn't concerned by how prepared the Lady Panthers will be to compete once they do take the field. Some of the other teams in District 5-3A will have played double-digit games by the time Pine Prairie finally opens up the season.
"When you are quarantined for this long without any live play and everyone else is playing it will affect us," Hebert said. "So we are definitely going to have a disadvantage but I have faith and confidence that this team will rise. We may be behind but we are the Lady Panthers and once we are able to play we plan to hit the ground running."