Parkland Girls Softball Team Starts Its 2011 Season With Spring Training In Orlando

They've been gearing up outdoors -- and sometimes indoors -- preparing for the spring sports season, while the state wrestling, basketball and swimming tournaments ran their course through early and mid-March.

Now it's time for them to hit the playing fields at Parkland High School this week (weather and field conditions permitting) and begin the varsity spring sports seasons.

The girls softball team doesn't have to worry about foul weather (for the most part) this week as they're traveling to Orlando, Fla., where high school teams from around the country have gathered at Disney's Softball Spring Training at the Wide World of Sports Complex.

It's the second trip in three years to the Orlando complex for the girls softball team, according to athletic director Jeff Geisel.

The Lady Trojans will play four times on the trip, beginning with a Thursday scrimmage against Livingston, N.J.

Then, they'll play three regular-season tilts against North Hills of Pittsburgh, North Allegheny Senior High School of Wexford and Thornton Fractional North High School of Calumet City, Illinois. 

Those games take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Geisel noted the girls softball team worked hard in its efforts to raise enough funding for the trip, holding a basket bingo event and selling foodstuffs including hoagies and pizza throughout the year.

"We support the girls on the trip, but the school district doesn't support the trip with funding. It's all done through fund-raising," Geisel said.

Here's a listing of the remainder of this week's varsity athletic activity by sport and date:

Boys Tennis: Tuesday vs. Easton, 3:30 p.m.; Thursday at Liberty, 3:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday at Phoenxville Tournament, 9 a.m.

Baseball:  Friday vs. Delaware Valley, 4 p.m.

Girls Lacrosse: Friday at Emmaus, 4 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Friday at Delaware Valley, 4:30 p.m.