For many Michigan residents, it is tradition to migrate south for spring break, and after practicing for a couple months indoors, the Grand Valley State University softball team will gladly accept a trip to Clermont, Fla., and its 80-degree weather.

The GVSU team, which only has four upperclassmen – all juniors – on its active roster, will be a part of the National Training Center spring games in Clermont and play against the likes of Wayne State College of Nebraska, Bloomsburg University, West Virginia Wesleyan College and Molloy College.

“We are pumped and know that we have a hard schedule while we are down there,” said sophomore utility infielder Kayleigh Bertram, a member of last season’s Division II All-Midwest Region Team. “We have all been counting down the days until we go. We’re excited to go up against some good competition, like when we played Winona State last year.”

The team struggled down the stretch last season, ending the year with nine straight losses to finish at 22-24. However, GVSU assistant coach Dana Callihan said she has seen some positive work in the off-season that might turn the team’s fortunes around.

“As you bring in new players, you are always trying to gel and see what the chemistry is going to be like and making sure everyone is communicating and on the same page,” Callihan said. “We worked through the off-season on conditioning and weight training and just the fundamentals. If we do the fundamentals really well, then we’re going to come out on top more times than not.”

The most notable point of the Lakers’ roster is the fact that the team lacks even a single senior, but the leadership for GVSU starts with experience.

“We have got a returning class of sophomores and juniors that have substantial playing time from last year, so they know what it’s about,” Callihan said. “Even our freshmen coming in have played at some high levels in travel ball. Even though we are young from a class-ranking standpoint, the team has a lot of experience on the national level. It’s not always age that determines a good leader.”

As the team heads to Clermont, all of its practice will be put to the test. The hope is that the Lakers can turn around from a disappointing year and not only fight for a GLIAC conference championship, but advance in the regionals this season.

“Yeah, there will be those games that are heartbreakers, where you lose 1-0 or 2-1 in the last inning. Those are the games that are the best because you know you fought hard until the end,” Bertram said.

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