It is probably too early and just a little too cold to drag out the softball equipment and set up the diamond, but NIU’s softball squad has still been busy preparing for the upcoming season.

Since mid-October, the Huskies have had to make do within the confines of Anderson gym by working on conditioning routines and team-oriented drills that were used to evaluate rookies and new position arrangements.

“Following tryouts the first week of school, we played three weekend tournaments and spent the majority of the fall season working to improve the weaknesses displayed in those games,” head softball coach Dee Abrahamson said. “It gave us a chance to see where we were and what needed work.”

Abrahamson said the team has since begun work on more individual techniques and maintaining physical strength with less conditioning and more skill drills.

Abrahamson is particularly impressed with the freshmen and otherwise new members of the team.

“Skill-wise we’re farther ahead of where we’ve been the past two years at this point,” Abrahamson said. “As a group I’m really impressed with what I’ve seen so far. They are a very determined group of players that are ready to go.”