New Englanders just finished shoveling snow earlier this week, but the third Friday of February means the Division 1 college baseball season is here.
The milder winter has allowed some opportunity for the region’s ballclubs to get some time outside for an early taste of spring. Now, though, it’s time for the real thing in such places as Tallahassee, Fla.; Tucson, Ariz.; and Houston, Texas.
Hartford was the only New England squad to win its way into the NCAA tournament field through the postseason a year ago, doing so as a first-time America East Conference champion. UConn and Northeastern had to wait ― and sweat it out a bit in the case of the latter team ― before 37- and 36-win records lifted them with at-large bids.
That’s all in the past now. Everyone is undefeated, and it’s time to play ball once again.
