BELFAST — The Belfast varsity softball team will be spending its preseason playing exhibition contests in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as part of the Cal Ripken softball spring training experience April 10-17.  

The Lions will have the opportunity to experience a different region of the country while being exposed to varying levels of competition to prepare them for the upcoming season. 

Being able to play new teams from outside of Maine will also help those interested in playing collegiate softball gain a better idea of where they need to be competition-wise. Playing in this tournament will likely expose the team to college coaches from around South Carolina, and potentially other states. 

For some on the team, it will be the first time they leave the state and the first time on an airplane. 

At a Oct. 22 school board meeting, Belfast softball head coach Chris Bartlett noted that taking a team out-of-state has always been a goal, but how to fund the trip has always been a major question. 

Thanks to a change last season in fundraising methods, Bartlett said the team was able to raise more money than usual and has several thousand dollars leftover. Bartlett said the team will pay for the entire cost of the trip through its fundraising efforts this year. 

Bartlett said the team will have the ability to build its own preseason schedule and that the players and parents are incredibly excited for this opportunity. 

The school board approved the trip with a 8-1 vote. 

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Reach George Harvey and the sports department at: sports@penbaypilot.com.