Vermont had two rainouts last week for a surprise two-day break in the middle of a lengthy stretch (nine games in nine days). But this week the team starts with two scheduled days off before traveling to Holyoke Tuesday night and hosting Team Great Britain in an exhibition on Wednesday. From there, Vermont embarks on a three-game road trip and has another day off (Sunday, July 8) before a string of six games in six days.
So I asked manager John Russo about the scheduled days off - did they come at the right time? What are the guys' plans?
"We're at .500 and we'll enjoy the next two days off, and see what we can get rolling in July," Russo said after Saturday's win over Holyoke at home to push the team's record to 9-9."
"The two days is nice, the guys have been planning different types of trips, go see different parts of the area, and it's nice they got to count on those days and they get to have them (rather than have one or both used for rainsouts, etc.). They'll be well-rested, and now our first month is done and we have one month left."
"We're all interested in this Great Britain team, to see what kind of team they'll have, and for it to be a July Fourth game against Great Britain is pretty neat. We'll be right back at it with a conference game on Thursday."
The team was .500 at the halfway point last summer, too. Is this where Russo wanted to be?
"I'm always happy with .500 around July Fourth. The frustrating thing is there's four, five or six games that we could've won and spread out the lead a little bit and get closer to the top. We're still figuring out who we are and who the pitchers are and what parts of the game they should be throwing in. The offense is starting to come around real nicely, and as we get stuff figured out and as I get stuff figured out, we'll really get rolling."
- Anna Grearson
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