Enterprise/Joseph Cubs softball coach Travis Huffmans prediction that his team would struggle in the preseason came true last weekend when the Cubs lost two-double headers, traveling to Nyssa and Vale.

In the first match-up against Nyssa the Cubs lost their opening game 15- 5 and in the second game lost 13-2. Both contests were called on the ten run rule in the fifth inning.

Huffman said one of the reasons for the losses was the team was missing four starters who went to the FFA State Convention, and another player was hurt.

Huffman said, It was a case of the opening day jitters, we had some errors and we didnt hit real well.

Huffman did get to see his starting pitchers Sidney Cooney and Holly Taylor perform and said, They will improve over time. This is a building process and when we get into league well be right on top of it.

In Saturdays double-header against Vale the Cubs did improve, losing the first game 5-0 and then in the second game losing 15-5.

Coach Clifford Conrad said, Our pitching did improve from the day before but we were still missing our four kids.

In the first game the Cubs held their own until the fifth inning, Conrad said. And then the wheels fell off. We had 4 errors in the fifth and 2 in the sixth. Vale got smart about running the bases.

About the second game Conrad said We just had too many holes in the line up. We left six kids stranded on base because of missing our hitters. Sidney and Holly did improve, switching them on and off in both games.

The Cubs travel again this weekend to a tournament in Union. The spring break games will start on Thursday, March 28, at noon with the Cubs playing Heppner. The tourney continues Friday with the Cub girls playing Colton at noon and Echo later in the day.