Spectators at this week’s first Lady Wildcat softball scrimmage of 2020 were wrapped in blankets, scarves, gloves and warm hats, and the geese that flew overhead were pointed resolutely south.

But Canadian’s softball team warmed up their bats and their throwing arms and toughed it out against Sunray, buoyed a beautiful new baseball field with just-finished artificial turf, and the same sense of mission that convinced Canadian ISD school officials to make softball an official UIL sport here.

Ashleigh Rowden got the team’s first hit of the season, and scored the first run when teammate Yazmin Jara knocked one into left field to send Rowden home.

Jara stole two bases, but failed to finish the circuit and was stranded at third when the Lady Cats struck out.

Canadian will scrimmage Perryton at 1 pm this Saturday, Feb. 8, here at home, and have two more scrimmages tentatively planned for Monday or Tuesday, and Saturday, Feb. 15, but not locked in on the schedule. Their first official game of the season will start at 4 pm, Monday, Feb. 17, in Sunray.

SOFTBALL PHOTOS BY LAURIE EZZELL BROWN | THE RECORD