Second-year pitcher Eliza Gaines and the Jefferson Community College softball team are enjoying a weeklong stay in Myrtle Beach, S.C., in order to prepare for the upcoming season as the snow banks thaw around their own campus.

The Cannoneers have spent the last month preparing for a season they hope starts on time.

"Especially since last year when we got back from Maryland and we didn't play for 21 days," Gaines said. "I'm really hoping it's not the same this year and I'm hoping we get started on time."

Gaines is very familiar with delays. She joined the Cannoneers softball team four years after initially enrolling at JCC. Gaines had been a three-sport star at Copenhagen and was named to the All Mid-State Conference team for soccer in her first semester at JCC.

Gaines took a break from athletics in the spring semester in 2005 to relax and focus on working toward getting her liberal arts degree.

"It was kind of strenuous with soccer, then basketball and then softball," Gaines said. "One of the years I was there they didn't actually have enough people to form a team so that sort of set the tone for me not wanting to play (softball)."

After receiving her associate degree in liberal arts, Gaines decided to go back to JCC to pursue a degree in business. When coach Jeff Wiley became aware of the development, he went to see if she was interested in joining the softball team.

"I kind of went to her," Wiley said. "I know she pitched and she was a two-sport athlete with us in soccer and basketball and excelled in both of those ... Every sport she plays, she plays really hard and does everything the right way. She's a great athlete."

Gaines leapt at the opportunity, citing her love of the game and the ability of Wiley as a coach as her main reasons for signing up.

"I figured I might as well play softball as long as I'm getting my degree," Gaines said. "I've been doing it for my whole life and it was kind of weird not playing."

Gaines has been getting used to a new catcher because Holly Lyndaker, another Copenhagen product, re-injured her knee during soccer season. The Cannoneers moved Emily Patterson behind the plate this season. Gaines has been impressed with Patterson's ability to handle her mystifying screwball.

"Sometimes I don't even know where it's going to go, and that's very hard on my catcher," Gaines said. "(Patterson)'s really a great catcher. In the short time that we've been working together she kind of knows how I pitch. If I want a different pitch or something she kind of knows what I want."

On days she isn't pitching, Wiley moves Gaines to play shortstop to keep her bat in the lineup. Gaines bats leadoff and cites hitting as her favorite part of playing softball.

"For everything that we do, I love hitting," Gaines said.

Here's a closer look at the spring sports teams at JCC:

Baseball

Outlook:Coach Paul Alteri is glowing over his pitching staff, which he said has the potential to be the best ever. It is led by veteran right-hander Luis Castillo, who went unbeaten last year to earn Region 3 honors then had a strong summer with the Watertown Wizards. Returning left-handers Tate Kelley and Kevin Gamble should also be strong on the mound, and Alteri likes what he sees of freshmen hurlers Travis Grogan and Bill Cameron. First baseman Ronnie Sellers is an all-star candidate, but otherwise most of the position players will be new. Alteri said the Cannoneers should be OK fielding, but he's not so sure about the hitting. The team's annual trip to Florida, where the team plays some stiff competition, should tell him a lot more about this club.

Coach:Paul Alteri (12th year, 158-182-1).

Players to watch:Luis Castillo (8-0), Tate Kelley, Kevin Gamble, Ronnie Sellers.

Roster:Lucas Meyer (Fr., SS); Dustin Francis (Fr., OF); Matt Phelps (Fr., 3B); R.J. Ward (Fr., OF); Josh Biolsi (Fr., OF); Jeremy Goodenough (Fr., OF); Peter Allen (So., 2B); Scott Wong (Fr., P); Luis Castillo (So., P); Zachary Rosenthal (So., P); Kristian Basanta (So., P); Adam Houmiel (Fr., C); Andrew Boulter (Fr., C); Kevin Gamble (So., P); Jorden Decker (Fr., C); Bill Cameron (Fr., P); Jeffrey Snyder (Fr., P); Ronnie Sellers (So., 1B); Jason Yuhas (Fr., OF); Adam Dayton (Fr., P); Travis Grogan (Fr., P); Alex Read (So., OF); Tate Kelley (So., P).

Men's lacrosse

Outlook: The Cannoneers are embarking on a season they hope will lay a good foundation for the coming years as 15 of 21 players are freshmen. Streiff said this year's success will hinge on how quickly those youngsters can make the transformation to the college game. JCC's strength will lie in its defense, led by Casey Dickinson, Jordan Mallette and Nathan Males. Sean McAuliffe should anchor the attack. The Cannoneers open the regular season at 1 p.m. Saturday against Broome CC at Watertown High School.

Coach: Mark Streiff (9th year).

2007 record: 3-8.

Players to watch: Sean McAuliffe, Ben Call, Nathan Males.

Roster: Devin Heldt (Fr., G), Sean McAuliffe (Fr., A), Joe Canell (Fr., M/A), Dan Boshart (Fr., M), Mike Spaulding (Fr., M), Spencer Miller (Fr., M/A), Carl Urbaniak (So., M/A), Tyler Flath (Fr., D), Alex Maphey (Fr., M), Taylor Jennings (Fr., M/A), Nathan Males (So., D), Craig Forbes (Fr., D), Wesley Simmons (So, M), Connor Devlin (So., A), Jesse Edgar (Fr., D), Ben Kiechle (So., M/A), Cory Roberts (Fr., M), Tom Shaw (Fr., M), Jordan Mallette (Fr., D), Ben Call (Fr., M/A), Casey Dickinson (Fr., D).

Women's lacrosse

Outlook:A group of former Frontier League standouts makes up the Cannoneers' roster. Former high school All-American and Carthage product Sara Gallagher should lead the attack, along with former Times All-North MVP Theresa Staab.

Coach: Kelly Kunz.

Roster: Vanessa Blevines (G), Becky Hayes (D), Brittany Cloonan (M/A), McKenzie Tehonica (A/M), Catherine Burgess (M/G), Linda Gruber (M/A), Kristen Duggan (M/A), Sara Gallagher (M/A), Katie Quiles (M/A), Theresa Staab (A), Kim Deluca (D), Maria Martusewicz (A), Nina Benvenuto (A), Alicia Bradberry (D), Shantelle Williams.

Softball

Outlook: The Cannoneers should be able to score runs with anyone in the conference and must focus on playing consistently in the field in order to make the playoffs this year. Though all the infield positions are filled, the team is still trying to secure players at the corner outfield positions.

Coach: Jeff Wiley (3rd year, 25-28).

2007 record: 15-12.

Players to watch: Emily Patterson, Stacey Finley, Stacey Peterson.

Roster: Emily Patterson (Fr., C), Stacey Finley (So., 1B), Eliza Gaines (So., P/SS), Liz Sligar (Fr., INF), Wendy Getman (Fr., OF/C), Pam Backus (Fr., P), Holly Lyndaker (So., C), Katie Fuller (So., OF/C), Holly McHale (So., UTL), Heather Kelsey (So., INF, C), Kristen Gunderson (Fr., OF/C), Stacey Peterson (Fr., 3B), Sarah Burns (So., OF), Michele McHale (Fr., P/INF), Alex Hutteman-Kall (Fr., OF), Brittany Trahan (Fr., OF).