The Saint Benedict softball team opens its annual spring trip today (Mar. 1) playing 12 games over an eight day stretch in Clermont, Fla.
 
Already 2-0 in the season, and coming into head coach Rachael Click's second year, the team is excited for the season, but doesn't spend too much time looking back.
 
"Our focus is on this year and we try not to look at last season," Click said. "We haven't talked a lot about expectations because this team is different. This is the 39^th team in Blazer softball history. We're not the 38^th, that was last year, and we're not the 40^th, that is next year."
 
This year's edition will play 12 games on the trip for the second straight season, but will mix in a pair of off days to spread out the week. While there, they'll play four conference champions, another two runner-ups, and four teams that were in the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
 
"It might be more helpful not to know too much about the teams," Click said about the competition. "I think you can get caught up in the name if you know the team's reputation. Last year we played a bunch of regional teams and everyone knew about them. I like that this year it's all new."
 
"I'm excited to get outside and see how we can play," Click added.
 
The open with Muhlenberg (Pa.) and Ohio Northern on Mar. 1 at 1 and 3 p.m. respectively and play six days of doubleheaders, with off days mixed in on Mar. 3 and Mar. 5. They close with six games in three days, capping the trip in Mar. 8.
 
The toughest day of the trip may be the second day, when they play defending Northern Athletics Conference champion Aurora (Ill.) and Ohio Athletic Conference runner-up John Carroll (Ohio). Each team also closed their season in the NCAA Tournament last year.
 
They then close Mar. 6 and open Mar. 7 with back-to-back games against Lebanon Valley (Pa.) and Susquehanna (Pa.), two teams that each won over 35 games, took home their conference titles and ended thier seasons in the NCAA Tournament.
 
So many games in such a packed schedule can be a grind, but as Coach Clink explains, it's all by design.
 
"Yes, 12 games in eight days is a lot, but it's doable. We added in the extra day off so it's not all straight through. And it's all scheduled so there are no surprises. It's better to have this schedule and know we're playing it than to have to reschedule a bunch of games later and end up with four straight doubleheaders.
 
The Blazers went 9-3 on the trip last season, but aren't talking about wins and losses as they head down this season.
 
"I don't want them to have the pressure of a record," Click said. "I just want to get outside and play and see what we can do."