Varsity Maine sent reporters to South Portland and Hall-Dale softball and Lisbon baseball practices on Thursday. Here’s what we learned in South Portland:

The indoor practices are getting old for the South Portland softball team.

The good news? Those days are coming to an end.

The Red Riots held what they hoped will be their last indoor practice in the school gym Thursday, and are planning to hit the field at the Wainwright Complex on Friday afternoon.

“It’s very challenging. It’s hard to get a good assessment on ground balls when you’ve got balls bouncing off of hardwood floors,” coach Drew DiMauro said. “Being from Maine, we’re used to it, it’s great that we have a cage … but other than that, we’re itching to get outside. Obviously, we don’t want to go outside when it’s 40 degrees.”

His players are getting a feeling of cabin fever as well.

“I’m so excited, especially because we can work on outfield outside,” junior outfielder and shortstop Annie Soucy said. “A lot of people know that the Wainwright wind can get a little crazy, but I do miss it. I’m ready.”

DiMauro credited South Portland recreation manager Rick Perruzzi with getting the field ready and putting the Red Riots “way ahead of schedule.”

“Usually, we don’t get out there until the second, maybe third week of April,” he said. “They’ve done a great job.”

Habits and superstitions

Right before they began their sessions of batting cage and hitting tee work, some of the Red Riots took the time to talk about a custom as core to baseball and softball as balls and strikes: Superstitions, habits and idiosyncrasies.

Some stick to the basics.

“Whenever I go on the field, I always step over the line the first time,” junior second baseman and outfielder Jillian Edgar said. “That’s just like a lock-in kind of moment.”

Others are more unique. Soucy is particular about snacks, and said she makes sure to have a bag of Goldfish at each contest.

“If I don’t, who knows what’s going to happen that game?” she said.

Rachel DiMauro, a senior shortstop, third baseman and catcher, said music is her focus.

“I have, since freshman year, been the one to bring the speaker,” she said. “I need to hear my playlist before a game.”

What’s on it?

“Anything uplifting,” she said. “Mostly Rihanna, and some throwbacks that everybody knows.”

New gear, new look

Thursday was also the day the Red Riots got their uniforms for the season. Even for the team’s veterans, uniform day always has a buzz to it.

“I get to wear No. 52 for my school ball season, which is really cool,” Soucy said. “I wear it for my dad, so every time I get to put it on, I get really excited.”

This year, though, there’s the added benefit of new jackets, which are long and gray with an ‘SP’ logo on the front and ‘South Portland Softball’ on the back.

“This year, we look really sharp,” Edgar said. “It’s going to be great.”