With all the snow on the ground and warm weather nowhere in sight, the ISU softball team has decided to get away.

The Cyclones will head to Tempe, Ariz., for a three-day tournament against top ranked teams this weekend, including battles with non-conference schools such as Arizona, Arizona State and Fresno State.

With the kickoff of the 2003 season in Arizona, the team will be allowed to put their skills up against some of the toughest competition offered in softball and to get playing time on an outside diamond.

“It always is a disadvantage to go from inside to outside.” head coach Ruth Crowe said. “It takes time to get through it and seems to affect the team early on.”

During the winter months, the team practices at the Lied Recreation Center.

“We have had very good practices and the facility has allowed us to get the whole team out on the field at the same time,” Crowe said.

The team has been putting in three to four hours per day during the week and has had two 6 a.m. Saturday scrimmages. The recreation center is empty at this time and allows Crowe’s squad to get optimum hitting practice.

The team goes into the spring season coming off an 8-4 record from this past fall and with the goal to reach the NCAA tournament for the first time in ISU softball history. To reach the tournament they must finish in the top half of the Big 12 conference which will hopefully land them a bid in the NCAA tournament.

This weekend’s tournament shouldn’t make or break Iowa State in terms of its goal, Crowe said, since they are playing non-conference schools. Rather, Crowe believes that battling these teams is going to strengthen the Cyclones as a team and their individual skills.

Cyclones have three Big 12 All-Conference players returning to the field this season.

“We look for a big season from them but obviously need everyone else to contribute too,” Crowe said.

Iowa State will look to the mound to contribute a great deal to the team also. All-Conference pitcher Erica Martinez, as well as pitchers Jen Bice and incoming freshman Kristen Karazias will be looked to for strong pitching this season.

The team faces a temporary loss of one key player, Molly McNertney, due to a tear in her ACL. She is a regular starter at second base and a utility player along with being a team captain. Crowe predicts McNertney to return in early April.

“She provides a huge emotional lift for us,” Crowe said. “She provides leadership on and off the field.”

This spring the squad will take on one of its toughest schedules and will begin its battles this Friday in Arizona.