New London — This is the reality of being a college baseball program in New England:

After playing in ideal conditions in warm, dry Florida for a week, Mitchell College and Coast Guard Academy returned home to cold weather and snow-covered fields, wondering when the next game will be.

Bad weather has disrupted the game schedule and practice routine. The softball programs are dealing with the same issue.

"It's miserable," Mitchell coach Travis Beausoleil said. "Since we've gotten back home, we've been back in the gym."

Both baseball teams recently arrived back in New London after successful spring trips. The Mariners posted an 8-1 mark while the Bears are off to a 5-1 start for the first time since 2015.

Maintaining the momentum will be a challenge with poor field conditions around the region.

Coast Guard's home doubleheader with Castleton on Sunday was canceled. Mitchell's game at Johnson & Wales in Providence was postponed as well as its doubleheader at Lesley University in Cambridge on Wednesday.

The Mariners are scheduled to host the Bears on Tuesday.

The key word there is "scheduled."

Another storm system is expected to move in on Tuesday, leaving that game in doubt.

Beausoleil has resorted to some creative measures to help clear Alumni Field.

"On Wednesday, we made snow angels on the infield," Beausoleil said. "We made snowmen to kind of consolidate all the snow into one area. And then we played football in the outfield to try to break up the snow as much as possible.

"We weren't getting much done in the gym that day anyway."

While Beausoleil ran practice indoors on Friday, Coast Guard coach C.C. Grant had his players work out on the Cadet Memorial Stadium turf, home of the football and lacrosse teams, instead of Nitchman Field and then went inside to hit in the cage.

Weather isn't on Grant's list of things to worry about. He just makes the necessary adjustments and hopes for warm days and sunshine.

"Certain things you can worry about and that's not one of them because you can't control the weather," Grant said. "You've just got to hope the sun works. Our field looked better than I thought it would. Snow is pretty much gone over the infield."

"My hope is by mid to late next week the playing conditions will be (OK), so we don't have to sit. The kids want to play. I want them to play."

Of course, this isn't a new issue for the Mitchell and Coast Guard baseball and softball programs.

And their opponents — outside of the few teams with turf fields — are dealing with the same problem.

Still, the Mariners and Bears aren't thrilled with the situation.

"Trying to simulate game situations is the hardest thing," Grant said.

The good news is both Grant and Beausoleil are pleased with their respective team's progress so far.

Rallying from a five-run deficit by scoring six runs with two outs in the ninth inning in a thrilling 15-14 win over Wilmington College of Ohio on Wednesday in Fort Myers was one highlight of the trip and an encouraging sign.

"It gave us a lot of confidence," Grant said.

The biggest surprise was Coast Guard's potent offense, according to Grant.

Junior Jon Pressley batted a team-best .619  with a double, triple, home run and team-leading nine RBI for the Bears, who hit a collective .337. Junior Jeremy Lhotka (.450), junior Luke Thompson (.409), junior Reed Jenkins (.357), sophomore Alex Cordes (.348) and senior Alex Murdoch (.346) also contributed at the plate.

On the mound, freshman P.J. Gravalec (1-0, 1.29) had a terrific start in a 9-2 win over Baruch College, allowing two hits and one run in seven innings, while sophomore Brett Sullivan (2-0, 4.15) won both of his starts.

"The trip went well...," Grant said. "We went 5-1 and had a lot of guys playing in new spots. I like the makeup of the team. Until we started playing, I wasn't quite sure what we would do. But I'm pleased.

"... I like this group of guys and I like their attitude and like the way they get along with each other."

The Mariners also quickly heated up in the warm weather, winning eight straight after being no-hit in a season opening 12-0 loss to Otterbein University in Port Charlotte on March 1.

The next day, the Mariners bounced back, beating Otterbein, 3-2. Senior Bryton Ferris pitched a gem, going the distance while allowing nine hits and two runs while striking out five and walking one. Ferris  went 2-0 on the trip with a 1.84 earned run average.

Offensively, junior Peter Abate (.444, 10 RBI), junior Steven Fagan (.444, 11 RBI) and senior Garet Griffin (.368, 11 RBI), transfer James Rangel (.385, six RBI) were productive for the Mariners, who batted .350 and scored 94 runs overall. Norwich Tech graduate Bryce Bedard (2-0, 0.00), junior Brian Ricker (1-0, 2.92) and freshman Roland Thivierge (1.93) pitched well out of the bullpen.

"If we play like this consistently, we have a chance to do something special," Beausoleil said.

g.keefe@theday.com