Spring sports season is here!

With the return of spring-like weather, it makes it easier to believe it’s time to drag out the folding chairs and head outdoors for spring sports.
The bats will get crackin’ first at LCHS with the Bat Patriot baseball team and the Lady Patriot softball team, both under first-year coaches, set to hit the diamond next week.
New Bat Patriot Coach Brad McNew will make his head coaching debut Monday at 5:30 p.m. as Lincoln travels  to Southwestern.
First-year softball coach Kevin Bandura and the Lady Patriots are scheduled to be at home for their season opener Monday against Burgin. The game is set for a 5:30 p.m. start, however, the location could be changed due to the water-soaked conditions of the Lady Patriot diamond.
The Bat Patriots finished 14-19 last season. Lincoln was eliminated in the semifinal round of the 45th District Tournament by eventual 12th Region runner-up Danville.
The Lady Patriot softball team went 5-23 in 2010 and also saw its season end in the district semifinals. Garrard County (31-9) knocked out Lincoln in the opening round and went on to win the 45th District title and finish as 12th Region runner-up.
There is more to spring sports than just baseball and softball, though, with tennis and track and field also drawing strong fields of athletes. And those teams also open next week.
The Lincoln County High girls and boys tennis teams will be at Mercer County Tuesday for their season opener while the LCHS track teams will travel to Madison Central for their first meet.
Larry Nichols returns to coach the boys and girls tennis teams and Lacy Ledford is back for another year as girls track and field coach. There is a new coach in charge of the boys track and field team but he is not new to Lincoln County sports. Tim Estes, a former track coach and football coach at LCHS, returns to get the Patriots on track for 2011.