The Eagles baseball team eluded winter’s somber grip by heading to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to open the season.

They finished an even 3-3 in the Palmetto State before being beaten in back-to-back days by Joliet Junior College. In the second game of that series, designated hitter Rodrigo Almeraz drove in all four Eagle runs with his four hits.

On March 31, IV swept visiting Sauk Valley with scores of 4-0 and 6-3. In the first game, Sauk could only muster six hits.

The next day the two teams played another doubleheader at a neutral site with similar outcomes. The Eagles won the first game 7-3 before surviving an 8- run fifth inning to complete the day with an 11-10 victory.

Thus far, the Eagles have hit with only a .240 average, but starters have said that batting is one aspect that is improving.

Freshmen Damin Smith and Brandon Pietrowski expressed confidence that the Eagles are an up-and-coming squad with plenty to prove.

Pietrowski noted his team is eager for a collision with Black Hawk later in the season.

Before that game, IV must address the power shortage evident in a lack of home runs.

The Eagles dropped four games over the weekend on April 5 and 6 in double headers against Kishwaukee and Waubonsee, respectively. The Kishwaukee scores were 4-5 and 2-11. The Waubonsee scores were 1-4 and 1-7.

As of press time, the Eagles record was 7-9. The team is scheduled to play at home Thursday, April 10 at 2:30 p.m. vs. Waubonsee. Another home game was set for Tuesday, April 15 vs. Highland at 2 p.m.