GENOA – Genoa-Kingston softball pitcher Baylie Ullmark toes the imaginary rubber near the baseline of the basketball court in G-K’s gymnasium.

The sophomore grabs an indoor softball, softer than the normal ones used in games, and pitches to her teammates in a faux scrimmage. One batter fouls a pitch down the first-base line that doesn’t come down, caught by the netting of the batting cage suspended near the gym roof. Another lines a pitch that is stopped by the gym divider separating the softball team from the girls soccer team practicing on the other side.

So are the circumstances area softball and baseball teams have had to deal with since the high school spring sports season officially started. Through almost two weeks, no area schools have been able to play a single softball or baseball game. Instead, teams have been confined to indoor practices, having to make use of smaller spaces and forcing coaches to become creative in getting their teams ready under less-than-ideal conditions.