According to junior outfielder Aaron Sledge, despite the recent cold weather, he is not concerned about tomorrow’s non-conference baseball game against Edina.

Sledge said the team has prepared mentally and physically for the game and expects a competitive match-up.

“So far we have taken a lot of mental reps. We have been talking about what to do in certain situations especially for outfielders since it is difficult to practice outfield indoors,” Sledge said.

Head baseball coach Brian Kelly said the game will take place at an outdoor turf field, utilizing a portable mound.

Sledge said playing baseball on turf, compared to grass, offers distinct circumstances.

“It is very different. On turf the ball doesn’t slow really and it bounces higher and faster,” Sledge said.

Kelly said the team has utilized their practice time simulate game-time situations and, even though they have had to practice indoors, he feels confident they are prepared.

“I don’t think (the weather will) impact the game much tomorrow. We like to just focus on what we can control,” Kelly said. “We bring in a bullpen mound that they put at the batting cage and put a screen in front of it, and we have our pitchers throw to our hitters.”

According to Kelly, the Park baseball program chose to play Edina as one of their non-conference games because they feel the team is able to meet the same competitive standards.

“We choose to play Edina, we choose to play Wayzata, we choose to schedule them, like Hopkins, in our non-conference games because we want to be playing these teams that are traditionally really good because we feel we’re in that category,” Kelly said.

The game takes place at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Edina Community Center.