Northwestern head baseball coach Len Smith is in his 32nd season piloting the Tiger baseball program.

Even he is hard-pressed to find a year quite like this.

"I can't remember a season like this one," he said. "It may be the worst ever. If it isn't the worst, it'll end up being right with it."

The lingering effects of the third-snowiest winter in the Lehigh Valley's history, mixed with the constant frigid temperatures, capped off with a rainy start to April has caused every high school baseball or softball team to scramble to find a way to practice outside, let alone try to have a game.

Through Tuesday the Tigers played five games in 18 days. They were scheduled to have completed nine thus far.

Although the Tigers have suffered from this horrendous weather (their first time on the field was their first game) they actually have played more games than most. Northern Lehigh had played only two games through Tuesday.

Northwestern has done well in in those first five games with a 2-3 record overall and a 2-2 mark in the Colonial League as of April 8.

Smith, who said his team had "only one quality practice on the field" thus far, liked what he saw when they did get the opportunity to venture outside.

"Not getting on a field until the first game was not ideal," he said. "However, we improved each game we went out there, but then came the rains and we haven't been on the field since."

Their hitting has not suffered too much as the Tigers put up 10 runs in a win over Palmerton and put up at least five runs in the rest of their contests, aside from their 8-2 season-opening loss to Blue Mountain.

"For the most part we fared well early on offensively," Smith said. "There have been some inconsistencies as well, but they are expected considering the circumstances. We are pleased with the hitting so far overall and hopefully that will continue."

The Lady Tigers softball squad is trying to make the best of it as well. Through Tuesday the ladies owned a 2-4 record overall while being 2-3 in the league.

Their first victory was a 2-0 defeat of Palmerton in extra innings and the second a 4-1 win over Bangor.

The Lady Tigers dropped some close ones including a 6-5 tilt against Pen Argyl and an 8-6 loss to Northern Lehigh, which resonates with head coach Jen Horner.

"I am proud of these girls that they have been hanging tough with teams that are picked to win their leagues," said Horner. "Our nucleus is young and they are playing well."

Sophomore pitcher Lydia Danner, according to Horner, has been unable to pitch these last two games due to injury. She tried to pitch Tuesday at practice, but couldn't. Horner said that she may have a pulled muscle in her side and saw a doctor Wednesday morning. As of Tuesday night, there was no timetable for her return.

The baseball team is scheduled to visit Salisbury on Friday, Wilson on Sunday and host Palisades on Monday.

The ladies of the diamond are slated to face the Lady Falcons on Friday, host East Stroudsburg South on Saturday, welcome Palisades to New Tripoli on Monday and visit Wilson on Tuesday.