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Nashville, Tenn. -- Things will slowly return to normal for the Grand Valley State baseball team this weekend.
 
Unlike last week's eight-day, 10-game stint in Florida, the No. 21 Lakers will not have to worry about starting seven different pitchers or juggling a spent bullpen. Mental mistakes should be phased out as the number of live reps increases throughout a potential three-game stretch. Taking on-field batting practice should help restore a sense of normalcy as well.
 
While the spring trip presented plenty of challenges, especially the schedule, arguably the toughest one since GVSU began traveling to the Sunshine State in 2009, head coach Jamie Detillion took away plenty of positives. A 6-4 record, which could have easily been 8-2, is a solid start given how hard the circuit is on everday players and the pitching staff.
 
"All things considered, I'm pretty happy with where we are at," says Detillion. "We started off a little sluggish with the pitching, but there's a lot of variables that play in: being a northern team, being on dirt for the first time, new baseballs this year—which we haven't had a chance to work with in an outdoor setting. We've got to get better in some areas…a lot of that stuff is going to come with repetition.
 
"The starting point is talent for us. And I think we are a pretty quality team in that regard. I'm really excited about where this season is going."
 
The toughest part of playing 10 games without a day off is managing pitchers. Players are often forced to assume roles they're unaccustomed to. This weekend's games in Nashville—two versus Alderson Broaddus (March 14) and potentially another on Sunday (March 15)—should stabilize the starting rotation and bullpen.
 
"You use a lot more pitching on a trip like that than you would in the regular season," says Detillion. "Some guys were in a starting role that may (normally) be in a relief role, and vice versa. There is some mixing and matching going on during that trip that we wouldn't have in a four-game series.
 
"Once we condense that, and put some guys in different spots, I like where we are heading."
 
The Lakers biggest focus is not on their opponents this weekend, however. Detillion wants them to set their sights on daily improvement, taking good batting practice and getting in a comfort zone at the plate.
 
Besides, it's nearly impossible to replicate everything that goes on in a baseball game. Simply hitting the diamond should help GVSU do all the things Detillion hopes to see.
 
"Every game presents a new scenario, new opportunities and new obstacles. It's just important for us to focus on what we do well and play the game as well as we can," says Detillion. "Early in the season like this, successful weekends for us are just getting better."
 
First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader with Alderson Broaddus is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET.