While the Kansas University baseball team cancelled its game Saturday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark because of weather, the cold wind and chilly temperatures were not enough to keep seven youngsters from going to Youth Sports Inc. Fields to try out for a spot on a team for the Douglas County Amateur Baseball Association.

“They’re die hard players,” said DCABA coach Shaun Elston. “We’re trying to play competitive ball but teach them the right way to do it at the same time.”

Elston said that for some of the players this season will be their first year of playing baseball without stipulations. Last year they were free to swing the bat and field the ball, but they couldn’t bunt, lead off the base or steal. But this year the players will have the opportunity to enjoy all of those aspects of the game and pitch to batters.

Nine-year-old Michael DeGrassi was one of the players who tried to earn a spot on a team. DeGrassi played baseball last season and said playing baseball in the cold temperatures didn’t bother him at all.

“It was really fun,” he said.

DeGrassi and the other participants began the two-hour tryout by playing catch. The players then made throws from long distance and later caught fly balls, took grounders, practiced running the bases and hit soft-toss pitching.

DeGrassi was quite noticeable during the tryout. He asked many questions to his coaches, did well hitting the ball and either dove or slid after he finished running the bases.

“I think I have done pretty good,” DeGrassi said, of his performance during the tryout.

DeGrassi said he liked playing outfield and batting the most, but he had some goals that he hopes to achieve this season.

“To get a lot of outs, score a few home runs, and hopefully our team is pretty good,” he said.

Eight-year-old Trey Georgie showed a live arm while playing catch and had some nice swings during batting practice. And it was in the batter’s box where DeGrassi hoped to improve this year.

“I’m going to try to make a lot of home runs,” he said. “I want to hit the ball this year.”

Georgie said he enjoyed playing outfield and would be excited if he made the team. But of the seven players who tried out, two will not make it. “I’ve never been put in that position before,” Elston said. “I guess that’s kind of the difference between playing competitive baseball in an organization like this and playing Parks and Rec. At Parks and Rec everybody’s on a team. But this I hate to say, can’t be done that way.”

Elston said DCABA has five teams filled but would like to add a sixth team. Those interested should contact Collin Lovelace at 832-8420.