The Person High School softball team will be going from one extreme to another this week, as it prepares for a stretch of three games in three days after enduring 12 days without any competition at all.

The last time the Rockets saw action was back on Feb. 28 in the season-opener, which ended in a 2-0 victory over Northern Vance at home.

The 1-0 Rockets were set to resume play last Friday at Bartlett Yancey. That contest was washed out by rain, and Saturday’s subsequent Walnut Creek Tournament was cancelled as well.

The junior varsity team has yet to play at all this season.

Though the layoff may have offered his team some extra time to shore up certain areas of its game, Rocket head coach Mike Shotwell is eager to begin competing on the field.

“I guess it’s given us a chance to work on some things like our hitting, but I think it’s more negative than positive,” he said. “When you get ready to play and then find out you can’t, it’s a big letdown.”

Therefore, the three straight contests scheduled for today against Halifax, Thursday at South Granville, and Friday at Southern Durham (the Piedmont Athletic Conference opener) will be a welcome change of pace for Person.

“We want to play, so these three days are not going to be a problem for us at all,” said Shotwell. “We’d rather be playing than practicing. The team is anxious to get going.”

It all kicks off with today’s tilt against the border rival Halifax Comets at the Person High School field at 4 p.m.

The Comets have been perennial participants in Virginia state postseason play in recent years. Last season, they won their first 13 games, finished 19-5 overall, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the AAA playoffs.

The two teams faced off against each other twice last spring and split the season series.

Shotwell expects another tough challenge from the Comets today.

“They were very good last year and as far as I can tell they really haven’t lost anything from last season,” he observed. “They’re going to be good again this year.”

Actually, Halifax has lost five seniors from its 2007 squad, and is counting on a different crop of players to lead the team this year.

Today’s game is also the regular season opener for the Comets, who have had one scrimmage (an 11-1 win) so far.

Before the season, Shotwell thought his team might have an advantage going into today’s game, with the Comets opening their campaign and the Rockets having already played several regular-season contests.

But, as it turns out, the postponements and cancellations in Person’s schedule mean the two squads are now meeting under similar conditions, according to Shotwell.