Sports : Sign of spring: Baseball workouts

Connor Bendull practices his bunting skills during baseball workouts for the VS 12U team.

Connor Miracle pitches to Josh Staab Thursday evening.

Wes Edwards takes some cuts in the batting cage.

    Ahh the beloved and much missed sights of spring. And its sounds.

    The ping of a ball bouncing off a bat. The thud of a pitch landing in a catcher's mitt.

    Sure, it may be inside, but local baseball players have begun their training for the 2011 season. The Vinton-Shellsburg High School pitchers and catchers have begun their pre-season workouts. And the 12 and under players and coaches have begun performing drills in the VSHS gym. Several of them were there Thursday night, working on bunting, pitching, catching and taking swings in the batting cage.