Spring — in certain countries in the world — means more than just flowers, butterflies and taxes. It means the crack of bat on ball, the pounding of fist on glove, and a season of hope for something beyond just peanuts and Cracker Jack — yes, hope for a championship pennant. Spring means baseball.
Except in Japan that is, where thanks to the constant ballyhoo of sports shows and tabloids, baseball doesn't start in spring because it never goes away in fall. It is always here.
And in no place is this truer than with high-school baseball, where teams practice all year round. Talk about your grueling schedule.