RAPID CITY - Starting on Friday, the Post 320 Stars will make way for the USA Softball Women's National Team, exiting Pete Lien Memorial Field for 12 days while preparations and restorations are made to the field.

During their hiatus, the Stars will play eight games on the road, their junior varsity teams - the Shooting Stars and the Rising Stars - will play 10 away games each.

"It should be a very positive experience," Post 320 head Jim Brandt said. "Once I met the softball people, they were very professional. And once the city was involved, they were in constant communication with us. So we're very confident and excited about the whole thing."

The three Post 320 teams,

when not playing, will practice at McKeague Field, across the parking lot where the Black Hills Amateur League plays. Only one game is schedule to be played at McKeague Field between the Rising Stars and Spearfish on July, 17th.

"The Amateur League has always been very good to youth baseball in Rapid City." Brandt said. "They'll let us use their field which will work out great."

Coach Brandt doesn't have any overriding concerns that the break from playing at home will affect the teams. The varsity team is currently on a 15-game winning streak.

"As far as any inconvenience for us, one of the spin-off's for us is that we've played 13 games in just about a week's time, so we'll have about a week's break, which will be a welcome time off for us." Said Brandt.

The Post 320 program made some accommodations to their schedule moving some home games up in the schedule, but Brandt said that the Post 320 teams will play about the same number of home and away games as they had planned going into the season. He also isn't concerned about the work that will have to be done to the field in order to turn Pete Lien Memorial Field into a softball field for the game.

"As far as the field, I think down the road it may end up being even better than it was before, there is some things they have to do right away, and there are some things that will be done in the fall. I just hope I can get a ticket and go to the game, I may have to sell concessions or something," Brandt said.

Post 320 plays Gering, Neb. on Thursday at Pete Lien Field before their break, and returns on July 24 against Pierre.