Next week, Columbia’s softball team will take part in what could be described as an alternative spring break vacation.

On Thursday, the Lions will travel to Kissimmee, Florida to compete in the Rebel Games spring tournament for the entire week. Beginning on Friday, March 14 at 11 a.m. against Robert Morris, the team will play a series of 14 games in eight days. An afternoon game against University of Wisconsin-Green Bay follows at 3 p.m.

On Saturday, the team faces Fairleigh Dickinson at 9 a.m. and Monmouth at 1 p.m. The weekend will conclude with a doubleheader against Rhode Island at 1 p.m. and Army at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The Light Blue will get a much-needed rest on Monday before completing the remaining eight games of their tournament schedule. On Tuesday, the team faces Hartford at 9 a.m. and Dayton at 11 a.m. On Wednesday, Columbia plays Manhattan at 9 a.m. and Dayton for a second time at 3 p.m. Thursday’s slate includes Lafayette at 1 p.m. and a rematch against Manhattan at 3 p.m. The tournament concludes with a doubleheader against Colgate at 1 p.m. and Siena at 5 p.m.

Offensively, the Lions will be led by junior shortstop Keli Leong, who has a team-high .429 average in her first 28 at-bats, along with two doubles and four RBIs. Leong had two hits, a run and an RBI to help beat Mount St. Mary’s at last weekend’s Terrapin Invitational. Freshman outfielder Jackie Ecker is hitting .296 (8-for-27) with two walks. When she is not pitching, freshman Maggie Johnson has also been a solid offensive catalyst for the Lions with her .333 average over 21 at bats.

On the mound, Johnson has made an immediate impact with her 3-0 record and 0.93 ERA. In 22.2 innings pitched, the right hander has struck out 17 while holding opponents allowed to a .177 batting average. These statistics along with her skill at the plate earned Johnson Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors.

Aimee Kemp has struggled somewhat after putting up 16 wins last season with a 2.78 ERA. This season, she has a 1-4 record with a 4.06 ERA. Through 29.1 innings pitched, she has surrendered 38 hits and allowed 17 runners to score. She needs more performances like the one she showed against the 23rd-ranked Maryland Terrapins last Sunday, allowing just two earned runs and scattering eight hits over six innings.

The Lions will need to use this tournament to gain momentum before heading into conference play. The Rebel Games represent the final extended road trip before the team kicks off its Ivy League schedule in a home opener against Brown on March 29.