Spring Sports go on Winter Break

On Tuesday fans filled the bleachers at Morehouse Park for the Huskies' home softball opener. It was cloudy, breezy and in the mid-50's. On Thursday a dirty/dusty snow covered the park with temperatures in the low-30's and winds howling.

All things considered, the high school spring sports season is off to a better start than last season when many teams had their season opener delayed for weeks. Teams turned to bowling, wiffle ball and various snow shoe activities to fill the time until conditions became playable.

Teams that played Monday of this week enjoyed 70-degree weather, while enduring strong, gusty winds. Some teams moved up games that were scheduled for Thursday and got them in earlier in the week. Medford softball and Triton baseball both made that move.

Players, coaches and activities directors are hoping this week's weather is a small blip on the radar. The fallout will include canceled events that don't get made up. The Owatonna boys golfers will lose Thursday's meet at Decorah, IA for a third straight season. OHS girls golf at the Faribault Invite Friday was also canceled.

OHS baseball, softball, tennis, track and field and even the golf teams started their seasons as the original schedule had it drawn up. Owatonna's baseball and softball games against Rochester Century for Thursday are rescheduled for Monday, April 22. OHS boys tennis has had a couple of meets postponed but both are rescheduled.

Even the Minnesota Twins are affected by this week's weather, postponing their series opener against Detroit to May 11. The teams are still scheduled to play Saturday and Sunday April 13 and 14 at 1:10 pm at Target Field. It seems a little ironic that the Twins got in their entire late-March series against Cleveland that many were concerned about and are now snowed-out in mid-April.