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Spring sports teams fear another lousy spring

By AARON PAITICH, Special to the Star Tribune, 03/01/14, 5:38PM CST

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Please, no. The rugged winter has east-metro teams fearing another lousy spring.


Forest Lake High baseball team practiced at FLAAA Sports Center in Forest Lake. Infielders sharpened their fielding skills. (MARLIN LEVISON/STARTRIBUNE(mlevison@startribune.com (cq all names from head coach)

 

Nobody wants to play baseball or softball in a gym. Here in Minnesota, with temperatures still consistently dipping below zero, that’s exactly what high school teams are forced to do.

It’s nothing new — but it doesn’t get any easier.

“Déjà vu all over again,” Park of Cottage Grove softball coach Bob Loshek said.

Forest Lake baseball coach Tal Gravelle is prepping for the season, even if the reports are grim.

“My players and staff are all worried about the spring when the weather experts tell us to expect temps to be below average for March,” Gravelle said. “However, we are trying not to focus on it too much.”

Maybe they’re starting to get used to it. Late starts are becoming commonplace.

“I actually think we will be better prepared to stay inside longer based on what happened last year,” Gravelle said. “The biggest complaint among the players is they feel they get cheated when you have to cram games into such a short time. Despite the weather, I am excited to get started and work with the players.”

Last season, late snowfalls and subsequent unplayable field conditions forced the Stillwater softball program to cancel its junior varsity schedule to get in all of the varsity games.

That’s not a trend the Ponies, the 2012 Class 3A state champions, want to continue.

“We are hoping optimistically that this spring will not be a repeat of last season,” coach Bob Beedle said. “However, the current cold spell and record snow cover is looking kind of bleak. You never know what March and April will bring. Our kids are holding captains’ practices and appear excited and ready to go.”

Cabin fever. We all have it. Woodbury baseball has taken extra measures to beat it. The Royals are heading to Florida for a week of spring training soon.

“I know our guys are ready to get going with the baseball season, but the weather might have something to say about that,” coach Kevin McDermott said. “We are lucky to be heading to Florida. It should be a great opportunity for us to develop as a team in what we hope is some nice weather.”

Forest Lake softball players are hoping to build on another state tournament appearance.

The Rangers played all 20 regular-season games in 2½ weeks last year. They spent more than eight weeks practicing in the gym and didn’t play their first game until April 28.

“If we can handle that, we can handle anything this spring throws at us,” coach Angie Ryan said.

The girls are holding their own senior-led practice once per week right now. They also have leadership meetings where the seniors are teaching underclassmen about issues that may arise during the season. Most of the team is made up of multisport athletes and many are finishing dance, hockey and basketball.

Despite recent temperatures, road conditions and snow accumulation, there is optimism on the local spring sports scene.

“It can’t be worse than last spring,” Ryan said.

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