Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Play ball!

Although many may have anticipated a late start to spring sports after this year’s harsh winter, the and say that the town’s fields are in good condition, therefore allowing the season to start at its normal time.

“We’ve had snow pack until the end of March in previous years,” said Parks and Recreation Director Curt Vincente. He explained that as long as there are no more substantial snow or rainfalls to drench the fields, workers should be able to prepare the town’s parks on time.

The key to a timely athletics schedule, according to Vincente, is a winter without a deep freeze. When the frost deeply penetrates the fields, the springtime thawing process is prolonged, as the top layer turns to mud with frozen ground deeper down. Without any significant freezing, the fields dry much more quickly and can be prepared for upcoming use.

“The frost didn’t go as far into the soil. That may be our savior this year,” Vincente said, explaining that this year’s thick snow cover, which accumulated very quickly, prevented a deep freeze.

guidance counselor and softball coach David White said he is grateful that the team will be able to play with little inconvenience.

“We’re just so grateful that so much of the snow melted,” he said. “Mother Nature has a way of evening things out.”

White says that he plans to hold tryouts and a few practices in the gymnasium while the field is being prepared. The softball field usually holds water. If inclement weather keeps the fields unplayable, White says he’ll simply reschedule a few games. He remains hopeful however, that fields will be ready.

“This year so far is following the usual time frame. We’re really crossing our fingers for that,” White said.

Department of Public Works Director Lon Hultgren said there is still a lot of work to do before the town’s 15 soccer fields, 14 baseball fields and three football fields are ready for play. Once the fields are dry, they will be mowed, striped, raked and rototilled to perfection. Hultgren said the wet soil and lack of overtime days might lead to a small delay.

“We don’t have as much time to prepare,” Hultgren said, explaining that all of the department’s overtime days were used to complete winter plowing and maintenance. Customarily, Public Works employees use overtime on a dry weekend to prepare all the fields so they are ready by the end of March or beginning of April.

According to Vincente, the high school fields will be worked on first, followed by the middle school and then the Little League and soccer fields, such as Lions Club Memorial Park. The E.O. Smith High School webpage lists the varsity baseball team’s first home game on Saturday April 2, while varsity softball plays at home on Wednesday, April 6. Schedules for the middle school teams, Little League and soccer association games can be found on the organizations’ Web sites. So far, no delays have been noted.

Click on the links below to view Mansfield's spring sports schedules:

• E.O. Smith Regional High School
• Mansfield Middle School
• Mansfield Little League
• WAM United Soccer Club