Snow dampens sports startup
By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter
Tyler Lowey Photo
The year’s unseasonably long winter could impact the community in a number of ways.
The local fastball program, the Strathmore Thunder, is one of the many clubs around town itching to get on the field, but the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society ball diamonds are covered in a thick blanket of snow.
“The field is completely covered in two feet of snow. In certain areas, like the dugouts and along some of the fences, there is up to three feet in the snow drifts,” said Lanky Johnson, Strathmore district representative for Calgary Minor Softball.
Every year is different; some are colder than others, but typically, the Thunder like to be on the field by now. With their rosters filled for eight teams, the Thunder, like many local teams, are stuck practising in gyms, waiting for the snow to melt.
“We are getting clogged up in the gym these days. We have been inside for two months now. We have 120 kids throwing, hitting and practising inside, but there’s only so much we can work on inside,” said Johnson. “It gets pretty cramped at times.”
In comparing monthly average temperatures from last year to this year, each month has been colder by an average of 5.97 degrees Celsius, with the exception of December, which was 3.8 degrees warmer this year. In the first eight days of April alone this year, the temperature has been 18 degrees cooler than this time last year.
Warmer temperatures did hit Wheatland County this past week and it appears they should hang around single digits, but there is still a long way to go for complete snow removal and time is running out.
The Thunder are scheduled to open the Calgary Minor Softball Association season April 23 at home, but may have to relocate games to Calgary, where some of the fields are not covered in snow.
Concern is also growing about the annual Thunder tournament being impacted by the snow.
“If no active approach is taken, then it would not only impact the youth, but also impact the town economy with 15 out-of-town teams not spending in Strathmore during our tournament,” said Johnson.
Measures are beginning to take place. The ag society is working on snow removal tactics, but just because the fields are cleared of the white stuff doesn’t mean they are ready for opening day.
“We need to get the snow off as soon as possible so the ground can begin to thaw,” said Trevor Jensen, Strathmore and District Minor Baseball president. “It still takes time for the frost to melt once the snow is gone before we can use the fields.”
Like the Thunder, the Reds have developed a case of cabin fever working out in school gyms waiting for the snow to melt.
“We’re at least one month behind right now. Last year we were outside once we had our teams picked. We have our teams picked now, but can’t get outside,” noted Jensen.
“It really puts a hindrance on what we can do as a program indoors.”
The bantam and mosquito Reds are scheduled to open the Baseball Alberta season the first weekend in May, with the midget and peewee programs picking up play the following weekend.
After-school programs, such as the Thunder and Reds, have the flexibility to rearrange their schedule if need be. But the athletic programs of Holy Cross Collegiate and Strathmore High School only have so many dates on the calendar to get games in.
The SHS rugby programs set their rosters a month ago but have also been stuck inside practising in the gym.
“Being inside means that you basically take away all contact, which sucks because rugby is all about contact,” said Spartan girl’s rugby Head Coach Jerry Flaws. “What we’re doing now is just working on strategy. Once we get outside, it will be all about contact and tackling drills.”
Weather permitting, the rugby program is typically outdoors by now and usually hosts a tournament in the first or second week of April.
Rugby players never shy away from rainy, muddy or snowy conditions midseason, but like baseball, they need the ground to thaw first for player safety.
For local teams, it’s now just a waiting game.