In northeastern Minnesota, one can add spring sports postponements to death and taxes as absolute certainties.
Schedules for area teams continue to be made out in pencil rather than pen, as Mother Nature has forced the postponement or cancellation of numerous contests.
Games and meets listed on the calendar have, so far, largely been wishes rather than reality.
That continued this week with most local teams seeing a week go by without any action.
Only the softball and baseball teams at Vermilion Community College, who have traveled either outside the region or been fortunate enough to land contests on fields with artificial turf, have been able to play so far this spring.
Ely’s high school track season opener, set for Friday at Chisholm, was cancelled because of the weather, while Vermilion matchups slated for the weekend of April 3-4 and again early this week were also delayed.
The Timberwolves’ baseball and softball teams, however, had to go south to get their respective seasons underway.
Both teams were at Kenyon Friday and have games at both Hayfield and Blooming Prairie Saturday. Those communities are near Rochester and Austin in southeastern Minnesota.
Snow-covered fields make it a near certainty that a junior varsity softball game set for this Monday will be postponed, but the Wolves have a good chance to play Tuesday at Mt. Iron-Buhl, which plays on its artificial turf football field.
The baseball team, meanwhile, will keep its fingers crossed and hope that Veterans Memorial Field is cleared and dry in time for an April 17 doubleheader with Silver Bay and Littlefork-Big Falls.
Both Vermilion teams are counting on artificial turf to resume their schedules, with the baseball team set to travel to Aurora Saturday for a “home” doubleheader with Mesabi. The Ironhawks and Norse have another twinbill the following day at Rock Ridge, which also has artificial turf.
If field conditions allow, Vermilion’s first home game in Ely will be on Sunday, April 19, against Rainy River.
The Vermilion softball team may wait until April 22 before playing in Ely.
High school golfers around the area are also playing a waiting game as their season is on hold until area golf courses open.
The season could be cramped into as little as three or four weeks before the postseason begins in late-May.
