ROCKLAND – The spring sports season is right around the corner with all high school teams now in their first week of full practice and try-outs. The question is, will the fields be ready? The majority of athletic directors polled say, no problem.

After the long cold winter, it is more than just the snow that needs to be gone. The frozen ground is now thawing, leaving standing water on many of the fields. But, a couple more sunny days and today and the fields will be dry; they just need to firm up.

Oceanside
The baseball field at Oceanside as usual is almost ready, but Morrill Field where the middle school plays has a ways to go.

“Our fields are nearly ready,” said Oceanside Athletic Director Jim Leonard. “I anticipate the high school baseball team will be on their field on Friday, April 4. The Morrill baseball field will not be ready until sometime next week.”

The varsity softball field won’t be ready until sometime next week while the middle school softball teams will probably use the outfield area behind TGS on Thursday or Friday of this week.

Tennis and track are already outdoors, although track is practicing in the parking lot while the track at Wasgatt dries out.
 
“I don’t anticipate any issues with getting in preseason games at home,” said Leonard. The early away games may pose a problem however.”

Belfast
Baseball and softball fields in Belfast have a ways to go before the teams will be on the fields.

“I’m guessing possibly the end of next week for baseball,” said Belfast Athletic Director Terry Kenniston. “The softball field has no snow on it, but is very wet the will take awhile to dry.”

Medomak Valley
The fields are wet, but could be ready next week if the weather cooperates.

“Medomak Valley High School fields are clear,” said Athletic Director Matt Lash. “Depends on frost and temp at night. Three days of yesterdays temps and I will turn them over first of the week. I would suspect we will be on them end of next week with any good drying conditions.”

Camden Hills
For the most part the snow is gone on the baseball and softball fields, but both need time, temperature and wind to dry them out.

“Are fields are pretty free of snow right now,” said Camden Hills Athletic Director Steve Alex. “Like Matt [Lash at Medomak Valley] I am hoping by the end of next week.”

Alex said the track is now free of snow and the track team is outside on the track only, the infield is still too wet. Tennis is at MRC when they can be squeezed in.

Right now softball, baseball, girls lacrosse, and boys lacrosse are sharing the gym. The boys are at Point Lookout in Northport this week getting in some quality work.

Have not heard back from Mount View or Searsport yet and will add them if we do.

For baseball and softball, Camden Hills opens on the road at Oceanside, Belfast will be at Mount View, Medomak Valley at Lincoln Academy and Searsport will travel to Deer Isle-Stonington. All these games will be Wednesday, April 23.

Ron Hawkes can be reached at sports@penbaypilot.com