MONROE - Piles of lingering snow and frozen fields have wreaked havoc on the start to the spring sports season, and area athletic directors' patience is being tested as coaches and players for baseball and softball teams are eager to start the season.
The Monroe baseball team has already had three games postponed. The Cheesemaker softball team had one game postponed, and the field for Thursday's game is in doubt. Monroe Athletic Director Dave Hirsbrunner spent all day Monday on the phone rescheduling four games.
"Monday was the most hectic day I have had in three years," Hirsbrunner said. "You have to maintain an element of calm in a world of chaos. The spring sports season in Wisconsin is pretty crazy. Conference games will take precedence over non-conference games if we can't fit them in."
Hirsbrunner said what many people don't know is if one game is rescheduled, it requires about 20 phone calls. He has to contact district administration, the other school district, the bus company, coaches, workers and the park and recreation department for scheduling softball games at Twining Park.
"It's a big deal to reschedule one game," Hirsbrunner said. "The key to the whole thing is communication. Every time I make a change, I'm scared to death I will leave someone out of the loop."
Monroe softball coach Dale Buvid looks forward to playing the season opener. He is even willing to flip-flop home and away games with Oregon Thursday and play on the road against the Panthers if their field is ready.
"It's unfortunate," Buvid said of the postponed games. "We have been practicing inside. We are ready to start playing games."
Monroe baseball coach Dustin Huffman is not optimistic about playing a game this week. Huffman said there is still a 2 1/2 foot snow drift down the left field line.
"We are planning on this week being a wash and making up five games," he said. "We are hoping to get next week's games in. There is a possibility our field may not be ready next week and we may have to flip-flop some games."
With practices being relegated inside gyms, Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen, who has been the school's baseball coach for 33 years and also serves as athletic director, isn't sure if any non-conference games postponed will be made up since the team will have four games a week including a doubleheader each Friday against a Six Rivers West opponent.
"We need some warmer weather to dry it out," Strommen said. "We almost need a rain to get the rest of the frost out. Everyone is in the same boat."
Brodhead Athletic Director Jim Matthys has had to reschedule three baseball and three softball games for the Cardinals.
"It's not a problem in rescheduling right now because we have a lot of open dates," Matthys said. "There are some non-conference games that may be canceled. Right now our focus is getting all the conference games in. If we have a hole in our schedule, we will fit the non-conference games in."
The Brodhead softball team will host a tournament Saturday that will include Monroe, Juda-Albany, Monticello and Argyle, and Matthys said the field is in good shape so the tournament will likely be played this weekend.
"The only X-factor is if we get any more rain or snow," he said. "If we get any more precipitation, it probably won't be played."
The Monroe baseball team has already had three games postponed. The Cheesemaker softball team had one game postponed, and the field for Thursday's game is in doubt. Monroe Athletic Director Dave Hirsbrunner spent all day Monday on the phone rescheduling four games.
"Monday was the most hectic day I have had in three years," Hirsbrunner said. "You have to maintain an element of calm in a world of chaos. The spring sports season in Wisconsin is pretty crazy. Conference games will take precedence over non-conference games if we can't fit them in."
Hirsbrunner said what many people don't know is if one game is rescheduled, it requires about 20 phone calls. He has to contact district administration, the other school district, the bus company, coaches, workers and the park and recreation department for scheduling softball games at Twining Park.
"It's a big deal to reschedule one game," Hirsbrunner said. "The key to the whole thing is communication. Every time I make a change, I'm scared to death I will leave someone out of the loop."
Monroe softball coach Dale Buvid looks forward to playing the season opener. He is even willing to flip-flop home and away games with Oregon Thursday and play on the road against the Panthers if their field is ready.
"It's unfortunate," Buvid said of the postponed games. "We have been practicing inside. We are ready to start playing games."
Monroe baseball coach Dustin Huffman is not optimistic about playing a game this week. Huffman said there is still a 2 1/2 foot snow drift down the left field line.
"We are planning on this week being a wash and making up five games," he said. "We are hoping to get next week's games in. There is a possibility our field may not be ready next week and we may have to flip-flop some games."
With practices being relegated inside gyms, Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen, who has been the school's baseball coach for 33 years and also serves as athletic director, isn't sure if any non-conference games postponed will be made up since the team will have four games a week including a doubleheader each Friday against a Six Rivers West opponent.
"We need some warmer weather to dry it out," Strommen said. "We almost need a rain to get the rest of the frost out. Everyone is in the same boat."
Brodhead Athletic Director Jim Matthys has had to reschedule three baseball and three softball games for the Cardinals.
"It's not a problem in rescheduling right now because we have a lot of open dates," Matthys said. "There are some non-conference games that may be canceled. Right now our focus is getting all the conference games in. If we have a hole in our schedule, we will fit the non-conference games in."
The Brodhead softball team will host a tournament Saturday that will include Monroe, Juda-Albany, Monticello and Argyle, and Matthys said the field is in good shape so the tournament will likely be played this weekend.
"The only X-factor is if we get any more rain or snow," he said. "If we get any more precipitation, it probably won't be played."
