Local ball fields looking like swimming pools

As recently as a week ago many of the local baseball, soccer and football fields stood underneath a layer of snow. Now with the blue skies and warm weather the snow is disappearing, but the fields are far from dry.

Where there is not snow, there is mud. Where there is not mud, there is water -- and lots of it.

Herman Brothers Field has several pools of water on the field and both dugouts are completely filled with the wet stuff. One pool, that stretches from where third base should be to the fence, all the way down to the left field wall is the size of a pond. Mat-Su Miners general manager Pete Christopher said the snow lining the outfield wall at Hermon Brothers had been piled as high as eight feet. The winter winds blew the snow across the field and piled it against the wooden wall. With the warmer temperatures the snow is melting and the water is collecting. Christopher said late last week a volunteer pumped the water out of the dugouts, but the next day each of the dugouts were full again.

On Friday Wasilla High School was to host the first prep track and field event of the season, the Wasilla Invitational, on Friday, but school officials canceled the meet due to poor field conditions. Wasilla activities director Doug Bean said the pits were still frozen and the track still had standing water.

"The fields are so damp, you would tear everything up," Bean said.

Local prep baseball and soccer teams have held practices for several weeks, but only recently have been able to hold any practices outdoors. Bean said the Wasilla gym has been booked until 9:30 p.m. with all of the Warriors spring sports teams vying for indoor practice times. The Warriors girls' soccer squad had its first opportunity to practice outside late last week.

"It's hard to adjust from inside to out," Wasilla head coach Katie Broeder said. "There is so much more space and the ball moves so fast."

The Warrior girls scrimmaged indoors with Colony at the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex on Thursday and other teams have utilized the new indoor sports complex, but Bean said each program has to consider rental fees before practicing at the complex.

The Warrior soccer squads are slated to being their seasons April 22 against Soldotna at Wasilla High School. Broeder said if the Warriors can play, it will be on the junior varsity field in front of the school. The Palmer Moose and Houston Hawk soccer squads are slated to make their first road trips of the season. Palmer will travel to Juneau and Houston will make the trip to Homer.

Wasilla and Palmer are trying to organize an informal meet this weekend to replace the Wasilla Invitational. The time and place of the event are expected to be announced later this week.

Each of the three 4A Valley track programs are expected to compete in the Skyview Invitational, April 23-24.

The local prep softball and baseball teams are scheduled to throw the first pitch of the season late this month.The Warrior baseball team is scheduled to begin its season next weekend at Valdez.