Central Oregonian

Sometimes weather is the big story in spring sports

Events cancelled, games rescheduled due to winter-like weather

Lon Austin

Covering spring athletics is often an adventure.

Athletes, spectators, and photographers alike often brave cold, windy, and sometimes wet conditions all in the name of sport.

This week, that has been especially true. I have been forced to break out my winter coat and ski pants — something I didn’t do all winter. Trying to operate a camera, or take notes with gloves on your hands is always an adventure (taking notes isn’t the problem, reading them later is).

Unseasonably cold weather wreaked havoc with the sports schedule.

Monday started with snow and wintery weather conditions. The Crook County High School boys golf team was scheduled to play at Bend Country Club that morning. The team made the trip and prepared to play only to see the tournament cancelled because of the worsening weather. At this time, the tournament has not been rescheduled. The girls golf tournament at Broken Top Golf Course was also cancelled.

Later in the day, the Cowboys baseball game with the Mountain View Cougars was also cancelled. The game was rescheduled for Tuesday. However, poor weather on Tuesday postponed the game again. Also on Tuesday, the boys tennis match at Summit was cancelled as was a softball doubleheader with Mountain View.

Despite the poor weather, the Cowgirls were able to host the Summit Storm in girls tennis action. The track meet between Crook County and Mountain View also went off on schedule despite occasional snow flurries.

The concession stand was especially busy at the track meet with people buying hot chocolate to use as handwarmers.

With improving weather later in the week, the schedule has been at least partially restored.

The softball doubleheader was played on Wednesday in Bend instead of at Crook County as originally scheduled.

The Crook County, Mountain View baseball game from Monday was made up on Thursday, and Friday’s softball game with Mountain View has been moved from Bend to Prineville.

Thursday’s tennis matches with Mountain View went off on schedule and the girls tennis tournament scheduled for this weekend in Bend is also expected to take place on schedule.

Local golf courses are once again playable and the Cowgirls will host their tournament at Prineville Golf Club on Friday, which is expected to go off without a hitch.

According to the weatherman, we are currently in a warming trend. Maybe that means spring is really here, or maybe not. Either way, it could be worse. Remember, according to the song lyrics, “when it’s springtime in Alaska, it’s 40 below.”

We don’t have it nearly that bad. Sometimes it just seems that way.