Snow, Wind & Rain: Scheduling Struggles in North Country Weather

Snow and cold temperatures kept the Saints’ spring athletic teams indoors for a large majority of their early seasons. But even as Liberty League games and events began, the North Country weather proved relentless. While safety has remained the main concern, coaches and administrators continue to face the challenge of cancelling and rescheduling while also maintaining an appropriate and plausible calendar.

The baseball team had their home opener on April 13, only to have the second game of the doubleheader called after eight innings due to rain. Their second doubleheader, scheduled to be played the following day, was cancelled due to snow and ice. They are currently scheduled to play this weekend at home, but, due to the current icy conditions, their match-up against Union College is tentative.

Additionally, the softball team’s non-conference doubleheader against Elmira that was scheduled for April 19 was postponed for a later day, and Liberty League games continue to be moved around. Baseball and softball respectively face the challenge of field conditions in addition to actual weather, as any rain, snow, or precipitation can cause the fields to be unplayable and force the teams to travel to opponents or neutral sites in order to play on turf.

The women’s lacrosse team’s first official game of the season, scheduled for March 7 against SUNY Geneseo, was postponed. However, the Saints’ non-league game against SUNY Canton was played despite heavy snow conditions. The team then saw their first Liberty League game, scheduled for March 17 at home against RIT, postponed due to freezing temperatures. On April 6 their Liberty League match-up against Ithaca College was delayed an hour and a half in order for the field to be cleared of the rapidly falling snow.

The men’s and women’s rowing teams also saw cancelations, including their season opener. Their respective races at RIT, scheduled for April 8, were also cancelled due to inclement weather.

With the end of the spring semester in sight, the Canton weather continues to present challenging conditions for the Saints’ spring athletics teams. With playoffs approaching, league play is essential, but safety and scheduling have frequently clashed during this “spring” season.