Snow Slows Start of Spring High School Sports

High school baseball and softball teams are itching to get outside after being cooped up in gyms due to the cold temperatures and fields still covered in snow in most cases. A couple of scrimmages for local teams are canceled this week. Baseball teams held a week of conditioning beginning March 12 and are in their second week of practice. Softball teams are entering their third week of practice. Some track teams have had the luxury of participating at indoor meets at area colleges. Golf squads are swinging away inside hoping for warmer days.

A Triton baseball scrimmage at St. Charles and a Medford softball scrimmage at Red Wing for Thursday were both canceled. Teams are scheduled to open their seasons in early April, but many of those games are in doubt. On Tuesday, April 3 Triton is scheduled to play at Medford and NRHEG is set to host Glenville-Emmons. Owatonna is scheduled to open on Thursday, April 5 at Red Wing. Blooming Prairie is scheduled for a home doubleheader Saturday, April 7 against Maple River.

Softball openers include NRHEG hosting Blue Earth Area and Triton at St. Clair on April 3. Owatonna is scheduled to host Red Wing on April 5 while Blooming Prairie is supposed to go to Maple River and Medford will host Bethlehem Academy.

Gopher Conference track teams competed at Minnesota State University-Mankato Monday. It was a great day for the NRHEG boys who won the event with nearly twice as many points as runner-up Maple River 151-86. Brady Agrimson won three events, taking both hurdles races and the high jump. The Panthers also placed first in a pair of relays. Coach Duane Ferber said, "Nice start to the season for the boys. We really have some nice balance this year."

The Panthers girls placed second, behind Maple River 103-93.5. Caitlin Goette won the 200-meter dash. Ferber said, "We were very happy with a second place finish. Saw some good early season performances from our girls."

OHS boys' tennis is scheduled to open their season Tuesday, April 3 with a home match against Winona. The Huskies' track teams host the co-ed relays on April 5.