Prolonged stretch of rainy weather throws curve ball at start of youth diamond seasons

Photo by Tom Rivers – A baseball ends up in the water and mud at St. Mary’s field in Albion in this photo which well illustrates the problems area youth teams have had in getting practices and games going. Jeff Andrews, one of the coaches for St. Mary’s, and pitcher Jayce Ashton, are shown at this practice on April 25.

Like their high school counterparts area youth league baseball teams have been finding it very difficult to find a dry day or a dry spot to practice or get games in this soggy spring.

The four community Roy-Hart/Medina/Lyndonville/Somerset League opened its season last Saturday but the steady rain of late threw a curve ball at today’s week two schedule.

The six team Albion Midget League, which had originally been scheduled to open the season today, has now pushed its starting date back to May 20 because of the prolonged stretch of rainy weather which has made even getting in practices a major challenge.

“It’s tough and it’s frustrating,” said Sandstone Coach Dan Bartlett in noting that his squad has had only some 8 practices so far when it normally would have had over 20 by this time. “We’re all having it tough in getting practices in,”he added.

Weather permitting, the Midget League May 20 openers will have Barre vs. Carlton, Sandstone vs. Vets and St. Mary’s vs. Rotary.

Nationals 17, Indians 6
In only Medina youth game that did get played this past Wednesday, Josh Hilobuk and Julio Doval were perfect at the plate for the Nationals going 5 for 5 and 4 for 4 respectively reaching  base.  Julian Woodworth and Aidan Owczarczak both hit triples, with Owczarczak adding 2 doubles.  Austin Tompkins  also had a pair of doubles and Breydin Mcewen-Miller had one. Owczarczak and Brandon Christiaansen had good outings on the mound each throwing 6 strikeouts apiece.