CHS athletics hoping for assist from Mother Nature

Crews from several town departments teamed up to clear the turf and track at Memorial Field. (CHS Athletics photo)

The first contests for the Canton High track and lacrosse teams appear to be on schedule for the first week in April, but the start of the other three sports — baseball, softball and tennis — is still up in the air after the snowiest winter on record.

Thanks to the cooperative efforts of the Canton DPW, Parks and Recreation, the Canton Public Schools’ maintenance staff, and even the spring athletes themselves — who assisted with shoveling — the CHS turf field and track have been cleared and will be ready for the opening of the season next week.

The girls lacrosse team will open with a home contest against Franklin on Wednesday, April 1, at 3:30 p.m., and the boys will open the same day at Franklin. Both outdoor track teams will kick off the season the following Tuesday, April 7, with a home meet against Oliver Ames at 3:30 p.m.

April 7 is also the scheduled start of the baseball, softball, and tennis seasons, but as of last week, CHS Athletic Director Danny Erickson said it was still a “day-to-day, week-to-week situation.”

“A lot of it depends on Mother Nature and how warm it gets,” Erickson said.

Once the snow is off the fields, then drying and drainage can begin, he said. Walsh Field, used by the softball team, has drained well and is the first field expected to be playable. Gibson Field and Ruane Field (behind the JFK School) may take longer to drain, Erickson said.

DPW crews are also working in earnest to remove the mounds and walls of snow from the tennis courts built up over previous storms from the cleanup of the high school parking lots. A few weeks ago, Erickson estimated the mounds on the courts were three feet high. As of March 19, a combination of DPW manpower and warmer temperatures had reduced the mounds to a foot or less.

Once the spring season is over, the tennis courts will undergo a major renovation, which is being funded by a combination of school, municipal, and Community Preservation Act funds. The courts will be closed for the summer and fall, but the renovations should improve the overall playing experience and alleviate future drainage issues.

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) has already extended the regular season one week, but there is a limit to how much further it can go as the state tournaments usually begin after Memorial Day and senior graduations typically occur the first or second week in June.

Erickson said he cannot remember a season that started with such challenges. He said the closest would probably be 1997, when he coached the boys tennis team. The season began on time, but an April 1-2 snowstorm produced two feet of snow, abruptly stopping games and practices until April vacation. “What saved us then was that it warmed up quickly, which melted the snow pretty quickly,” he said.

Until now, athletes have been using the CHS and Galvin Middle School gyms and weight-room facilities for conditioning and practice, as well as private facilities such as the Canton Sportsplex, Sluggers Academy in Medfield, and the Brown/Billone Club in Easton.

Erickson said it has been challenging, but he feels the situation has been made easier thanks to the cooperation of several town departments and the availability of gyms and private facilities.

“A lot of schools are not in the position we are,” he said. “We very much appreciate many departments working together to get us to this point. For now, we have to wait and see where we are on April 7. A lot will depend on Mother Nature and how warm it will get to aid the drying of the fields.”

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