Long Winter Putting A Damper On Start Of Spring Sports
CHICAGO (CBS) -- As if there weren't enough of a reason to be upset with this long, brutal winter; the continuing cold weather has proved a big downer for kids looking forward to the start of spring sports like baseball, softball, track and field, lacrosse, tennis, and soccer.
WBBM Newsradio's Nancy Harty reports athletes and their coaches are used to some pretty chilly starts to the spring season, and even starting off indoors, but this frigid winter has been especially trying.
"We're used to that. It's been like that in the past. I think the difference this year is we don't see the light at the end of the tunnel, on when we're going to be able to get outside," said Libertyville High School athletic director Briant Kelly.
Kelly said a baseball game scheduled for next week had to be delayed until may because of the wintry conditions.
At St. Charles North High School, athletic director Daniel Dolney said the gym has been booked solid.
"Around this time, everybody sort of gets a little antsy, because they should be outside, and they want to be outside, but they're stuck inside," he said.
The Chicago Park District has closed all its grass athletic fields until April 15 at the earliest, given that those fields are still covered in snow, and delaying the start of the Lakefront AYSO soccer season.