Spring sports may be delayed due to Sask. snowfall

The blast of winter weather that blew into Saskatchewan this week has left some outdoor sport organizations questioning when their seasons can begin.

Vanessa Kosteroski, president of the Saskatoon Minor Softball League, said the softball season is supposed to start May 3, but she predicted games won’t kick off until some time after that date due to the poor weather.

“This isn’t unusual for us,” she said. “We’ve dealt with this a few times over the years.”

Before the season officially starts, Kosteroski said the city needs to prepare the diamonds, and sometimes the season is delayed because of lingering moisture from the snow.

“I can’t see us starting that first week, unless there’s a miraculous change and we get really good plus temperatures, and we get a lot of sun and some wind to dry things out,” she said.

Kosteroski said the league typically doesn’t hold games when temperatures are below 8 C, as it’s hard on both the athletes and their equipment.

“It affects a lot of people in a lot of different ways,” she said.

Amanda Probe, executive director of Saskatoon Youth Soccer Inc., said most of the early-season games will be played indoors.

Probe said she has not received any indication from the city that there will be a delay in opening the grass fields, which is projected for May 1. She said the league is scheduled to start playing on those fields May 8.

“Knowing that this spring was going to be a late start, we were proactive and made sure not to put any games until at least a week into May,” she said.

Probe said the organization is currently working on putting cold-weather guidelines in place for the season.

Brad Vinnick, general manager of Greenbryre Golf & Country Club, said the snowfall is a setback, but the course is tentatively set to open by April 29.

The moisture is welcome, Vinnick said, as it will help brighten the greens.

“Everything really depends on what happens this weekend and next week in regard to the warmer temperatures,” he said.

According to a release from the City of Saskatoon, the driving ranges at the Silverwood and Holiday Park courses are expected to open Saturday.