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Friday, April 13, 2001

The respite was all too brief. After a break Tuesday, the rains returned Wednesday and continued Thursday, continuing to wash out local and area sporting events.

&uot;We’ve pretty much accomplished all we can accomplish indoors,&uot; said Albert Lea High School baseball coach Joe Sczublewski, whose team had its home opener rained out Thursday for the Tigers’ second cancellation of the season.

Also called off Thursday was the ALHS track and field time trial at Hammer Field – the only home meet of the year for the ALHS boys – which won’t be rescheduled, boys’ tennis against Faribault and boys’ and girls’ golf at Fairmont. The Tigers’ baseball game against Northfield

will be made up if the schedule permits.

Sczublewski was hoping to practice outside today, which would be only the Tigers’ third outdoor practice of the year. The team’s 11 a.m. Saturday game against Owatonna will be played at Hammer Field because of wet conditions at Hayek Field, the Tigers’ usual home park.

&uot;There’s too much standing water at Hayek,&uot; said Sczublewski. &uot;It’s just not soaking in. There’s nowhere for it to go, especially out in left field. Even the infield is saturated.&uot;

Like Sczublewski, Alden-Conger softball coach Gary Nelson has had all of his games rained out so far. Nelson didn’t answer when asked the condition of the Knights’ playing field. He just laughed.

&uot;Our varsity field, if we don’t get any more rain, will be playable,&uot; said Nelson. &uot;All the snow is gone now. As of yesterday it was a four-foot climb over the snow banks to get on the field, but it’s all melted now. We should be able to play, and we need to.&uot;

Sczublewski said that while he’s grateful for Albert Lea’s facility at the new high school, nothing can replace outdoor practice.

&uot;It’s different outside,&uot; said Sczublewski. &uot;That’s where the game is supposed to be played.&uot;

If Saturday’s game is rained out it will turn into a doubleheader at Owatonna later in the season, something Sczublewski figures will happen again.

&uot;Our schedule is already getting congested,&uot; said Sczublewski. &uot;I know there will be more rain outs. It will be a spring with a lot of games in a short period of time.&uot;

How short that period is depends on when the weather cooperates.

&uot;I hope we can get going pretty soon,&uot; said Sczublewski. &uot;It’s been a long spring already, and we haven’t played any games. We need to get some games in. The kids and the coaches are anxious to get going.&uot;