Spring Sports Field Conditions

As the prep sports season transitions from gyms and pools to tracks and courts we take a look at how things are thawing out across the Missoula Valley in preparation for spring sports.

Big Sky
Softball: The Big Sky softball field was plowed in early March which has allowed the field to begin to thaw out. The infield has no snow on it and is thawed to where the top layer of ground is loose. The outfield is open grass that has begun to show signs of thawing with the grass layer being soggy and wet.

Track & Field: The MCPS Stadium is cleared and the Eagles have been practicing on the new surface. The long jump and triple jump pits are cleared and the run way is free of snow, and the pole vault run way is cleared and are ready for use.

Tennis: Big Sky uses the Fort Missoula tennis courts as their home court. The street side courts are covered with snow, but the snow in the center courts has been melting and tarps have been laid down on the part of the courts.

Hellgate
Softball: The home softball fields for Hellgate are at the sports complex located up the Rattlesnake. Just as the Big Sky fields, the Hellgate softball fields have been plowed allowing the thawing and melting process. The infield is hard packed, with the outfield soggy in some areas, and hard in others. 

Track & Filed: Hellgate uses the River Bowl to practice, and the MCPS Stadium for events. River Bowl Park is cleared of snow on two thirds of the track, with the shadows along the creek yet to be exposed to full sun. The infield of the track is 80% cleared of snow with areas of water pooled up.

Tennis: The Hellgate tennis program shares the Playfair Park tennis courts with the Sentienl tennis team for both practice nad events. All three courts are either covered, or partial covered in snow.

Loyola
Softball: The Loyola Breakers home softball field is at the Lloyd Twite Sports Complex which is located off of 3rd street. The Loyola softball field has not been plowed, leaving the infield partially covered in snow and partially covered with water. The inner portion of the outfield has melted, but the outer half has snow piled up.

Track & Field: Loyola uses the track that surrounds Rollin Field at the Lloyd Twite Sports Complex to practice. The dirt track is partially covered in snow with a few dry patches, and a couple pools of water.

Tennis: As with the Hellgate and Sentinel tennis programs, Loyola uses the Playfair Park tennis courts, which are partially covered in snow.

Sentinel
Softball: The Sentinel softball fields are located directly behind the high school next to Stegner Field. As with the other three MCPS high school softball fields, both of Sentinels fields have been plowed. The infield is thawed, wet on the surface with no standing water, while the outfield receives full sun which has allowed optimal thawing that leaves the grass wet and spongy.

Track & Field: The Sentinel track and field program uses the track around Stegner Field which is located adjacent to the fair grounds. The track is partially cleared of snow with portions of the infield clear of snow.

Tennis: The Spartan tennis program shares the Playfair courts with a most of the other MIssoula high schools. As reported earlier, the courts are partially covered with snow.

Valley Christian
Track & Field: The Valley Christian track & field program shares the Stegner field track with the Sentinel track program.

Tennis: Valley Christian shares the Fort Missoula courts with the Big Sky tennis program.