When you first gazed out the window early Sunday morning and saw the late March snow covering, you might have been thinking endless winter.
Brian Brewer had other ideas, though. The Marietta College baseball skipper's Pioneers were scheduled to host Montclair State (N.J.) University at Don Schaly Stadium at high noon - and there was much work to be done.
"When I first woke up, I thought Coach Brewer's getting the field ready," said MC junior shortstop Tim Saunders. "I knew he was out here (at Don Schaly Stadium) at 6 or 7 in the morning probably, out there dragging the field."
The whole field.
"He did the outfield, and I've never seen that before," Saunders said. "He took the drag out there and took all the snow off."
Yes, as far as Brewer was concerned, there was going to be a baseball game Sunday. The only consolation the Pioneer boss made was the first pitch would now be thrown at 2 p.m. instead of 12 p.m. (On the schedule, the game's original starting time was actually 11 a.m. but that was changed to noon.)
Well, as the morning progressed, the sun shone brightly and the snow slowly but surely began to melt. The sky was clear blue as the Pioneer players stretched and warmed up in the Don Schaly Stadium parking lot at noon.
"When I first came out to the field and we had to get the tarp off, I didn't think there would be any way that we would be able to play baseball," said Marietta pitcher Brian Gasser. "But, you know, it turned out to be a great day."
A great day indeed. Play ball.
When the game started, it was still a little chilly, but there was no snow to be seen. And, the field as usual looked great.
Perhaps surprisingly, due to the cold, there were several bundled up fans (165) in attendance, and they witnessed an 11-2 Pioneer triumph.
The righthanded-throwing Gasser started on the hill and flirted with a no-hitter for 6-plus innings. And, Saunders was the offensive star with a 4-hit game.
All in all, as a team, the No. 4-ranked Etta Express (14-2) enjoyed one of its better diamond outings of the season.
Who'd a thunk it, though, Sunday morning with all that white stuff on the ground?
Ron Johnston is the Marietta Times sports editor and can be reached at 376-5441 or at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com
