Unrelenting rain and snow have continued to interfere with spring sports and frustrate athletes.
Of all the 11 varsity sports played during the spring at Bowdoin, Director of Athletics Jeff Ward said that the baseball and softball teams have had it the worst.
"There have been cancellations and postponements all over the place," said Ward. "They have had to play games away that were supposed to be home, and neither one has been able to practice outside."
"It's been really frustrating, especially as a senior," said men's baseball captain Jon Koperniak '07. "A sport like baseball is meant to be played outside in the warm weather."
Rather than canceling games, the baseball team has traveled to Connecticut; Cape Cod, Massachusetts; and the Boston area to play.
Ward said that compared to other teams, the effects of the weather have been least disruptive to the men's and women's lacrosse teams.
"The turf field has been very valuable," said Ward. "Facilities management has been wonderful about clearing the field."
Ward said that the indoor facilities have also permitted outdoor track and field and the tennis teams to play games indoors.
"It's been terrible," said men's tennis captain Drew McDonald '07. "Matches take longer indoors. I just want to play tennis outside."
Teams, including baseball and softball, also practice indoors.
"We can accommodate several team practices throughout the day in the field house," said Ward. "We have to put several teams in for hour-and-a-half blocks either really early in the morning or at night. Sometimes practices run quite late, until about 10:00 or 11:00. But there gets to be a point inside where you can only do so much."
While Ward said that this spring is among the worst that he has seen, it is not the worst.
"Three or four years ago we didn't get to play outside until the 24th of April," he said.
Since the forecast for this weekend shows sun and temperatures nearing 60 degrees, Ward is hopeful.
"Our fields drain incredibly well. They are among the best in the country and become playable very quickly," said Ward, citing the sandy soil.
Student athletes are hopeful as well. The Bowdoin Men's Baseball Team is scheduled to play a double-header against Wesleyan University on Saturday as its first home game.
"All the guys are really excited to play at home, and hopefully we will have a good presence from the student body," said Koperniak.
"Everyone just wants to be outside," said Ward. "And I don't think that's just limited to the athletes."