Spring is the time for baseball games and basketball tournaments. However, the weather can often play a factor. For example, it was just too cold for baseball yesterday in Seattle, and the pitchers dominated both college games we watched at what is now T-Mobile Park. It will always be known to the locals as Safeco Field, home of the Mariners. They were changing over the huge stadium signs while we were there, getting ready for MLB Opening Day ceremonies just a few weeks away. Some of the hitters were apparently using bats made of an aluminum and wood hybrid. This may have reduced some of the sting from a metal bat on a cold day. There was one towering two-run homer hit by Oregon State star catcher, Adley Rutschman that accounted for the 2-1 victory over Minnesota. The Gophers made 5 errors, perhaps attributed to the frigid conditions, as well.

The temperatures dropped to just above the freezing point for the nightcap between Indiana and Washington. It was cold and dark inside with the roof closed and a few scattered snow flurries outside. It was as close to “Snow Ball” as you could get. The highlight of this game was an I.U. no-hitter through 7 2/3 innings by starting pitcher Pauly Milto. It illustrates the simple strategy of outscoring and outlasting your opponent in a “cliffhanger.” (See Post and Poem #870).

Our baseball getaway continued with an afternoon match-up between #2 Oregon State and un-ranked Indiana. As classmates at I.U. back in the early 70’s, this was “the game” that lured my four friends and I to Seattle. One of them had joined me in Omaha to watch “The Beavers” triumph in last year’s College World Series, so we all were looking for a Hoosier upset. The T-Mobile roof was open, letting some sunshine warm the outfield grass. It was still too cold to watch the entire game, but I.U led early on a 2-run homer and an outstanding defensive play. However, Oregon State eventually responded and easily prevailed 8-3 long after we had left the stands for the warmth of the hotel bar.

As I write this on the train back to Portland, we’re all at least leaving on a positive basketball note, as the Hoosiers had just cruised by Rutgers to win their fourth straight BIG Ten game. We all watched from different locations, sharing a few comments by text. None of us had planned on going to the third I.U. baseball game of the round-robin Seattle Baseball Showcase against the San Diego Toreros that just ended in a disappointing 5-3 loss.  It was at least in the upper 40’s today but Hoosier bats were still in the deep freeze and finished their Seattle road-trip at a disappointing 1-2. Oregon State ended up 2-1-1, tying Coastal Carolina at 4 runs in the 9th inning of a game that was eventually stopped after 11. I couldn’t have imagined sitting there on those cold wooden seats for that meaningless marathon. Nonetheless, The Beavers fought back to retain their Top 5 National ranking. Coastal Carolina had lost to San Diego before topping Washington, the weekend host who joined our Hoosiers with an overall record of 1-2.

When we made our plans to go to Seattle, I.U. baseball was supposed to be a distraction from the miserable basketball season. However, the basketball team has turned themselves around and will play Ohio State in the first game of the BIG Ten Tournament. A win would make it five straight and perhaps earn them a spot in the NCAA Tournament, that seemed an impossibility only a few weeks ago. That tournament bid would be an absolute lock if they then could beat Michigan State for the third time and perhaps take their first BIG Ten Tournament Championship. I must be dreaming…hit me with a snow ball.