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February 7, 2011 Anticipating summer during a deep Maine winter at Mansfield
After four more inches of snow fell Saturday, Feb. 5, the snow depth in Bangor stood at 39 inches. Since Dec. 1, the Queen City has seen 72.6 inches of snow fall. On average, Bangor has seen 35.8 inches on Feb. 5 in the last 30 years. Shawn T. Mansfield Stadium, which has been the home of the World Series since 2002, is dormant. Mounds of snow have been plowed to the edges of the parking lot. Snowdrifts have completely buried whole stretches of the aluminum bleachers in the grandstand. Only the dugouts have escaped the thick white blanket Mother Nature has put down to cover the sleeping grounds. The hill behind the left-center field fence, where more than a hundred fans sat to watch last year’s championship game, in which Aruba defeated the hometown team, is now the scene of hundreds of sledders each week. If you want to walk outside the stadium’s perimeter, you had better bring your snowshoes. Otherwise, you’ll be in for rather laborious exercise. The scene is really nothing new for Maine baseball fans. It adds even more to the anticipation of another summer with bright green grass and a rich blue sky. Soon enough, the snow will recede, revealing soggy, brown grass at the end of March or beginning of April. By May, the brown will have turned to light green, and then dark green. The familiar pops of baseballs hitting leather will echo, as will the tings of bats on balls; and public address announcer Bob Beatham’s level, matter-of-fact voice will announce a new batter. And summer will be here once again. |
While Little Leagues in the warmer climates are preparing to begin tryouts for the 2011 season,
Bangor, Maine, home of the Senior League Baseball World Series, is enjoying – or suffering
from, depending on your perspective – one of the snowiest winters in recent memory.