Only 66 days until spring, baseball

Plunging Arctic air has been mixed with more moderate average highs and lows so far this year.

Yes, we’re only 13 days into 2022, but there are only 66 days until spring springs in southeastern Minnesota.

I know, it’s too early to be talking about spring, or is it?

Well, spring is set to roll across the plains on March 20, a week after Daylight Savings Time. (See, spring is just over the horizon.)

Everyone knows that the unofficial sign of the spring equinox (which begins promptly at 10:32 a.m.) is the start of another baseball season.

It’s true, and the Minnesota Twins will take on the University of Minnesota’s Golden Gophers a day earlier on March 25 at 5:05.

The Twins will face MLB opponents Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday, Feb. 26, the Phillies on Sunday, Feb. 27 and they’ll face Tampa Bays Rays the following day, Feb. 28. Houston’s Astros take on the St. Louis Cardinals on February 26 at 5:05 p.m.

Why the focus on spring and baseball? Well, I’m gearing up to get through January’s frigid and snowy days that usually cause many folks to go into a funk.

February’s a breeze because only 28 days long.

Only a few events make the winter months bearable: hockey, Valentine’s Day and the Ride for Wyatt snowmobile ride that is set for Saturday, Jan. 29 at Mantorville’s Riverside Park at noon. It’s a snowmobile adventure to raise funds for Wyatt M. Coy’s Memorial Scholarship Fund and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

This ride is for a great cause and gives people with sleds an opportunity to ride the 60-ish miles in southeast Minnesota’s beautiful outdoors. This is a great time to support two great funds.

Just think, when the last sled pulls up to the Mantorville Saloon for the chili feed after the ride, there’ll only be 50 days until spring breaks in our neck of the woods!

(If you’re left out of the ride because you don’t own a snowmobile, there are plenty of events around the area that will make the days fly by.) There’s Wildcats hockey, basketball games at area high schools feature some of the best girls and boys hoopsters.

Wrestlers will be pinning things down during January and February. Check the Dodge County Independent for other events.

BASEBALL & SPRING

”Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday’s success or put its failures behind and start over again. That’s the way life is, with a new game every day, and that’s the way baseball is.”

Pitcher Bullet Bob Feller