FARGO (WDAY TV) - We've done too many stories about games getting cancelled because of the bad spring weather; but there's one place that Mother Nature has been defeated. In Twin Valley, Minnesota, there's a softball diamond that's perfect to play and Norman County East-Ulen-Hitterdal is welcoming just about everybody. If there weren't gaps in the gigantic wall of snow, you wouldn't even know it's there. Steve Radniecki, NCE-UH Softball Coach: “I've cleared off the field three different times.” A perfectly playable softball field. Madelyn Sather: “People are pretty amazed by it.” In the middle of this spring's sports nightmare. Radniecki: “I believe we're the only team North of the Twin Cities that's gotten games in.” And it's only possible through Steve Radniecki's hard work. Radniecki: “Probably put in 15-20 hours of work.” Shelby Kappes: “Our coach works hard, so we work hard.” And a big pile of good fortune. The spot Radniecki chose to build the field on 16 years ago happened to have several feet of gravel base. Radniecki: “So we never have frost problems. As soon as the surface is dry, you can play on it.” And they have been; four times, which is four more times than anyone else in the Northern half of Minnesota. And besides the home runs and foul balls that find their way into the snow piles. Kaitlyn Thornton: “Guess we'll find them in the spring.” It's actually not too bad. For players or fans.
Along with giving fans a great elevated view of the game, eight foot snow piles encircling the field do a great job of blocking the wind. And when the game time temp is 37 degrees, every little bit helps. Radniecki: “It's kind of a unique situation alright. It's an advantage we have every year. This year, it's really stood out.” Just like a cleared field stands out in the middle of all this snow. Tomorrow in fact, Moorhead and DGF will head to Twin Valley to play.FARGO (WDAY TV) - We've done too many stories about games getting cancelled because of the bad spring weather; but there's one place that Mother Nature has been defeated. In Twin Valley, Minnesota, there's a softball diamond that's perfect to play and Norman County East-Ulen-Hitterdal is welcoming just about everybody.If there weren't gaps in the gigantic wall of snow, you wouldn't even know it's there.Steve Radniecki, NCE-UH Softball Coach: “I've cleared off the field three different times.”A perfectly playable softball field.Madelyn Sather: “People are pretty amazed by it.”In the middle of this spring's sports nightmare.Radniecki: “I believe we're the only team North of the Twin Cities that's gotten games in.”And it's only possible through Steve Radniecki's hard work.Radniecki: “Probably put in 15-20 hours of work.”Shelby Kappes: “Our coach works hard, so we work hard.”And a big pile of good fortune. The spot Radniecki chose to build the field on 16 years ago happened to have several feet of gravel base.Radniecki: “So we never have frost problems. As soon as the surface is dry, you can play on it.”And they have been; four times, which is four more times than anyone else in the Northern half of Minnesota. And besides the home runs and foul balls that find their way into the snow piles.Kaitlyn Thornton: “Guess we'll find them in the spring.”It's actually not too bad. For players or fans.
Along with giving fans a great elevated view of the game, eight foot snow piles encircling the field do a great job of blocking the wind. And when the game time temp is 37 degrees, every little bit helps.Radniecki: “It's kind of a unique situation alright. It's an advantage we have every year. This year, it's really stood out.”Just like a cleared field stands out in the middle of all this snow.Tomorrow in fact, Moorhead and DGF will head to Twin Valley to play.
