Weather takes its toll on Sioux baseball

By Tom Miller

April 19, 2011 at 8:41 PM

The UND baseball team had one game canceled all of last year, a non-conference matchup with Missouri on March 20.

With Tuesday's game against North Dakota State postponed, the Sioux have racked up 10 cancellations or postponements already this year.

"This has been a very abnormal year," said UND coach Jeff Dodson, who added the team is still looking for open dates to reschedule the game against the Bison. "It differs each year dependent on the snowfall in North Dakota."

UND's home, Kraft Field, features artificial turf on the infield for the first time this season. One of the perks of the new surface was expected to be that it would be playable earlier in the spring.

That hasn't been the case, though, this spring. No surface could handle last weekend's snow storm.

The inclement weather canceled UND's four-game series against Utah Valley. The Wolverines traveled to Grand Forks only to have the Great West Conference home opener called off.

The cancellations haven't only come in Grand Forks. The Sioux had three games canceled in Omaha, Neb., against Creighton, one against the University of Kansas in Lawrence and another against the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.

The inability to consistently play outside has had its effects on the Sioux.

UND had two weeks without games before traveling to Houston Baptist two weeks ago, where the Sioux dropped all four games. UND is 1-19.

"We lost some leads late in those games," Dodson said. "We had a chance in all four games, and I think part of that had to do with consistency of being on the field."

The Sioux, who practiced inside Tuesday at Hyslop Sports Center, now travel to Great West Conference member New York Tech this weekend.

"It's an important series," Dodson said. "Wins will be big for us. We've had about 8-10 games this year where we've had a chance, and we just haven't gotten it done."

Dodson said New York Tech is in a similar situation to the Sioux.

"They had three games rained out at Chicago State last week and one (Tuesday)," Dodson said. "They're a solid team. I expect this weekend to come down to who's hungrier and who wants it most."

Miller reports on sports. Reach him at (701) 780-1121; (800) 477-6572, ext. 121; or send e-mail to tmiller@gfherald.com .

By Tom Miller

Miller has covered sports at the Grand Forks Herald since 2004 and was the state sportswriter of the year in 2019 and 2022.

His primary beat is UND football but also reports on a variety of UND sports and local preps.

He can be reached at (701) 780-1121, tmiller@gfherald.com or on Twitter at @tommillergf.