Mar 6, 2007 By Jim Downey 2 min read

Flurries, bone-chilling winds, snow- and ice-covered fields. The WPIAL calendar doesn’t quite mesh with the Gregorian calendar because while the latter says the sun won’t cross the equator until March 21, the district sports calendar opened track and field, boys tennis, baseball and softball Monday.

The weather will be the great equalizer for a while, which should benefit California, the defending WPIAL Class A baseball champions. Also complicating things for Trojans coach Don Hartman is the boys basketball team, the No. 2 team out of the WPIAL, opens the PIAA playoffs on Friday against Saltsburg at Charleroi.

“We won’t do anything until basketball ends,” said Hartman. “We just don’t have the space at California and the majority of the baseball team is on the basketball team.”

Hartman has his pitchers throwing, but, as with most teams in the area, admitted a gym isn’t the most productive arena for baseball, or softball, practice.

“The only good thing is every team in western Pennsylvania is in the same boat. There’s only so much you can do in the gym,” said Hartman.

The delay hasn’t dampened Hartman’s spirits as he looks to guide the Trojans in defense of their WPIAL title. The run the basketball team is currently in the midst of will be helpful, as well.

“I can’t say I’m not excited. I’m anxious to get going. Emotions have been running high at California right now,” said Hartman. “Success breeds success with the California boys. Football runs into basketball, and basketball runs into baseball.

“I think they’ll come in hungry and willing to work for it. I’m hoping to have a good week in (before the games begin). We still have time. That’s what the exhibition games are for.”

The first scrimmage date is Saturday with the opening play date for all the sports, except boys tennis, is Friday, March 23. Boys tennis begins on Monday, March 19.