Snowstorm creates scheduling headaches
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

What was a backstop to catch foul balls at Williamsville East is now a mangled piece of metal thanks to October's snowstorm two weeks ago. The damage of the backstop, plus another, is estimated at $35,000.

With the forecast this week predicting rain or lake effect snow, scheduling practice or a scrimmage before sectionals begin has been a nightmare for athletics directors and grounds crews across Erie County.

In the Town of Amherst, an area severely damaged from October's 2-foot snowstorm two weeks ago which downed power lines and trees across the region, finding alternative places to play sports is the No. 1 priority for athletic departments.

Dr. Jim Rusin, Williamsville's Director of Athletics, said Canisius College, North Amherst Recreation Center, and University at Buffalo are among possible sites for Williamsville teams to practice, scrimmage or play games, but nothing has been finalized. Rusin said Williamsville teams might play soccer at Williamsville South, Williamsville East or Maple East Elementary School and field hockey at South or Heim Middle School.

Williamsville football teams will only be able to play once on its fields, Rusin said. Williamsville North and Williamsville South, who are both out of Federation or Consolation Bowl game contention and lost its last two regular season games because of the storm, will meet at 1 p.m. Saturday at South. Williamsville East will participate in the Class A Consolation Bowl series but whether or not a game will be held at the school is yet to be determined.

North AD Steve Ferenczy said Williamsville teams would play sports out of the district if it's the closest available field to play on.

Rusin said most of Williamsville's fields are in horrible condition. At East, two dome-shaped backstops specially ordered from California to keep foul balls on school property, collapsed like pancakes from the storm and have $35,000 of damage, Rusin said.

"They're in bad as shape as they can be," Rusin said of the fields. "The (playing) lines have been completely obliterated. What this entails is not just lining the field but actually laying it out again, which is a huge job. Things that we did last summer we're going to have to do again on wet conditions."

Rusin is hoping for cold weather because if the field freezes, he said the district's grounds crew can roll it.

"If it stays warm we have no chance but if it's cold at least it will firm it," said Rusin. "It won't be the best thing but it's better than the conditions that we have now."

South Athletics Director Kevin Lester said the district cannot make up many JV and modified sports games because of busing, field availability and lack of officials.

"This is a work in progress," he said. "We're trying to get whatever we can." "It's a testament to the coaches'

understanding, grounds crew and transportation," he added. "Right now, they're our biggest allies."

Sweet Home Athletics Department secretary Karen Galli said any game scheduled with Williamsville is up in the air. Sweet Home's field hockey, boys and girls volleyball, and girls gymnastics will still play games at the school, although all will be considered non-league.

Sweet Home varsity football will play in the Federation playoffs but that's all they know until Wednesday when Cheektowaga plays West Seneca East.

"We don't know if we're going to UB," said Galli. "We don't know if we're playing at home."

Galli said Sweet Home's soccer teams practiced at the EPIC Center on Monday but the rest of the week remains a mystery. The varsity boys team played at Grand Island on Tuesday.

Some Sweet Home JV and modified sports will be played, including JV football at Starpoint at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, boys and girls modified soccer at Starpoint at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

For an updated list of the ever changing schedule for all Sweet Home fall sports, visit www.highschoolsports.net and click on New York State then Sweet Home.

Amherst Athletics Director Nancy Riccio could not be reached for comment before The Bee went to press.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com