St. Louis Park Fields Soggy But Improving

A record-setting winter snowfall has led to a soggy start to spring, and some St. Louis Park ball fields are feeling the effect.

In particular, —home to some of the city’s youth baseball games—still has pretty deep snow in left field, as that area is pretty well shaded.  But Jim Lombardi, the city’s recreation supervisor, said he’s overall pretty pleased about field conditions across St. Louis Park.

“Other than (Carlson), they’re looking really good,” Lombardi said.

Lombardi said the fields that play host to adult recreation softball—Aquila Park and —should be good to go by the league’s desired late-April start time.

On the high school side of things, soggy fields have already made their mark.  On Thursday, had varsity and junior varsity softball games at Concordia Academy canceled.  A ninth-grade St. Louis Park softball game was also canceled.

Andy Ewald, the athletic director at , said he was optimistic that there won’t be too many more games affected in coming weeks. The school uses Dakota Park for baseball and Aquila Park for softball. Lacrosse is held at the football field.

Jerry Pettinger, the athletic director at BSM, said jokingly that the school’s artificial turf football field is in “fantastic shape.” But he added that the school’s grass fields are also doing well, though still a bit soggy.

“That last snow we had probably put us a week behind schedule,” he said.

Softball Full But Other Leagues Still Filling Up

The city’s adult softball league field is full with 123 teams signed up, Lombardi said, but there are still some recreation opportunities available this summer.

St. Louis Park summer kickball, lacrosse and sand volleyball leagues are all currently accepting registrations.  And if you really want to get in on some softball action, there is a fall league that begins in mid-August. For more, visit the city’s website.

Speaking of all these rec leagues, St. Louis Park Patch wants to highlight the big games, spectacular moments and star players of the local sports scene. Want to recognize someone who hit a big homerun? Have some great photos from last night's game? Email local editor Michael Rose throughout the season to get featured!