When it comes to winter sports you probably think hockey, skiing, maybe curling. But with the warm temperatures we’ve experienced this winter, some spring sports are already getting prepared. Mesabi Range College and Hibbing Community College had their first outdoor Baseball game of the season in Aurora.

Mark Goerdt, is the Youth Activities Director for Mesabi East Public Schools. He said one of his many responsibilities is handling rentals of their Athletic Complex in Aurora MN.

With the warm temperatures and lack of snowfall Mesabi Range College and Hibbing Community College played outside in February. However, the first outdoor baseball game of the season could only happen in part to their artificial turf.

“It’s phenomenal for the spring. There’s no way we could have baseball in Northern Minnesota starting when it’s supposed to start without artificial turf. It’s just not happening.”

Hibbing College Softball Coach, Babe Glumack said this may very well be the earliest start ever to the baseball season.

“It’s unbelievable. I’ve been umpiring for 55 years, I can’t even remember something like this. Going out we’re six weeks, way ahead of time,” Glumack said. “These guys at Mesabi do a good job on their fields and artificial turf helps. They get the kids, all junior colleges out and high school sports started.”

Coach Glumack said not only can artificial turf help with getting more baseball games outside, but bring more fans out supporting the game. Bob DeNucci, the head baseball coach of Hibbing Community College, said having baseball games outside this early can help get younger kids excited about signing up for baseball as the season progresses.

“For recruiting purposes, college baseball starts earlier and earlier all the time. So for us to even be able to tell kids, ‘Hey, we played in February,’ like maybe it’s not so bad to come up here and play,” DeNucci said. “Mesabi East has turf, and they’re promoting to the colleges for us to come out, use the field. That’s just unbelievable. Great advantage for northern Minnesota.”

Not only is playing outside and this early a great advantage for baseball players in Northern Minnesota, it can help out coaches with planning their strategies for future games. Chris Vito, the Mesabi Range College head baseball coach, said the players are beyond thrilled to play outside again in Minnesota after returning from out-of-state games.

“It was good to get out. We leave for Florida on Wednesday,” Vito said. “To have these opportunities to get a game under their belt, to see where they’re at as a team and what we’ve got to work on. It just was a historic day to be out here at this time of year.”

For the Mesabi Range College Men’s Baseball schedule you can read more here. Also for the Hibbing Community College Men’s Baseball schedule you can read more here.

The next baseball game happening at the Mesabi East school district’s athletic complex in Aurora, will be taking place on March 16th and 17th. Also other stories happening up on the Iron Range you can read more here.