Sun and Snow

CHAMPAIGN — This is the kind of stuff that could only happen here.

I get up Saturday and head to Unity for a baseball and softball game. Both contests start at 11 a.m., so I figure I can take photos at each game for a few innings and talk to everyone I need to talk to when they are over. The weather is nice, with temperatures in the upper 50s and the sun high in the sky, but it's not perfect out, as a breeze from the northeast brings a cool chill to the air.

I hang out at the baseball game for about three innings and watch the Rockets battle a very good Marshall team, then head to the softball field to see Unity girls finish up against Fisher. The girls fall behind 4-3 in the sixth, but score single runs with two outs in their last two innings to claim a dramatic 5-4 win.

When I get back to the baseball field, the Lions are polishing off a 9-1 win and the Unity JV is preparing to take the field for its game. The time is only around 1:30 p.m. when I get in my car to leave.

Ten minutes later I get home, only to find out I'm red as a tomato from spending two hours in the sun. Despite being just 58 degrees, I've found a way to get sun burned. And if that's not enough, when I wake up Monday morning less that 48 hours later, the ground is covered in white snow. SNOW! Now if weather like that isn't a scheduling conundrum for high school coaches, I don't know what is.

Only in Illinois man, only in Illinois.

In other news: The Unity track teams opens their seasons tonight with a meet at Clinton, while the SJ-O track teams' host a meet in St. Joseph. I will be catching the Spartans in action tonight and the Rockets Thursday, so make sure to pick up papers next Thursday for photos of all the teams. I've tried as best as I can to get photos during indoor season, but my camera doesn't cooperate well with the Armory. It will do much better now that we're outside.