Sightlines

Seasons change

Sports awards nights; Glens Falls define winter’s coda; spring sports practices augur new beginnings

By RICHARD A. ROSS

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — The clocks have moved ahead and the rain has replaced the snow, sure signs that March has us in its grip of riveting transitions. Tri-Valley and Sullivan West officially put winter to rest with awards night presentations on March 11 and 17 respectively (See more on Tri-Valley’s awards on this page, and www.sportsinsightsny.com for more on the Bears and the Sullivan West’s winter heroics).

This coming weekend, this basketball maven will head to Glens Falls for his annual pilgrimage to see the beloved sport to its fitting high school end. Though no Sullivan County team survived the recent sectionals, thus negating any dreams of reaching the zenith of the Final Four, this year is historic as Section 9 sends an unprecedented four boys teams into the Civic Center on a quest to be named best in show. Defending State Champion Class AA Newburgh, Class A Red Hook, Class B John S. Burke Catholic and Class D John A. Coleman Catholic will all be there. See next week’s River Reporter for a recap.

Spring beckons despite the still-changeable weather felt most ostensibly around the Ides of March. Though winter will have its final say as the NCAA basketball tourney gets underway this week in true March Madness fashion, locally, high school teams have already begun their run-up to the season regarded by many athletes as the year’s most dynamic.

With fields and golf courses far too soggy to practice on, gymnasiums will have to suffice as the venues for early spring rigors for all teams except track and tennis. Runners, jumpers and throwers will gladly eschew the closed-in world, claustrophobically familiar to the recent indoor track season, in favor of the outdoor milieu even with its rain and residual chill. Get set for a cascade of stories and photos depicting spring mainstays baseball, softball, boys tennis, track and field and golf in coming issues. For now, shake off winter’s chill with the warming images of photos that give a preview of coming attractions.