Maine’s high school spring sports season begins Thursday – and the weather is finally cooperating.

Even so, many teams only have been able to get outside for practices and exhibition games in the past few days.

“I’ve been here 23 years and this is the first time everyone has started so late,” said Sanford Athletic Director Gordie Salls. “You don’t want to get into a situation where your first time on a field is the opening game.”

With temperatures reaching into the 60s and plenty of sun the last three days, ADs and coaches finally got the weather to help clear fields of snow and moisture. Most teams have been confined to practicing in gyms.

“I think we’re probably a week behind schedule from previous years,” said Rich Drummond, Windham’s athletic director. “In February our field crew got on certain fields and started snowblowing. That really helped but we weren’t getting any melting because it’s been so cold.”

Most of the southern Maine high school baseball fields are snow-free. But concerns over field conditions caused some schools to juggle early schedules. The Old Orchard Beach baseball team will host Buckfield on Thursday, but the game is being moved from The Ballpark to the high school.

Greely Athletic Director David Shapiro said his maintenance crew spread a black organic material on the snow to absorb heat and facilitate melting. The Rangers’ baseball team is scheduled to host Fryeburg Academy on April 22 for its first home game.

“I’m still optimistic that we’ll be able to play,” said Shapiro.

Greely Coach Derek Soule checked out the field Sunday and was surprised how much snow had melted.

“A week ago there was four feet of snow on home plate because of drifts,” he said. “Sunday, I could see home plate.”

On Saturday, the Rangers got on the field for the first time in a preseason round-robin tournament at the University of Maine.

SMAA baseball and softball teams open next week. Cheverus High’s fields typically are clear of snow faster than others because the fields are adjacent to Portland’s Back Bay, and get plenty of wind and sun.

“Our fields were just about ready to go last week,” said Athletic Director Gary Hoyt.

Still, Cheverus got on its baseball field for the first time Monday. The Stags will host Falmouth in an exhibition Thursday.

Thornton Academy baseball coach Ray Petit, who also takes care of the fields for the school, said he dragged the infield dirt for the first time Monday.

The Golden Trojans, who also played at UMaine last Saturday, had the first game on their field Tuesday with an exhibition against Oxford Hills.

“I’ve been here 15 years and I don’t ever remember not being out on the field by the second week of practice,” said Petit.

Portland saw its first game action Monday in split-squad exhibitions at Westbrook and against Westbrook at the Deering Oaks in Portland.

“It was our first game on a real field,” said Portland Coach Mike Rutherford.

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