'Hats off to our grounds crew': WooSox thankful to host doubleheader following snowstorm

WORCESTER — Richard Fitts threw snowballs Thursday.

A day later, the new WooSox pitcher tossed fastballs.

Following a spring nor’easter that dropped roughly three inches of snow on the Canal District, the Worcester Red Sox hosted the Buffalo Bisons for a doubleheader Friday at Polar Park.

“It was a lot of fun going in the snow yesterday, being from Alabama, we get snow every once in a while, but it was fun being out here for that,” said Fitts, who helped his team split the twinbill with the Bisons. “But ultimately I think I’ll stick to throwing baseballs.”

Building snowmen and making snow angels can be fun. But what about removing mounds of snow — in the span of 24 hours — in order to play baseball?

“Happily miserable,” WooSox assistant field superintendent Ryan Lefler said.

Welcome to baseball in Worcester.

‘Snowdogs’ put on a show at Polar

As Elliot Linstrum rolled into a snowy Polar Park Thursday morning, the WooSox field superintendent quickly realized what was in store for his grounds crew.

“We were at Plan B and onto plowing,” Linstrum said.

After a few Worcester Red Sox players enjoyed the snowy elements, the WooSox grounds crew — along with members of the stadium operations staff and front office (and Specialized Turf Services and LEI Corporation) — went to work Thursday afternoon to remove snow from the field and stands.

“Quite the challenge,” Linstrum said.

“When you have to pick everything up and remove it out of the stadium in the span of about 12 hours, it’s a whole ‘nother ballgame,” WooSox stadium operations and events manager Jeff Little said.

With shovels and plows proving to be more important than baseballs and bats, WooSox ground crew members chipped away at removing snow from the field until roughly 2:30 a.m. Friday morning.

“What are you going to do? The whole situation was just so surreal, and there is just snow everywhere,” Lefler said. “It was grinding, just like dirt dogs. Snowdogs, I guess. Just going crazy getting everything ready.”

Less than six hours after leaving the ballpark, the WooSox grounds crew returned to Polar Park Friday to prepare the field for Worcester’s doubleheader.

The only evidence that snow actually fell lay in the berm.

“This takes the cake, right?” WooSox manager Chad Tracy said. “We talk about them all the time, but how that field looks the way it does right now, I have no idea.”

By 3:35 p.m., Linstrum and Lefler — along with the other members of their team — were back in their familiar perch by the visitors' dugout for first pitch. No worse for the wear.

It was just another day in the life of the WooSox grounds crew.

“It’s days like (Thursday) and (Friday) where I’m so proud to be associated with these guys,” Linstrum said. “We’re not psychopaths, we’re not rooting for snow, but at the same time, it’s great to be able to say, ‘You know what, bring it on, we’ll get it done.’

“So it’s been another challenge and another thing that we’ve accomplished. But (for me) it’s always the journey.”

WooSox split doubleheader with Bisons

Three days after a home-opener loss to the Bisons, the WooSox finally returned to action Friday.

Before the WooSox’ first game of the twinbill, 8-year-old Mirabel Weston of Northborough sang the national anthem.

“It was quite exciting,” Mirabel said. “The more people there are, the more happier I get.”

Romy Gonzalez gave WooSox fans a reason to be happy in Game 1. The right-handed hitter went 2 for 3 with a grand slam — the first home run at Polar Park this season — and five RBIs to lead Worcester to a 9-7 win over Buffalo.

“He’s been awesome for us so far,” Tracy said. “He’s a good-looking baseball player.”

Then, ahead of the WooSox’ second game of the doubleheader, Clinton High softball coach Angela Kaizer was recognized on the field as a “Hometown Hero” for her help promoting softball at all levels throughout Clinton.

“It means a lot,” said Kaizer, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

The WooSox couldn’t find many pitches to hit in the nightcap as the Triple-A club mustered just six hits in a 5-0 loss to the Bisons.

Still, it was a spring miracle that baseball was played Friday at Polar Park.

“Hats off to our grounds crew,” Tracy said.

—Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44. 

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: WooSox grounds crew teams up to tackle snowstorm, help team host games