Hadlock snow removed to improve ski course

PORTLAND – With spring here and baseball season drawing closer, the field where the Portland Sea Dogs play has been buried by the winter’s snow. But down the street, Deering Oaks Park didn’t have quite enough snow for a cross-country ski event scheduled for Wednesday.

So guess what they did?

Portland parks workers have been removing snow from Hadlock Field for a week, shaving 10 inches from the 28 inches on the ground while the front office staff shovels away snow that clogged the stands.

Even though workers have been starting at 3 a.m., they still have a way to go. Sea Dogs spokesman Chris Cameron said the snow needs to be cleared several days before the April 7 opener so the Eastern League team’s field will have time to dry out. The Sea Dogs are the Boston Red Sox’ AA affiliate.

The snow is being taken to the park where the Banknorth Maine Nordic Sprint Championship starts at 4 p.m. Wednesday. A groomer created a 1-kilometer track at the park, although the recent mild weather has left some areas exposed to the bare ground.

“If the snow doesn’t melt, it’ll be pretty neat,” city Parks Operations Manager Jeff Tarling said. “We have our fingers crossed that we can make it work.”