The Hamline baseball team returned from sunny Arizona to sunny skies in St. Paul. Unfortunately, the comparisons end there. With several inches of snow still covering the outfield (see picture), Hamline's scheduled conference opening doubleheader at St. Thomas that was supposed to be played on Saturday. March 30.

No makeup date has been set. Given the state of Koch Diamond, the teams may not see each other until next weekend. 

Thus, the Pipers' confernece opener has been pushed back to Wednesday, April 3 when they are scheduled to face Bethel in a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader at Midway Stadium. Given the heavy snowcover around town (plus a forecast of rain for Saturday and 35 degree temps for Monday), this twinbill could be in some serious jeopardy as well.

Whenever the Pipers resume action, they will be sporting a school record 10-game winning streak. Hamline, picked for eighth in the coaches' preseason poll, is 13-3 overall and has a team batting average of .317. 

When Mother Nature allows HU to get on the field, they will be seeing two of the teams expected to be among the league's best in 2013. St. Thomas was the preseason pick to win the league. The Tommies' non-conference 12-4 won-loss standard would seem to back up this idea. Bethel, picked for third by the coaches, is also off to a good start with a 13-4 record.