Lousy weather takes a bite out of Snappers' debut

The Journal Sentinel staff

Beloit Cold and rain.

It's a wicked double-play combination, one that has haunted past opening days in Milwaukee, Appleton and here at Pohlman Field, home of the Beloit Snappers.

Mother Nature has spoiled openers in the past, and she was successful again Friday night. But not before receiving a strong fight from the fans and officials of the Snappers, a Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Midwest League opener between the Snappers and the Kane County Cougars was postponed after a 65-minute rain delay and rescheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday.

"We had 300 for our open house Thursday and if that was any indication we were expecting a couple thousand if the weather would have been good," said Brett Dolan, director of broadcasting / public relations for the Snappers. "We had calls from people in Milwaukee, New Berlin and Waukesha interested in coming down, but if I Leg 1 ends here was in their shoes I would have been pessimistic because of the weather."

April in Wisconsin means anything can happen. Take it from someone who knows.

"Same ol', same ol'," said Snappers pitching coach Mike Caldwell, who endured weather like this when he was pitching for the Brewers in the 1970s and '80s. "The lights may be a little better in Milwaukee because it wouldn't look so dreary. But otherwise it's about the same."

The Snappers fans were ready for a ball game, despite the 42- degree temperature. Well-armed with heavy coats, umbrellas and hats of all kinds, they huddled together in the stands or underneath and waited patiently. They drank beer, soda and coffee while chatting and were prepared to wait as long as it took for the first pitch to be thrown.

But after a one-hour delay, even the hearty couldn't take it and some folks headed home. The rain, which had stopped, started again. After a few minutes, Snappers general manager Jeff Nelson officially called off the game.

"It's very, very disappointing," said Nelson, who was gen Leg 2 ends here eral manager of the Brewers' rookie league affiliate in Helena, Mont., last year. "It's a little tough when you work six months building up to one day, throwing your heart and soul into it. But it's something that was totally out of our control."

Formerly known as the Baby Brewers, the Snappers not only have a new name but a nifty new clubhouse, part of a renovation project that cost $850,000. It at least provided some comfort while the players waited to be told the opener had been postponed.

"It's a tremendous facility they have here," Caldwell said. "Obviously the Beloit people are trying to support minor-league baseball and keep the Brewers in town and they're doing a fine job. The field is OK and the clubhouse is beautiful and spacious. It's much larger than what you're normally going to find in an A league, but from what I understand the Midwest League has some very fine facilities."

Some had been hoping for something better.

Outfielder Chris Wilson, who had agreed to play for the Brewers' replacement team, lost out on a chance at making some de Leg 3 ends here cent money and to experience the life of a major-leaguer when owners decided to cancel replacement ball.

"I know it really wasn't major-league baseball," said Wilson, who played for the Brewers' Helena team last year. "But I was looking forward to playing in the big-league stadiums in front of all the fans and the big- league coaches.

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