Weather once again taking toll on sporting events

Once again, the snowstorm expected to blanket the Midwest appears set to wreak havoc on sporting events, so far Friday claiming one MLB game and forcing the rescheduling of one of college football’s most high-profile spring games.

The Minnesota Twins announced their home game against the Chicago White Sox, scheduled for a 7:10 p.m. start local time, has been postponed. The make-up date will be announced at a later time.

Meanwhile, back in Chicago, the Cubs hosted Atlanta for an afternoon game with a first-pitch wind chill factor of 30 degrees at Wrigley Field. That game, however, did begin on time.

Earlier Friday, Ohio State announced it is moving the kickoff time for its spring football game from 1:45 p.m. ET to 11:45 a.m. ET on Saturday.

The news is significant in that the Buckeyes are even holding the game Saturday. Several other Midwest schools had earlier announced moving their spring game to a different day or venue, or the cancellation of the event altogether in anticipation of the storm.

Among the casualties and changes:

** Michigan, Wisconsin, Northwestern and Iowa State canceled their spring games.

** Minnesota moved its game up from Saturday to Thursday; Louisville and Toledo moved their games up to Friday.

** Bowling Green kept its Saturday schedule, but moved the game indoors.

According to accuweather.com:

“A major storm will bring heavy late-season snow and blizzard conditions from portions of the northern and central Plains to the Upper Midwest from Friday to Sunday night. … The storm has the potential to bring 1 to 2 feet of snow to part of the same area that is likely to experience blizzard conditions.”

–Field Level Media