Dome's demise deals D-III a blow

The loss of the Metrodome affects hundreds of games at dozens of schools. Photo by Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com

Many collegiate baseball programs in the upper Midwest rely on the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome to get games in before the snow disappears and the temperatures rise. However, that won't be an option this season as there will be no college baseball in the Metrodome this year.

The Metrodome roof collapsed on Dec. 12 after a major snowstorm hit the area. Since then further panels in the roof have failed.

An email sent out to all of the coaches who have scheduled games in the dome this year said that the entire schedule would be canceled because the Dome would not be available until late March.

According to the email, Dome officials are meeting with engineers to determine if they are going to repair the roof and the extent of those repairs. If they repair the roof they may not have enough material to complete the job. They are also considering a new roof. Regardless, it won't happen in time for this season.

In the meantime, coaches such as St. Scholastica's Corey Kemp are trying to get Dome dates re-scheduled for later in the season at campus sites. The Saints have already talked with the St. Thomas and plans on playing on the Tommies' campus field on March 31, weather permitting.

"Our guys will go stir crazy if they have to practice in the Wellness Center for six weeks before actually playing a game," Kemp said.

Kemp has reached out to Iowa schools and is even looking at Missouri and Illinois schools to see if they can get games for the first weekend in March. Kemp is optimistic that his Dome dates can be made up at a later date at campus sites. But losing the Metrodome will affect many schools and more than 200 small-college baseball games.