Citing lingering ice surrounding the field at Bartlett High, officials decided Thursday to delay the start of the baseball season for Cook Inlet Conference teams.
"The field is fine, but the icy conditions outside the field are still a safety threat for fans," wrote Alaska Legion Baseball media director Van Williams. "Better safe than sorry."
The postponements won't impact the conference season, because the first three weeks of the season consist of nonleague games. Conference play begins April 30.
Eagle River had been scheduled to play Bartlett on Friday, with three more games — West vs. South, East vs. Chugiak, Dimond vs. Service — set for Saturday.
The postponements mean the season won't open until Monday, when South and Chugiak are scheduled to play at Bartlett. This week's games have been rescheduled for either next week or the week after that.
Teams will still practice Friday and Saturday, because Bartlett's turf field is clear of snow and ice.
Some CIC teams have already played preseason games outside Anchorage. West went 1-3 at at a March tournament in California, and Dimond beat Juneau, Thunder Mountain, Ketchikan and Sitka to win a round-robin tournament earlier this month in Sitka.
For more information, visit alaskalegion.com.