A HUGE PUDDLE OF WATER SOAKS THE GROUND near the first-base dugout on the Free State High softball field. Because of the standing water on the field Monday, the school made an early decision to cancel today's scheduled doubleheader against Olathe South, the latest setback caused by a wet spring season that continues to frustrate players, coaches, athletic directors and fans.

UNABSORBED WATER SITS ON THE FOUL LINE at one of the baseball fields at Holcom Park. Several city sporting events again were canceled Monday because of poor field conditions caused by this spring's wet weather.

Innovation in the pursuit of rainout make-up games has become mandatory for Lawrence High athletic director Ron Commons and Free State High counterpart Steve Grant.

Persistent spring rain has forced both Commons and Grant to the stage where they have little or no leeway in rescheduling. KSHSAA sub-state pairings for baseball, softball and girls soccer will be made Saturday, and time is running out.

“We’re doing our best to get the varsity schedules complete,” Commons said. “An awful lot of effort has gone into rescheduling.”

So far, only Lawrence High girls soccer is assured of an incomplete regular-season schedule. That’s because an earlier rainout with Shawnee Mission East couldn’t be made up.

“There are a lot of factors involved,” Commons said. “A dry facility is one, a common time for both schools is another. Then finding umpires and transportation.”

Heavy weekend rain made all of Monday’s Lawrence High and Free State outdoor venues unplayable, forcing all the games – some make-ups of make-ups – to be called off.

Meanwhile, Free State has already scrapped today’s softball doubleheader with Olathe South because of field conditions, and a home baseball game with Olathe North is iffy.

Free State’s baseball facility does have a tarp so perhaps, barring more rain, the Firebirds will be able to play today. If they do, there’s a chance Lawrence High’s scheduled baseball game against SM Northwest will piggy-back the Free State contest.

“If its playable, we’ll try to get it ready,” Grant said. “Then we would move up the game time, and let Lawrence High play on it, too, right after us.”

Ice Field, home of the Lions’ baseball team, does not have a tarp and will not be ready today. Lawrence High played there Saturday afternoon, but the field was tacky even then, and that was before the late Saturday and all-day Sunday rains turned Holcom Complex into a swamp.

Free State and Lawrence High aren’t the only schools scrambling, of course. Athletic directors in the Olathe and Shawnee Mission districts are also facing squeezes.

SM East, for instance, will be playing a day-night, home-road doubleheader Friday. The Lancers will come to Lawrence for a 2 p.m. meeting with Free State, then bus back to Overland Park for another Sunflower League contest at 7 p.m.

With rain predicted to fall off and on for the remainder of the week, no one knows how many games will or will not be played prior to Saturday’s sub-state seedings.

Grant is planning ahead, however. With the once-beaten Firebirds’ softball team certain to play host to a 6A sub-state next week, the Free State AD has approached Kansas University officials about the possibility of staging that four-team event at Arrocha Ballpark.

Arrocha’s infield is composed of a fast-drying polymer and the entire facility has a state-of-the-art drainage system.

“That’s something we’re looking into,” Grant said.