This is the down season for local sportswriters and sportscasters but that doesn't mean that our minds are totally inactive (O.K., maybe just a little.) until the first pitch is thrown in the spring season.

If you look at the calendar it will tell you it is already spring but if you look out your window you will still see plenty of snow.

And, if you are a native or have lived here for a few years you can't help having a nagging feeling that we will get blasted at least once more with a foot or more of "sugar snow. That brings me to my annual plea to the scheduling powers that be. Lets switch the soccer and baseball seasons.

I know that will fall on deaf ears but I just can't help myself. I'm talking about varsity level athletics. I know that groups such as the Dynamos have spring soccer.

But I think that baseball is better suited to September and early October when the weather is more cooperative and that soccer, a sport that can be played in almost any conditions is a better fit for Vermont spring weather.

Since my mind is rambling lets ramble back to the past basketball season. Northfield Girl's basketball coach, Lori Shepard sent me an E-Mail last week about the Mountain Division coaches Meeting in Morrisville.

The division coaches gave out their awards and Northfield came away with the league sportsmanship award. This award is for both the players and their fans and if you have been to a Northfield High sporting event you will know just what emphasis the Athletic Director Frank Pecora and his coaches place on sportsmanship. "This is a very special award to receive, it really means a lot and says a lot about this group of young ladies and their fans," coach Shepard wrote.

The Mountain Division named their all star teams and the player of the year.

Lake Region's Abby Lalime was named as player of the year. Abby capped a terrific year with a great show in the state championship semi-final and Championship game at the Barre Auditorium.

Northfield's Jackie Susmann was named to the leagues second team and Emily Martin grabbed honorable mention honors. (Maybe I have a slanted point of view but I think that both of those girls deserved higher honors. Not to worry, both will be back next season.)

While I'm rambling back let me go back to both basketball and hockey, specifically to the renditions of the National Anthem that I heard throughout the season.

Once again, Paula Gills did an unbelievable job every time out at all Norwich sports. The High School choral group that performed at home basketball games was terrific as well but they added a bit of a twist.

Members of both the Girl's and Boy's teams and the cheerleaders were also members of the choral group and it wasn't unusual to see a player from either team leave the pre game huddle and go out to sing the anthem with the group.

Seeing players in uniform singing with the group added a really nice touch to an event often taken for granted. Their talent should be mentioned as well. They did a great job.

So the mind rambles until we can get outside and act on our athletic needs. In the meantime ballplayers can oil up the baseball or softball glove (Do they still do that anymore?), gear heads can continue to turn wrenches and golfers can dust off their clubs.

All of us can just sit and stare out the window and wait…and wait…and wait!