After a cold spring filled with rain, the summer heat arrived in a big way in Franklin County this week.

With temperatures nearing 100 degrees on Monday and Tuesday, those on the golf course and on the diamond had to persevere through the tough conditions.

Despite that, the Franklin County sports world carried on as usual though some adjustments had to be made. Tracks like the Country Club of Greenfield, Thomas Memorial and Northfield Golf Club carried on as usual, though noted the courses weren’t as populated as they typically are this time of year due to the heat.

Greenfield Minor League Baseball carried on with championships on Monday and Tuesday while the Franklin County Summer Softball League opened its season Monday night at Murphy Park without issue.

GMLB president Brad Baker has a unique perspective of playing baseball in the heat. The former Pioneer standout and Red Sox farmhand played in the Minor Leagues in Alabama and Virginia.

His message to the players competing through the heat: drink plenty of water well in advance of the game.

“I told all the kids on the championship teams to hydrate in advance,” Baker said. “You don’t want to wait to hydrate until the day of the game.”

It wasn’t just hydration. Baker made provide additional shade over the dugouts and give players additional ways to cool off throughout the game.

“We have tents over the dugouts, ice towels, ice pops,” Baker said. “We’re prepared as best as possible. The kids handled it well [Monday].”

FCSSL founder Joe Gamache kicked off his organization’s season on Monday. The games start at night, which helped assure players weren’t competing during peak heat hours.

“We’re trying to go by the motto that softball is a summer sport,” Gamache said. “It wasn’t designed to be played in the snow. Our games go off in the evening when it’s not the peak temperature hours which helps. If families are uncomfortable having their kids participate then they are more than welcome to keep them out of it. It seemed like most kids played and had a good time.” 

The Country Club of Greenfield has been holding its Youth Golf Camp this week, which has forced the club to make some adjustments to make sure campers aren’t spending the entire day out in the sun. 

On Tuesday, CCG professional Kevin Piecuch had campers working inside and found different ways for them to practice their swing without the sun beating down on them. 

“It’s been a battle with the heat,” Piecuch said. “The kids have been great handling it. We’ve had more water breaks and [Tuesday] we had them inside the banquet room. We have a blow-up shark that has its mouth open and we use plastic golf balls and hit into it.”