I know it was fairly nice for mid-January in Iowa City today (sunny & mid 40's), but I was sure surprised to see the Iowa baseball team out practicing this afternoon in baseball pants and long sleeve t-shirts on Duane Banks field. They wouldn't of been able to do that in past years as wet as it was today from all the melting snow, without the new artificial turf field we now have. It was neat to hear the "ting" of the aluminum bats today as I biked by. I hope the Hawks can really make a serious run at the big ten title this year.