For years, we have been praising the virtue of Pullman Park.

We did when it was officially Pullman Park.

We did when it was Kelly Automotive Park.

We continue to do so now that it’s Michelle Krill Field at Historic Pullman Park.

And why not?

There is a lot of history there. Baseball legends such as Josh Gibson, Whitey Ford and Walter Johnson have played there. Almost everyone who grew up in Butler and ever donned a ball glove or swung a bat has his own personal Pullman Park memory.

And now the place is practically weather-resistant.

With its turfed, no-dirt infield, synthetic mound and outfield grass that drains better than any ballpark I’ve ever seen anywhere, Pullman Park is the most dependable site to get a game in under the most impossible elements Mother Nature has to deliver.

What can I say? I love the place.

That’s why it hurts to criticize it.

But the scheduling of high school games at Pullman during this early baseball season leaves something to be desired.

Triple-headers are becoming commonplace at Pullman — which would be OK if the first game would start at 1 or 2 p.m. or so. Of course, that would require kids getting out of school early to play a baseball game and I don’t advocate that.

But this Monday, three games are scheduled for Pullman. Beaver Falls plays North Catholic at 4 p.m. Karns City is slated to take on Moniteau at 6 p.m. Butler plays host to Pine-Richland at 7:30 p.m.

Anyone who follows the general length of high school baseball games knows that KC-Moniteau will not be starting at 6 p.m. Even if it was, there’s no chance Butler throws its first pitch at 7:30 p.m.

The more likely starting times for those last two games are 6:30 and 9 p.m.

Starting a weeknight high school game at 6:30 p.m. is fine. Starting one at 9 p.m. is ridiculous. The game may not end until after 11.

I know high school hockey does this sort of thing a lot. That’s not good, either, but they’re dealing with limited ice availability.

There are plenty of baseball fields around. Yes, spring rains play a big factor in how they are used.

But there are plenty of sunny days in which good fields stay empty while Pullman Park is stacked with game after game.

Understandably, the city wants to put as many games at Pullman as it can. There are bills to pay, after all.

But let’s do that within reason.

Butler High School built its own baseball field to avoid having to work its way into crowded Pullman Park. Obviously, that new field hasn’t worked out.

Play high school baseball games at a decent hour. That is not an unreasonable request.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle