The consistent and at times heavy rain that dominated our weather much of this past week further emphasized one thing in the Butler County sports world.

It pays to have turf.

While most high school baseball and softball fields proved unplayable all week, Seneca Valley got a home baseball game in, a couple of games were played at Pullman Park — despite a grass outfield — and it was business as usual for Slippery Rock University baseball at Critchfield Park.

All it takes to wreak havoc upon the spring sports season is to have a week of wet weather like we just experienced. Athletic directors scramble to reschedule events, which gets tougher to do as most spring schedules are back-loaded toward mid-April on, when the weather figures to be a little nicer.

All-turf fields are the way to go.

When Seneca Valley needed to have turf installed on one of its fields a few years ago, it opted to have all of its outdoor fields turfed. The Raiders’ baseball and softball fields are all turf, as is the lacrosse field.

SV’s football field, of course, already had an artificial surface.

The school district ultimately saved money by having all of its fields done. Seneca Valley now has one of the best high school outdoor facilities anywhere.

Yes, turfing any field costs a lot of money. Budgets have to be approved and such a move has to be financially viable to the respective district.

At times, the weather can be so bad that games can’t be played on turf, either.

But the chances of getting through the spring with only minimal scrambling are a lot better.

This is Western Pennsylvania, after all. The weather won’t adapt to us, so we have to adapt to the weather any way we can.

When it’s time to say “Play Ball,” it’s nice to be able to do it.

Morton Watch

When the smoke clears from the NCAA Tournament over the next few days, Purdue and Butler graduate Ethan Morton will hopefully come home with the national championship.

Then Morton may come home — or closer to home — to finish his college basketball career.

Morton has been the consummate team player at Purdue. A former starter for the Boilermakers, he never fretted, pouted or threatened to transfer when he lost his starting position and his minutes on the court diminished.

He signed a letter of intent to commit to Purdue and win — and he’s done both of those things.

Now he’s got his engineering degree and has a year of college basketball eligibility remaining. Pitt just had its point guard declare for the NBA Draft.

Hmm ... looks like an opening there. Just sayin.’

Wherever Morton winds up, here’s hoping he becomes a starter and an impact player on the court again.

He helped Purdue enjoy its time. Now it’s his time.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle