Weather plays tricks on ballplayers

Thursday, March 14, 2002 | 10:05 a.m.

Youth league baseball players, expecting to be the boys of the recent summer-like weather, instead played Wednesday in chilly winds that included gusts of more than 50 mph.

Coach Rick Kerstine of the Yankees let the practice game continue at Pecos Legacy Park, although some who came to watch huddled on the bleachers while others remained in their sport-utility vehicles.

"He says they play unless it snows, and that's not going to happen," Diane Stauffer, a seven-year Las Vegas resident, said as she kept her eye on son Kenneth, 12, of the Rangers.

The National Weather Service on Wednesday afternoon issued a high wind warning, which means gusts could exceed 60 mph. A gust of 72 mph was recorded in North Las Vegas about 4:30 p.m., National Weather Service forecasters said.

A high of 58 was expected today and similar temperatures throughout the weekend, forecasters say.

How things have changed. Earlier this week temperatures went into the 70s, exceeding normal highs by about 10 degrees. The weather is expected to stay cool into the weekend, though the high winds should subside.

"It's the worst I've seen since the year the (Las Vegas) Hilton sign got knocked over," meteorologist Brian Fuis said of the gusty conditions Wednesday.

The Hilton sign was 365 feet tall until winds of more than 80 mph blew it down July 18, 1994. It was replaced by a 279-foot marquee.

Heidi Gable, a six-year local resident who has lived in places such as Laughlin, Phoenix and Minnesota, was hardly fazed by Wednesday's windy conditions.

"It would be like this all the time in Laughlin," Gable said, watching son Matthew, 10, play for the Rangers. "In Minnesota if we had 70 mph winds, we'd be in the cellar."

A pair of British tourists -- Emily and Patrick Pudlo of London -- were practicing soccer at Sunset Park Wednesday but called the match early.

"It's freezing," Emily Pudlo said.

Patrick Pudlo urged her to get into their car, tossing a brief "cheerio" over his shoulder and into the wind.

Jennifer Palmer, a teacher who volunteers at Sunset Park, said she told her students "to put rocks in their pockets so they wouldn't blow away."

Bill Scott of Las Vegas sat in his SUV and looked out over the empty picnic tables at the Sunset Park pond. He contemplated whether to take a walk, part of daily therapy for an injured knee.

"It's the first time I've seen this much wind," Scott said. "It's pretty gusty."

He managed a lap around pond, and noted afterward, "It was a struggle."