PICKENS—The basketballs, footballs and wrestling mats have been put up for the off season, and Pickens High is preparing for a major spring sports transition.

The transition is major because nearly every sport has seen a coaching change.

Those sports, which include baseball, softball and soccer, give Athletic Director Steve Corn a reason to be excited, however.

“When spring sports kick off I call it the greatest show on earth,” Corn said. “It’s a special time of the year.”

Corn said spring is a busy time of the year for high school athletics, but he believes it is rewarding at the same time.

“Baseball, softball, boys’ and girls’ soccer, boy’s golf and boys and girls track are all kicking off,” Corn said. “Spring is a hectic time of the year. It’s busy.”

Despite the coaching changes, Corn said his staff has done an excellent job of working together thus far.

“We are wide open in the midst of all of these coaching changes,” Corn said. “It has been a transition getting everyone started and in the swing of things. Everyone has done an excellent job so far, and it has all sort of fallen into place.”

This will be Pickens’ second year in the new facilities, which are located just off Main Street with a beautiful view of the mountains. Corn said it has been nice to have all the sports in one place.

“It’s hard to believe that this is the first time in the history of Pickens High School that we have a baseball field with lights, softball field, track and can host a football game on campus,” Corn said. “It has really made scheduling difficult in the past, but we’re excited to not have that problem anymore.”

The AD said one ticket will get you into most Blue Flame events occurring simultaneously.

“If you buy a ticket in one spot you can go through that gate and, for five dollars, you can go watch track for a little while, go over to the baseball field and watch baseball for a few minutes and then go watch softball,” Corn said. “It’s outstanding. I love to see all of that going on at the same time. That’s what it’s all about.”

Spring sports schedules for Pickens can be found at http://phs.pickens.k12.sc.us/.