It’s a happy time of the year. The weather is getting warmer and it’s brighter outside, which is a sure-fire sign that spring is right around the corner. Anyone with a window in eyesight is itching to get out of the classroom or office and take a quick stroll down the street.

It makes the turn of the sports season that much more appealing. Instead of sitting in gyms watching basketball games, this is the time of the year to spend evenings outdoors watching baseball, softball and soccer. Nighttime can still get a bit chilly, but it won’t be like that for too much longer.

The seasons are already in full swing. Northside and Washington clashed in baseball and softball last night, marking the first rivalry showdown of the spring. The action will only heat up from there as the Pam Pack, Panthers and Southside start conference competition soon.

It’s not quite time to abandon sitting inside in front of the television, though. College basketball teams across the land have spent the week competing for their respective league titles. Just yesterday, the ACC tournament featured some down-to-the-wire action between Syracuse and Pittsburgh, among other games.

As many are aware, conference tournaments carry another meaning: it’s almost time for March Madness. The NCAA will host Selection Sunday this weekend and the matchups will commence shortly thereafter.

It’s a good time to start thinking about brackets, but March is a special sports month for more reasons than just March Madness. Many of the teams across Beaufort County have shown the capability to do something special over the course of the next few months, providing a reason to get out of the house to watch it happen.

Or just get out for the sake of enjoying the weather.

Either way, this wonderful March sports season tends to go by quickly, so enjoy it while it lasts.