Editor's note: Due to the coranavirus, Major League Baseball announced that all spring training games have been suspended.

Heads up, sports fans, it's that time of year: spring training!

That means ballgames, pop flies, home runs, hot dogs, "peanuts 'n' Cracker Jacks," tons of fun and, don't forget, traffic on Valley freeways.

Whether you are rooting for the Giants, Rockies or Diamondbacks, whether your favorite team is in Surprise, Mesa, Goodyear or Phoenix, you can expect plenty of your fellow fans to be going the same place. And with road projects increasing as the weather gets warmer, traffic to and from spring-training games could be heavy.

With that in mind, here are some tips to make sure everyone makes it back to their own home plate without headaches:

• Just as you would watch for that runner trying to steal second, always be vigilant behind the wheel.
• Buckle up; no one wants to be put on the disabled list should the unfortunate happen.
• Speeding and aggressive driving are more than just unsportsmanlike conduct. They are big factors in deadly crashes in Arizona, according to the Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
• Be prepared to slow down if your route takes you through a construction zone;
• Check travel times, traffic conditions and road issues either on az511.gov or our AZ 511 app to ensure you make it to the game before the first pitch.
• And while baseball fans can differ on the designated hitter rule, we can all agree on designating a driver if you plan on consuming alcohol.

If you do get in a crash on the way to or from a game, remember to practice Quick Clearance and get off the road as soon as safely as you can. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: ADOT can only hope to contain this author when it comes to sharing sports clichés. We promise to rebound in future posts.

By Doug Nintzel / ADOT Communications

As thousands of college basketball fans “check in at the scorer’s table” in the Valley for the NCAA Final Four weekend, drivers should be prepared for heavier traffic at times on freeways providing connections to and between major event locations. The Arizona Department of Transportation has its own “keys to the game” travel tips for fans and local commuters alike.

Of course, fans will want to “drive the lane” along Interstate 10 in the downtown Phoenix area as one way to access weekend events being held between Friday, March 31, and Monday, April 3. But here are some specific suggestions to consider:

• Use the ramps to or from I-10 at Seventh Avenue, rather than Seventh Street.
• Consider using I-17 and traveling north on Seventh Avenue to approach the downtown area.
• Allow plenty of extra travel time and get to events early.

Why Seventh Avenue instead of Seventh Street? Well, the city of Phoenix is anticipating a “Space Jam” on Seventh Street – especially when the Final Four Fan Fest at the Phoenix Convention Center or the March Madness Concert Series at Hance Park are taking place.

Since westbound I-10 will have heavier traffic this weekend, don’t “bust your bracket” trying to make your way “along the baseline” to University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, the site of the two national semifinal games on Saturday, April 1, as well as the national championship game at 6 p.m. Monday, April 3. Drivers should plan ahead for heavier traffic on westbound I-10, especially on Monday afternoon and evening.

Westbound Loop 101 across the north Valley is expected to provide valuable help “off the bench” as a good alternate route for fans to use between the East and West Valley regions.

ADOT will “dish out assists” to travelers by “posting” information about traffic conditions and stadium parking on its system of freeway message boards.

To limit “March Madness” when you’re looking for “nothing but net,” Final Four travel information is just a “free throw” or click away for anyone who “zips a bounce pass” to ADOT’s Twitter feed (@ArizonaDOT). Take out your “clipboard” and diagram the following Final Four travel information:

To avoid heavier freeway traffic on Monday, April 3, travelers should consider public transportation options.

It’s a “slam dunk” that ADOT will post information about traffic conditions and stadium parking on its system of freeway overhead message boards. The agency’s Twitter feed (@ArizonaDOT) and Facebook account (facebook.com/AZDOT) are both excellent sources for traffic-related information. Highway conditions across the state are available via ADOT’s Travel Information site at az511.gov or by calling 511.

For real-time information on traffic conditions in Glendale, visit@GlendaleAZPD on Twitter.

“Swish.”

By Tom Herrmann / ADOT Communications

For the fans of South Carolina, Gonzaga, Oregon and North Carolina, this has the chance to be one of the best weekends of their lives. A national championship is just a few days away for one of those schools.

For the rest of us, Final Four events leading up to Monday's championship game in Glendale should be a slam dunk. We’ve done this before.

Super Bowls. The 2016 NCAA football championship game. The Fiesta Bowl. NFL playoff games and weeknight Cardinals games. Go back to 2001, and there’s even a fantastic World Series.

We’re fortunate to host such events. It’s great to have the attention of the sporting world on our beautiful state. Millions of people will see images of cactus at sunset and mountains in the distance.

But isn't this a recipe for trafficpocalypse? After all, having more than 60,000 people headed to Glendale at the same time as the typical Monday evening commute could mean a full-court press on westbound Interstate 10.

Our history says that won’t happen if everyone, from ticketholders to commuters, plans ahead. If you’re going to the championship game, plan on arriving early. Parking lots will open at 1 p.m., tailgate events reserved for ticketholders begin at 2 p.m. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

If your commute usually involves I-10 in the West Valley, consider adjusting your hours so you can be on the road before or after Final Four traffic. Telecommuting would be an even better if that’s an option for you. A northerly route on Loop 101 from Interstate 17 or all the way from the East Valley is another way for ticketholders and commuters to reduce traffic on I-10 West.

There are events beginning Friday and lasting through the weekend in Glendale and in downtown Phoenix. ADOT will update you on freeway conditions throughout via Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) and Facebook (facebook.com/AZDOT). Check our electronic message boards, visit ADOT Traveler Information at az511.gov or call 511  for critical information.

Here are other sources to help you plan your Final Four travel:

• Phoenix.gov/FinalFour has resources for getting around downtown Phoenix.
• ValleyMetro.org/FinalFour helps you plan trips via public transportation.
• On Twitter, @GlendaleAZPD will have local traffic conditions in real time.

Enjoy! After all, the Final Four and Phoenix go together a lot better than peas and … you know.