Just as the NBA season has been suspended and the Major League Baseball could be drastically shortened due to the coronavirus, there will be much less – if any – sports than planned in Coahoma County this spring.
The Mississippi High School Activities Association suspended all sports through March 29. The Clarksdale and Coahoma County school districts have already resigned to the fact that spring sports will not be taking place at their schools, no matter what happens.
The National Junior College Athletic Association cancelled all spring sports. The bright spot for Coahoma Community College is, even though we will not have baseball and softball seasons, athletes will not lose their scholarships and be able to continue their education.
It appears classes will be held online in the near future, but, whatever happens, the education of CCC athletes will not be interrupted.
The unanswered question for all junior colleges in the same situation is what happens to the players’ eligibility for next season? Does the cancelled season cost them a year of eligibility? If so, that is a shame. If not, how will it impact the current high school seniors attempting to earn college scholarships? I hope to help answer those questions in the coming weeks.
Coahoma Early College High School only had a track team competing in the spring. We will see if they are still able to salvage a season.
Lee Academy hopes to be able to resume its sports at some point. That is a very good thing as school offers baseball, tennis, golf and track during the spring. Hopefully, we will be able to see some of those teams in action.
I fully understand why some of the seasons are cancelled. Health and safety come before playing any game.
It is just a shame it came to this and I hope we can see some of our athletes in action before it is time for the spring football scrimmages.
Each school and team will handle things in its own way.
Some coaches may find ways to keep athletes in shape or have some sort of a workout plan. However teams are making the best of a bad situation, we want to know about it. We want to highlight what our athletes are doing to be ready for when they are able to play sports again.
We also know there are many local athletes throughout the area who have accomplished great things. As you see in today’s Press Register, some of our athletes who excelled on the basketball court are being featured. We will also be putting together an All-Area basketball team in the near future.
If any of you have story ideas or other ways we can highlight our athletes and teams, do not hesitate to email me at jtroy@pressregister.com.
The coronavirus is a serious problem, but we cannot lose sight of the fact that we have good people doing things right here in our own backyard.
I will do my best to remind people of just that week after week. I will do my best to show people are making the best out of a bad situation.
Maybe by the time youth baseball comes around for the summer, everything will be back to normal or, at the very least, measures will be put in place so we can move forward as planned with our activities.
Let’s hope so.
