How schools could adjust to shortened spring seasons

Baseball Boys soccer Dance/drill Fastpitch softball Golf Tennis Track and field

GRANT AND ADAMS COUNTIES — This season, Columbia Basin student-athletes have only received an inkling of spring sports.

Some jamborees were able to proceed as planned, but the start of regular seasons was abruptly stopped after Gov. Jay Inslee ordered schools statewide to close in response to the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The seasons have not officially been canceled, yet. However, restarting spring activities likely won’t happen if schools do not reopen at the end of April.

“Any further delays could put state championships in jeopardy as no championships will be held after May 30 to avoid conflicts with graduation,” the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) wrote on its website.

Several south Grant County and Adams County programs were poised to contend for state trophies this spring. Warden softball placed third in state last season and the school’s baseball team was primed for a successful campaign with first team all-league senior ace Ryan Arredondo. Royal and Wahluke boys soccer reached the state tournament last season before falling in the first round. Othello senior golfer Patrick Azevedo was set to compete for another state championship.

To accelerate the process of possibly resuming seasons, the WIAA announced a blanket waiver for practice restrictions that will allow student-athletes to achieve 10 mandatory practices in five days. An example used was a school-wide conditioning practice before classes and sport-specific practices in the afternoon. The WIAA also recommended that schools and leagues organize a continuation of the regular season for teams that do not advance to the state championships.

“While nothing will be able to replace the time taken away from these students, especially seniors, providing more avenues to create lifelong memories with their teammates should be the ultimate goal,” the organization wrote.

The WIAA provided some insight as to how schools could adjust their schedules should seasons resume. The WIAA’s frequently asked questions sheet has information on baseball, boys soccer, dance/drill, fastpitch softball, golf, tennis, and track and field.

The daily pitch limit would still be in place and teams would have the option to play shortened five-inning games to compete against more opponents. May 19 would be the final day that teams could qualify for regionals; the state championships are scheduled to be played on May 29-30.

Conceivably, soccer teams could play only one half in an attempt to compete against more teams. May 19 will also be the final day that soccer teams could qualify for state, with the first round set to be played on May 23.

The state championships for dance/drill were postponed from March 27-28 to May 15-16. Teams that had previously scored a 195 or higher during the season will be qualified to compete at state.

Fastpitch softball teams will be allowed to play five-inning games and the last day to qualify for state will be on May 24.

Athletes can compete in more than one match per day as long as no more than 36 holes are played. May 22 will be the last day golfers can qualify for state.

Athletes can compete in more than three matches per day as long as they do not participate in more than nine sets. Tennis players will have until May 24 to qualify for state.

Marks that were acquired by athletes that have competed unattached at invitationals during the shutdown will not count as a qualifying standard. Those standards must be set during school-sponsored meets.

Athletes can only compete in a maximum of four events and will have until May 24 to qualify for state.