Spring sports possible into July

COLUMBUS — The latest memo posted by the Ohio High School Athletic Association late Wednesday outlined yet another updated spring sports schedule, should schools in Ohio return to the classroom this calendar year. If classes resume in schools statewide on May 4 as currently planned, state tournaments would last into the final weekend of June for baseball, softball, track and field and boys tennis. After five days of practice, the season would begin on Saturday, May 9. The state currently is under a stay-at-home order through May 1 because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Originally, schools were closed for three weeks, beginning on March 16. In the time since, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has issued two stay-at-home orders, the last which is currently scheduled to end on May 1. OHSAA executive director Jerry Snodgrass said the sports governing body is operating under DeWine's "optimistic direction that schools will re-open on May 4." "If the Governor and Ohio Department of Health deem it safe to reopen school facilities in early May, then we will have a shortened spring sports season that extends into June," Snodgrass said. "I commend our sports administration staff for putting the schedules together working on state tournament sites." The OHSAA's plan gives high school coaches and athletes some direction for the rest of April. However, that's not to say there is anticipated concern how attempting to play as many games as possible. Under the latest plan, tournament draws would be held in mid-to-late May with baseball sectionals played May 23-30 and softball and boys tennis sectionals scheduled for May 30-June 6. With Ohio State University and most college facilities shut down through July, some of the state championship sites would change under the proposed schedule. The state baseball tournament would be played June 19-21 at Canal Park in Akron, home of the Rubberducks, the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The state softball semifinals and championships are scheduled for June 25-27 at the typical Firestone Stadium site in Akron. The track and field postseason meets would be held June 9-13 (districts), June 17-20 (regionals) and June 26-27 (state meet). The Division I state championships would be held at Hilliard Darby High School; while Div. II would be at Pickerington North High School and Div. III would be competed at Westerville North The boys state tennis tournament would be held June 18-20 at Hilliard Davidson High School — just Northwest of Columbus. Spring sports teams could schedule games to be played the week after the state tournaments, meaning the seasons would officially conclude on June 27 for baseball, track and boys tennis and July 4 for softball. "My concern is how we'd get in just the 14 games of our Firelands Conference schedule," St. Paul softball coach Bob Wilhelm said. "It might take doubleheaders on Saturdays under this schedule, because obviously everyone is in the sectional tournament and there is of course the possibility of rainouts. "It's a lot to rush through and get done in a short period of time," he added. "But I'm obviously happy at just thinking about trying to do it. We have just one senior, Kennedy Stang, who I feel so bad for. It would be nice for all seniors, no matter the challenges, to have some type of a season." Snodgrass stressed that this plan is tentative, optimistic, and could change quickly. "However optimistic this may be, we must plan for the return even if that ends up changing," he said. If sports resume and any site is later shut down by the governor, all sites would be shut down and tournaments would not be held, Snodgrass said. Many states have already canceled spring sports, including neighboring Indiana and Michigan. Snodgrass has not hidden the fact that he and his staff are holding out hope for some sort of spring sports season. He thanked administrators and coaches in his memo. "This crisis has heightened the awareness that students want to be back in the classroom," he wrote. "Teachers want students back in the classroom. In our solid belief that school-based athletic programs are an extension of the classroom, we hold that same belief for our student-athletes and coaches." -------------------------------------------- Updated spring sports dates BASEBALL May 17: Tournament draw May 23-30: Sectional tournaments June 1-6: District tournaments June 11-12: Regional tournaments June 19-21: State championships June 27: Season concludes SOFTBALL May 24: Tournament draw May 30-June 6: Sectional tournaments June 8-13: District tournaments June 15-20: Regional tournaments June 25-27: State championships July 4: Season concludes TENNIS May 30-June 6: Sectional tournaments June 8-13: District tournaments June 18-20: State championships June 27: Season concludes TRACK & FIELD June 9-13: District meets June 17-20: Regional meets June 26-27: State championships (season concludes)