LHSAA announced on Friday that it would adhere to Gov. John Bel Edwards’ decision to close member schools for 30 days due to the possible spread of the coronavirus. That decision has resulted in the suspension of spring sports such as softball, baseball and track and field.
The suspension though does not mean that the spring sport seasons are canceled — at least not as of right now.
LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonnie released the following statement through an electronically distributed memo on Friday. Bonine writes:
“The LHSAA Executive Committee will meet April 7-8 at its regularly scheduled meeting to discuss the LHSAA’s direction after the April 13 mandate by the Governor of Louisiana,” Bonine wrote in the memo. “Scheduling and participating in practices during the mandated time period (from March 16th to April 13th) will be left to the discretion of the administration and/or LEA of the schools involved. We will continue to monitor the situation and we encourage each member school to consult with their local health department and medical professionals to help with these decisions.”
That means that area high school teams find themselves in a holding pattern — one in which practice is not an option and constantly wondering if they will have the opportunity to finish the season.
“This is definitely tough on us as a team,” Oberlin High baseball coach Greg Manuel said. “As you know, this group of eight seniors won the state championship last year as juniors and were looking forward to defending that title going out. I told the team late Thursday after a tough loss to St. Mary’s in Natchitoches that the season would probably be postponed. To witness some of the shock and despair in their eyes was almost unbearable.”
For the Reeves softball team, the season had just begun.
Due to being such a small program, the Raiders were not able to start playing games until the basketball season ended.
‘We fought really hard this season to have a team due to small numbers,” Reeves softball coach Taylor Wilkins Taylor said. “The girls were very excited when I told them that we would be playing this season. We were only able to play three games due to our girls making a run in basketball playoffs. Each game we were getting better and better. I truly hated breaking the news to them, especially our lone senior Jordyn Gill. She was a big part of our team and I wished I would have been able to coach her for another season.”
For some of the coaches, it was a mad scramble to get in one final game before the season was suspended.
“When they made the announcement that the tournament in Many was cancelled, my coaching staff and I rushed to find one last game to play and thankfully Coach (T.J.) Robinson in Oakdale agreed to play on Saturday,” Manuel said. “We were scheduled to play Monday night so it worked out good for both teams,” Manuel added. “After that game I told the boys to stay healthy and in shape just in case. And then told them just like I always do that I love each one of them and to stay safe and if they ever need anything to let me know.”
With so much uncertainty surrounding the season’s future it would be easy for the teams to allow themselves to be depressed about the situation. The coaches though are making sure to keep hope alive.
“To my knowledge, our season isn’t over yet,” Reeves High baseball coach Jason Savant. “It’s just suspended. There is still hope.”
“I encouraged my girls to continue swinging a bat and throwing at home,” Taylor said. “I told them that as soon as we could get on the field we would.“
Softball
Lady Jackets vs. DeRidder
The Kinder High Lady Jackets were edged by the DeRidder Lady Dragons, 3-2, in a game played on Tuesday, March 10.
DeRidder improved its 2-9 record, while Kinder dropped 7-4 in a non district contest. Kinder led 2 to 1 after 3 innings but DeRidder scored the winning runs in the bottom of the 5th. Kinder had five hits in the game including two by Hadley Lemons, who also scored 1 of the runs. Lemons led off the bottom of the 3rd innning with a hit while Brooklyn Fontenot reached base. Both runners would score later in the inning.
DeRidder scored a run in the 1st inning and scored 2 runs in the 5th inning to take the lead.
Brianna Langley was the losing pitcher for Kinder despite giving up only 4 hits and 1 earned run. She struck out 5 batters and walked no one.
Lady Jackets vs. Evans
The Lady Yellow Jackets scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the 8th inning to defeat the Rosepine Eagles, 1-0, on March 12.
With 2 outs in the bottom of the 8th, Hadley Lemons reached base on a walk. Chole Oliver followed with a one ball, two strike double to left center field to score Lemons with the winning run.
Kinder had 6 hits in the game including 2 hits by Brooklyn Fontenot.
Brianna Langley was the winning pitcher pitching 8 innings, giving up 8 hits and no runs.
Chloe Bennet was the losing pitcher for Rosepine despite striking out 12 Kinder batters and only walking 2.
Baseball
Raiders beat the Knights
The Reeves Raiders made short work of Evans Knights in a nondistrict baseball game Thursday, March 12. Reeves rolled to a 15-5 win in a game called after the 5th inning because of the Mercy Rule.
Reeves only had 4 hits in the game but scored 6 runs in the 2nd innning and 4 runs each in the 4th and 5th innings to win the game.
Slade McAllen picked up the pitching win and struck out 6 Knights in the game.
Merryville beats Reeves
On Tuesday, March 10, Reeves hosted the Merryville Panthers, but the visitors came away with an 11-3 win in non-district action. Merryville never trailed in the game as they scored 2 runs in the top of the 1st.
After Reeves scored a run in the bottom of the 2nd, the Panthers scored 4 runs in the top of the 4th and 2 more runs in the 5th and 6th to put the game out of reach. Reeves added single runs in the 5th and 6th. Reeves could only manage 3 hits in the game.
Oakdale (B) at Oberlin
The Warriors fell to 2-6-1 on the season after an 8-7 loss to Oberlin last Saturday. The game was another one Oakdale let get away from itself after leading 7-4 going into the bottom of the 6th.
Oakdale scored a solo run in the top of 1st and top of the 3rd before exploding for 5 runs in the top of the 5th.
The top of the 5th began with a walk to Peyton Hayden and a Kaleb Higginbotham single. The next batter up was Brennon Taylor who singled on a pop fly to left field that pushed Hayden across the plate.
After a Daniel Rodriguez bunt attempt which advanced Higginbotham to third base, Jamel Weaver launched a double to left field to drive in Higginbotham. Dallas Daniels then doubled ahead of a double off the bat of Cade Dauzat that brought in Weaver and Daniels.
Dauzat got the start for Oakdale and went 4 innings. He allowed two earned runs on two hits. He allowed five walks while striking out four.
A Frozen Season
Here is a look at the records of area teams at the moment the current LHSAA spring seasons were suspended.
SOFTBALL
Class 2A
Kinder (8-4)
Class 1A
Oberlin (5-7)
Class C
Reeves (0-3)
BASEBALL
Class 2A
Kinder (7-4)
Class 1A
Oberlin (5-5)
Class C
Reeves (2-2)