After weeks of anxiety and anticipation, the COVID-19 pandemic has invaded West Virginia causing the closures of schools through April 30 which also meant the suspension of the sports seasons bringing a plethora of reactions from Hardy County student-athletes with softball seniors from Moorefield and East Hardy stepping up to the plate with their reactions.
Initially, the student-athletes were told of the postponement of the basketball postseason on March 12 and the decision to close schools began on March 13 coinciding with the canceling of practices for spring sports. The suspension of the spring sports season schedule was put in place along with the school closures.
The stay at home order and social distancing mandate made it impossible for players to unify for practice on their own.
WVSSAC Executive Director Bernie Dolan expressed the need to look at the current situation and provided hope that the seasons could continue once school is back in session.
“Right now, it obviously looks more gloomy than last week, but I think we’re going to wait out the models and see if the models improve,” WVSSAC Executive Director Bernie Dolan stated.
“If the governor thinks we can hopefully get back in school, we can probably try to match that level of hope. There’s no benefit to making the call today, so we can ride it out a little and see where this takes us.”
The hope is to resume the basketball tournaments and have an abbreviated spring sports schedule.
Basketball seasons are over for the Hardy County contingent, but the spring sports athletes await the fate of the season for softball, baseball, tennis and track.
Several questions were presented to the softball seniors looking for their assessment on the current situation with most replying to the inquiry: What was the initial reaction to news of the suspended season? How does this impact your routine and what are you doing to stay active for the season? Do you have advice for the underclassmen?
Moorefield Softball senior Hanna Carlson, a Potomac State College commit, was the first to express her thoughts on the matter with an eagerness to return to the field.[private]
“When I heard the news of our season being postponed, I was highly devastated, but not surprised,” Moorefield Softball senior Hanna Carlson commented.
“The energy that our team already has this early in the season is something I have never experienced before. Every single one of us is eager to get to the state tournament and make history in MHS Softball. I miss my teammates and coaches tremendously and am so eager to get back onto the field with them again. Now that I’m not practicing and conditioning every day with my teammates, I have found other ways to get my time in. My family and I recently put up a batting cage in my backyard where I hit and pitch. Before the “Stay home” order, I would go to the park and run some of Coach Sions’ famous “W’s” to stay conditioned. To my fellow seniors, this is our year to leave our mark. Although our senior year is going far from planned due to this Coronavirus, do not lose hope and think that we won’t step on our field again. I wouldn’t want to share this last year with any other girls, but you all. Let’s make our last ride, the best one yet. To the underclassmen, cherish every minute of this season and the upcoming ones. Keep grinding and pushing yourself everyday to reacher goal. We’re all in this together and I cannot wait to see how far we go this season. Positive Mindset!”
East Hardy Softball senior Emily Yates talked about being heartbroken, but remembering your support system and to continue to strive to be a role model to the younger kids.
“Have you ever prepared for something, but when it happens, you’re still shocked and heartbroken? I had prepared myself for an end to our season, but I never thought it would happen. All in a day, our season had been postponed, our school days came to an end, and our senior year became much shorter than what we originally thought,” East Hardy Softball senior Emily Yates remarked.
“I couldn’t help but think the games, laughs, tears, dirt stains, and bonding moments we will be missing in the next month of our absence from the field, but I was and continue to stay optimistic that we will walk and play on the field just one more time. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I have much more time on my hands without practices, games, or even school.
“But, having a postponed season and no senior year also means no routine for me. My life revolved around school, sports, work, and co-curricular activities and with all that gone, I had to construct a whole new routine. I did this by doing my schoolwork in the evening, ensuring I eat healthy meals, and I have my sisters throw softball and hit balls to me to field. I also have focused on treadmill exercises and just keeping fit for the rest of our season. Do not, and I mean do not take any season for granted. So, what you had a bad game or practice? Don’t say you have next season to improve on your mistakes because life is unpredictable and not every practice, game, or season is ever promised. The postponement of the season should prove to every athlete you should play your hardest and promise yourself that you’re playing for the right reasons.
“I also want to remind the underclassmen to remember the little girls who look up to us “big girls” like their role models, excited to be able to play on a high school field someday. Play for them and always remember how you act with an opponent, a referee, and your teammates creates a view to those on the other side of the fence, especially the little ones who want to grow up to be like you.
“Lastly, thank your parents for every drink they’ve bought you during a game, thank your coaches for the pushing and prodding during practice (because they really do see your potential, even if you don’t), thank the referees for their time at the field, thank your fans for believing in you, even during your “off games”, and thank those who capture your moments on the field with their cameras because they turn into memories much sooner than you think they will.”
Remembering how encouraging teammates and coaches are during this time has been helpful for Moorefield Softball senior Anna Riggleman.
“I’m gonna be honest, when I first found out our season was being suspended I was a little heartbroken. Coming back from an injury isn’t easy. With our season being on hold it doesn’t help either, but my coaches and teammates are all encouraging. It is upsetting that we can’t get together as a team to practice, but I trust that my teammates are putting as much time into their swings and defense as if we were practicing on a daily basis. It’s a tough time, but with our positive attitudes, I remain hopeful that my teammates and I will get to play on that ball field again.” Moorefield Softball senior Anna Riggleman noted.
Having a younger sister on the team to practice with during the suspension time has been a blessing for East Hardy Softball senior Rebecca Whetzel.
“When I first heard that sports had been suspended I was really upset. I knew that this would be the last year I would have to play on our field as a Cougar. Now that the season has been suspended further it’s hard not to think about the worst scenario, but we’re all trying to stay really optimistic. We don’t get to go through a normal practice routine or be around our teammates, but we’re all still checking in on each other. Having Perry makes it easier to stay active and work on fundamentals. We throw together, work on hitting, and she pitches. My advice for underclassmen would be don’t take these four short years for granted. Give your best at every practice and game. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the field or in the dugout, you’re still part of the team and you’ll always share the same memories regardless of your amount of playing time. Cherish the memories you get to make with your teammates while you can, you never know when your last practice might be.” East Hardy Softball senior Rebecca Whetzel said.
Grabbing a bucket of balls with a tee for self-practice with a hope to don the uniform once again provides hope for Moorefield Softball senior Kennedie Hinger.
“This has really taken a toll on our senior season, but we are still being positive. The news really shocked us, as I don’t think anyone ever expected this or had this happen to their season before. We had planned on having our own practices, but that is against the rules. Now, we just have to resort to a tee and bucket of balls. I’ve spent my time exercising and working to make money during this time at E.A. Hawse in Baker. We are all hoping and praying that we get to wear our uniforms one last time and play on our home field making Moorefield proud,” Moorefield Softball senior Kennedie Hinger stated.
Having an overall routine change without school or practice has been tough, but East Hardy Softball senior Chelsea Keller knows not to take anything for granted and shares that advice with her younger teammates.
“My initial response when I found out that my senior season was going to be ruined due to a virus going around was unbelievable. I could not seem to get it through my head that there wasn’t going to be any games or any practices with my friends. I kept telling myself and continue to tell myself every day that there is going to be a little bit of time to finish my senior season off strong, that we are still going to be able to step on the field for one last time with not only my teammates but my family. Every day I pray and hope that there will still be a softball season left for us to have the best time of our lives,” East Hardy Softball senior Chelsea Keller commented.
“This has impacted my everyday life in every way possible not only not being able to think after 8th period being able to go to practice and know that, that was going to take any problems that I had encountered that day. Not only has this virus impacted my softball season, but being able to spend my last year of school together with my friends. Every day I sit and think what I would be doing right now. Would I being driving to the field or would I be laughing because I missed the ball on the toe? My advice to the underclassmen is to never take anything for granted every day you are willing and able to step on that field do it with everything in you or don’t do it at all.
“Every day you spend on that field act like it’s your last time you will ever step on that field. After all, you never know when that last day will be. If you would have told me at the beginning of the year that my senior year was going to be cut short because of a pandemic, I would have looked at you like you were crazy because I never thought this would happen.”
Moorefield and East Hardy student-athletes are hoping to have the seasons restored in their respective sports as they remain vigilant in maintaining focus with proper social distancing and following proper health initiatives while exercising during the suspension due to the pandemic.
Understanding the impact this pandemic has on the community, Moorefield Softball team has shown compassion and support by providing meals for the staff of Love Memorial Clinic and local essential businesses.
“I understand why our season has been delayed. It is important to keep our children and community safe,” Moorefield Softball coach Bridget Sions concluded.
“The first thing I told them was that we were staying positive, because that’s just what we do. I explained that having our season postponed was a lot better than having it canceled. I know that my girls will be ready to go whenever we get the green light. We’re on a mission that we’re praying we get to complete.”[/private]
