For Bethany baseball players, teacher walkout changes little
BETHANY — Dylan Scalice’s alarm went off earlier than usual Tuesday morning.
As he turned it off, the thought of how different his senior year has been crossed his mind. There was no school at Bethany High as thousands of teachers across the state held a walkout at the state Capitol.
Yet, his work never stopped.
He still had weightlifting at 8:30 a.m. with his baseball teammates. Then he had to get the field ready for Tuesday night’s district matchup with Harrah.
And then he had to leave early in the afternoon for an AP Calculus meeting.
“We don’t want to fall behind for the test in May,” Scalise said.
In a week full of uncertainty around the state, most high school athletics have continued. But those athletes remain students even without formal classes.
Bethany baseball players have worked hard to maintain normalcy, whether that’s through their AP class meetings or college classes at OSUOklahoma City.
Psychology. English Composition I and II. History. Algebra.
“Obviously, there are things important long term for our players,” said Bethany baseball coach Jim Drummond, who is also the school’s Dean of Students.
“We’re fully behind our peers, but we still have to play our district games because we’re in a limited time period. It’s been challenging for everyone.”
Drummond has faced multiple challenges throughout the week, and not just with his players.
Bethany co-hosts a tournament starting Thursday with Putnam City High School, but the schedule was in doubt due to the walkout.
Putnam City Schools has allowed athletics to continue, but outside of school hours. Thursday’s schedule begins at noon. Drummond considered moving a game to Bethany and having a late game at Putnam City.
“We weren’t worried about staying late at night because if you don’t have school it’s not a big deal,” Drummond said, smiling.
Only Tuesday did Putnam City get clearance to
host the early games.
But Drummond maintained his team’s focus.
A West Point graduate, he’s kept order with the early-morning weightlifting. That’s generally what his players do each day in school anyway.
“You can’t lay around all day long and wait for your game,” Drummond said.
He’s also fully aware what’s happening at the State Capitol each day. He supports teachers, having been one himself.
But that’s also why the games must go on.
As he gathered his team in the outfield following Tuesday’s win, he had his
players list their college classes.
He could only smile. “We don’t know what’s going to happen,” Drummond said. “It is a time of uncertainty. We’re going to act in the short-term for what we think is their long-term best interest.
“We’re short teachers, we’re short textbooks, we’re short essential equipment, the arts have been cut. I realize it’s a tough time economically. I don’t know the answer. I’m not a politician; I’m a baseball coach. I do know as a parent as well we all want what’s best for our children.”