Mississippi high schools weighing options as most of the sports world comes to halt
Almost the entire sports world came to screeching halt on Thursday with the shocking news of cancellations across pro and college sports due to the threat of COVID-19, otherwise known as the novel coronavirus.
As of Thursday night, only NASCAR, UFC and the PGA Tour continued on with the entire college sports world, the XFL, NBA and others done for the rest of the season. There's also high school sports still alive for the time being and the state of Mississippi is currently still up and running with a decision still not 100 percent made as the weekend comes.
The Mississippi High School Activities Association released a statement on Thursday about the status of public school sports inside the state and noted it was monitoring the situation. Even so, high schools around the state were still playing ball during spring break without interruption.
“Contingency plans are being formulated if statewide school cancellations or delays occur and will be implemented if necessary by the MHSAA,” the statement read. “Local school administrators reserve the right to postpone any contest or competition.
Spring fine arts activities and sports championship events will be reviewed and appropriate responses and actions will be taken.
“The MHSAA will initiate staged levels of response, so possible restrictions may be put in place as the need arises based on input from our sports medicine advisory committee. Precautions may include restricting fan attendance, postponing or canceling contests with out-of-state schools or, if necessary, no competition at all.”
The Starkville Yellow Jackets were on the coast during spring break play
ing against Madison-ridgeland Academy, St. George's (Tenn.) and St. Joseph Catholic taking home wins in two out of the three games. They're scheduled to play against Germantown at
home next Tuesday to begin Class 6A, Region 2 play and the game is on until otherwise announced.
Only one game is scheduled in the area for today as East Webster softball is slated to host Choctaw County in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Lady Wolverines head coach Lee Berryhill
confirmed to the SDN that game is slated to continue barring a late change.
The Midsouth Association of Independent Schools has not commented on the plan of action by Thursday night. Private schools around the state were instructed to continue on until further notice,
including the Starkville Academy Volunteers.
Like the Yellow Jackets, Thomas Berkery's Volunteer baseball team was playing on the coast of Mississippi this week. Starkville Academy beat St. Benedict at Auburndale (Tenn.), lost to Wayne Academy and Senatobia and defeated St.
Aloysius in games at Biloxi High School.
It's been a good start to the season for the Vols at 7-2, but Berkery isn't sure what the future holds. He has been in contact with his administration and is waiting for a resolution. While no decision has been made, he's bracing for the possibility for the MAIS to follow suit with the rest of the sports around the country.
“My initial feeling is that we'll have to follow other people's guidelines,” Berkery said. “I don't see how we can play if everyone else is down. I know it's a smaller group of fans, but you'd think that eventually everyone is going to fall in line the same way.”