Softball seniors honored at all-star game as sports make return amid COVID-19 pandemic
Trinity Cannon hit a towering home run to straightaway center to win a softball home run derby on June 16 in Frisco.
She showed off her infectious smile after being presented a new bat and in that moment, the smiles spread out in the crowd knowing that a bit of sports had returned.
Cannon, who graduated from Forney High School this year, was among the 68 softball players who participated in the third annual DFW Fastpitch all-star game at Warren Sports Complex.
Only this year’s event had a different twist.
All 68 players were seniors to help honor the Class of 2020.
They had lost their final season from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Three games were played with coaches representing Frisco Independence (Brittany Lee), Denton Guyer (Keith Medford), Allen (Kathy Schoettle), Justin Northwest (Tanya Morrow), Grapevine (Angie Curtis), Keller (Christina Gwyn) and Flower Mound (Mark Larriba).
“Glad to be out here with everybody again,” said Cannon, who will continue her career at Texas A&M. “Having fun with my girls and seeing everyone from high school ball. Bringing back memories.”
Cannon won the derby with six home runs while three players were tied for second (Grapevine’s Hayden Brown, Keller’s Hailey Jones and Plano East’s Carson Armijo).
The UIL season was officially cut short from COVID-19 on April 17.
However, after the layoff, things are starting to return and the all-star game wasn’t the first live event since COVID hit.
Summer softball and baseball tournaments had already begun.
Fields in DFW reopened on May 31 and softball games in the DFW started on June 15.
“Lot of fun to have the girls back. It’s really more enjoyable to see them enjoy each other,” Texas Glory coach and co-founder Kevin Shelton said. “We have a long and hard summer ahead where we’ll play 60-65 games in about 80 days.
But even before that, games were happening in Oklahoma and Louisiana, where COVID-19 cases aren’t as high as Texas.
Mansfield rising senior Emilee Watkins was ready to get back.
“It was disappointing how quick high school season had ended when I had a really good feeling about how we were going to do,” said Watkins, who plays for Impact Gold. “It was awesome to get back out there on the field.”
Guidelines and recommendations were posted.
It included hand sanitizers around the park and cleaning the dugout in between games. Teams no longer shake hands after the game — instead they wave at each other.
“I’ve replaced handshakes with fist bumps, which is something I never thought I’d be able to do,” said Marty White, whose son Hudson is a rising senior at Byron Nelson.
Forney rising junior Logan LiVigni plays for the Dallas Tigers, which began its summer in Louisiana.
It didn’t take long to shake off the rust.
“I thought it would take me a couple games to getting back to live pitching, but it [went] really well,” he said.
Will you return?
Programs have been doing strength and conditioning for three weeks. Some schools had to shut down workouts after athletes tested positive for COVID-19.
For Texas Glory, Shelton said once practices and games returned, no one was required to come back.
“If you didn’t feel comfortable, you didn’t have to come back. No questions asked,” said Shelton, who holds practices out of McKinney. “First time we said that, everyone was on board. We had one who didn’t because she had underlying issues, but eventually she’s also returned.”
Parents were just as ready to get back to normalcy.
Mansfield rising junior Macy Hamilton joined Watkins in OKC during the final two weeks of May.
“We’ve been social distancing like everybody for all of this time, but now we believe it’s time to get back to normal and we feel comfortable doing so,” said Macy’s mother Shelley Hamilton. “The extra precautions didn’t really slow the game down.
“Maybe more cleaning over the last couple of months, but it felt like a tiny price to pay to be out in the beautiful weather breathing in the clean air and living life.
The return of sporting events also trickled down to the younger athletes.
Seven-year-old Mason Ramirez plays baseball for Texas Canes. His team started play in Oklahoma and Alabama.
“We were so ready to get back to baseball and to watch him play again,” Mason’s mother Katie Ramirez said. “Baseball is a big part of our lives. Spring and summer are the best times for ball. We sure did miss spending our weekends at a field.”
One thing sports might see this summer - the lack of senior citizens.
People 65 years and older are at higher risk of COVID-19.
“No concerns whatsoever for myself or kids. Neither the kids or I are part of the vulnerable population,” White said. “I will be respectful of any elderly that come to games as not to get too close or risk endangering them.
“I’m disappointed I won’t be having my parents out to watch this summer until there’s a concrete solution to the virus.”
Laci Earixson’s return to soccer was a matter of mental health.
The Nolan Catholic rising senior was last season’s Star-Telegram player of the year after scoring 38 goals and leading the Vikings to the state final.
Club soccer, which was originally canceled in May, is slowing making its way back.
Earixson played in an exhibition between college and high school stars on June 20 in Fort Worth.
“It’s been tough because soccer is what she’s done her whole life. Teammates and coaches are her family and not being around them has been very difficult. She needed to be with her soccer family,” Kim said. “Being able to go back to soccer has brought the smile and excitement back. I know our coaches will do what’s best for the girls and their health.
“It was so great to be able to watch her do what she loves. It makes us happy and excited to be back.”
A new normal?
Outdoor sports, such as baseball, softball and even beach volleyball, continue to move forward.
But what about indoor games?
Most AAU basketball tournaments started back up during the weekend of June 20, including in Frisco and Mansfield.
The scene, however, looks different.
According to one parent of a basketball player, bleachers weren’t used in their games. Parents had to bring their own chairs and each team was allowed to have 20 spectators.
And fans had to arrive to the gym 15 minutes before tip-off. Anyone late would be turned away.
“With the new restrictions, things are definitely not how they use to be, but that was expected,” said Brock rising senior Torrye Tyler, who was district MVP last season. “Having the opportunity to play with my teammates and compete, and being back on the court is something I’ve missed so much.
“I’m just happy I can have some of my family in the stands cheering me on again.”
Joshua rising senior Tyler Stone said that his team was given hand sanitizer during timeouts.
The gym unpacked with fans is a weird feeling.
“And it’s weird that all the fans have to sit away from each other and in their own chairs,” Stone said. “But I wasn’t nervous about returning. It feels good to be back on the court after three months.”
Lake Dallas rising junior Bailey Broughton played in her first game in San Antonio on June 21.
She said waivers had to be signed and temperature checks were taken.
“Going into the tournament, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but was so excited to get the chance to play again,” said Broughton, who plays for Cy Fair Elite. “For awhile there, I wasn’t sure if there was going to be a summer season.”
Another change is college coaches not being there, such as the case with all the other sports.
“It was a smooth process, but definitely different and it will be from now on,” Broughton said. “I know this is the new normal, but with all the changes, I’m just happy to be back on the court playing the game I love.”
This story was originally published June 26, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
