Scurry County coaches react to UIL suspension

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  • Ira senior Anthony Coy (right) was greeted by his teammates after hitting a home run in a game in the Hamlin Baseball Tournament earlier this season. The Bulldogs are one of many teams around the state currently awaiting the result of the UIL suspension, which runs through May 4.
    Ira senior Anthony Coy (right) was greeted by his teammates after hitting a home run in a game in the Hamlin Baseball Tournament earlier this season. The Bulldogs are one of many teams around the state currently awaiting the result of the UIL suspension, which runs through May 4.
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A week after the University Interscholastic League’s (UIL) suspension of athletics and other events came down, coaches are adjusting to life without their teams.
The UIL suspended all events and athletics through at least May 4 as concerns over the COVID-19 virus grow in Texas. That suspension garnered mixed reactions from coaches in Scurry County.
“My initial reaction was I was glad that the whole season hadn’t been cancelled completely,” said Snyder head baseball coach Shane Stewart. “Once we saw that there was going to be a suspension of play, my first fear was that they were going to cancel the whole season. I have some optimism that there’s a chance we can get back on the field again.”
Stewart told his team to stay ready in case they get to take the field again this season
“I encouraged them to continue to prepare, not only their bodies but their minds, for the chance that we can get back on the field again,” he said. “I told them to stay connected to one another. We’re all in the same boat together. The greatest thing we talked with them about was trying to control what you can control. That is one of the hallmarks of our culture and our lockerroom. This is something we don’t have any control over, so there is no reason to be upset or mad about it. Every single day is a gift and every single game is an opportunity.”
In Ira, head baseball coach Toby Goodwin shared Stewart’s optimism on a possible return to the field.
“It was the first time in a while where I thought we were going to have a chance,” he said. “The UIL is doing everything they can and we are going to have a chance to continue our season, that was my initial thought. When the governor came out and did what he did, I figured the UIL would say, ‘well let’s just wash our hands and go to next year,’ but they didn’t. I don’t think they made a rash decision and they are hanging on to hope.”
Goodwin told his team to hold on to the hope of returning to play and to prepare as if the season was going to be finished.
“When that came out, we communicated and I told them, ‘stay safe, stay home and stay active. We have a chance,’” he said. “The right thing to do right now is stay safe and stay healthy. As good of a baseball team that we have and as good of a senior group we have, it doesn’t matter (compared) to how important your health is.”
Hermleigh’s head softball coach and athletic director, Heath Gibson, said he was concerned about the ability of 1A schools to finish spring sports in May and June.
“How are we going to fit everything in if we don’t start the season until May?” he asked. “All those kids playing all the same sports. It would be hard for them to do all those things in such a compressed amount of time. I’ve heard the commissioner talk about the season starting in May and running into June. A lot of it still has to do with when we are going to be in school and how long we will be in school. It would be tough to be working at UIL making all those decisions right now.”
Gibson said the inability to be with his team on a daily basis has made him realize what is most important to him as a coach.
“The worst part of this whole thing is not having those relationships with those kids,” he said. “We should be with our teams right now. Being forced to be away from them makes you realize that the most important thing is those relationships with those athletes. It’s just being around the kids. It has made me appreciate the time you spend with them and how much I enjoy being around them.”