Nothing will replace what was lost for high school athletes across Kansas this spring when COVID-19 stole their 2020 season.
Especially for the elderly, it was devastating. The cancellation robbed them of their final chance to pursue a state championship that either eluded them during their careers or one they wanted to relive.
And in many cases, they ended their sports careers prematurely.
If the traditional end-of-season talks were difficult for coaches to have with their players, the 2020 spring season update was downright painful and heartbreaking. Especially not getting personal with their players, being there to support them and give them a shoulder to cry on.
“We weren't allowed to have physical contact during that time, so I had to let them know via text,” Topeka West softball coach Lori Zook said. “It was difficult, but maybe easier than doing it face-to-face. It saved them from seeing my tears and me from seeing theirs. But it was incredibly difficult.”
Zook was far from alone.
“It was terrible how it all ended,” Hayden softball coach Carvel Reynoldson said. “Because of that, we had no season, no dinner at all. I haven't seen it all since it all ended.”
For some of the state's softball teams, an opportunity presented itself to get one last shot at the diamond as a team. Based in the Kansas City metro area, Midwest Sports Productions put together “One Last Game” — a 32-team meeting Wednesday, allowing hundreds of high school softball players in Kansas one more game against their preseason teammates.
Topeka West will face Miege while Hayden will face Holton, both games will be played at 11:45 am. on Wednesday at the Blue Valley Sports Complex. Area teams Royal Valley, McLouth and Tonganoxie will also be in action with Royal Valley facing McLouth and Tonganoxie taking on Fort Scott, also at 11:45 a.m.
The matches will be seven-game competitions and will be followed by a recognition dinner for the senior players competing.
“We know this whole situation wasn't fair, and when we saw how many seniors wouldn't be able to make these last memories, we knew we had to do something,” said Jeremy McDowell, CEO and founder of MSP. a press release. “We're pulling out all the stops to make sure these players get a chance to say goodbye to the sport they love as well as the teammates they've been with throughout high school.”
Zook said she first saw the announcement of the game on MSP's Twitter account and then again in an e-mail sent to summer coaches. At the time, she wasn't quite sure what to make of it, having resigned as West's softball coach earlier this summer.
But then she learned from her seniors.
“I put it to the side because I stepped down from coaching a few weeks ago and I didn't know if it was my place to do it or not,” he said. “But three or four of the girls contacted me to see it and said, 'Hey, did you see that?' Can we do it?' I said, “Sure, let's do it.”
Reynoldson and Royal Valley coach Samantha Swank also said their players motivated their participation in the game.
“I got a text message from a parent of a senior who thought it would be fun for the girls to be together one more time and I thought it was a great idea,” Reynoldson said. “Three of our seniors were really excited about it and that made me excited about it.”
Swank, who was an assistant in the Panther program before taking over as head coach this summer, said one of her nine seniors, Abbigail Harding, reached out to her about competing in the game.
“He e-mailed me last Tuesday, so it all happened very quickly,” Swank said. “I contacted MSP and got our name and they had space.”
Swank said all nine of her seniors planned to play in the game, while Zook said five of her six could make it with the other out after having her wisdom teeth out earlier this week. Reynoldson said three of his five seniors were playing.
For everyone, the game represents more than just a softball game. It's another chance to play with teammates who were last seen in practice before spring break and never returned to the diamond. It is also a sense of closure that could not be realized.
“We had a really good team with some newcomers who were good players,” Reynoldson said. “It was so disappointing when that got cancelled, we just missed all the practices and meetings and being together. It would be awesome if we had the chance to have a great year and try to win it all, but not being together was the hardest part.”
Facing Holton, which had seven seniors on its roster, the game is somewhat of a clash of two teams that could be chasing the Class 4A state title this year. Holton finished third in the Class 3A state tournament last year and returns all but one starter, while Hayden returns most of last year's team that just missed the state berth.
Likewise, Royal Valley had high hopes for the 2020 season, returning nine starters.
“We had a really good shot this year and it was sad to see that opportunity go away for them,” Swank said. “I'm glad they have this opportunity to have one more game, which for some of them might be the last softball game they ever play. Just to play together again, you have a lot of them who have played together for a long time, so one last chance will be fun.”
Zook, who said West was on the waiting list initially before taking a position, agreed.
“I think it's going to be about going out, playing the game and having a good time being together again,” he said. “Once we get there, the competitive juices will be fired, but for the most part, it's about having fun and playing another game together.”
There will be two periods of One Last Game with eight games played at 9am. followed by another eight at 11:45. The idea was the brainchild of KC Piper senior Bella Grivat, who contacted MSP to see if something could be done.
