The Minnesota State High School League announced the cancelation of the spring sports season Thursday, wiping out the 2020 high school softball season across the state in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As a parent of a high school senior, I understand the tremendous impact of this pandemic,” MSHSL Board President Bonnie Spohn Schmaltz of Eden Valley-Watkins said. “As a speech coach, team members that I have coached since seventh grade won’t see their final season culminating with the opportunity at the state tournament, including my daughter. Knowing these costs, I’m proud of the sacrifices competitors and coaches throughout the state are making to keep others safe.”
The MSHSL board also reduced the seven-day no-contact coaching period during July to three days, July 3-5. The summer coaching waiver period was also extended a week to Aug. 7.
What this means for the summer softball season remains to be seen.
USA Softball provided an update April 21 where it said any decision on the 2020 National Championships will be made June 1.
USSSA suspended the sanctioning of events on March 18 and extended the season through Aug. 31, 2020 should there be a season.
Minnesota Softball is following orders from Gov. Tim Walz and is shut down through May 4. There will be one week set aside for tryouts and team formations if the stay-at-home order is lifted and softball is permitted to be played.