Whatever slim hope there was of playing spring sports this year has evaporated for Massachusetts high schools.
Governor Charlie Baker announced Tuesday that public and private schools across the state will remain closed for the rest of the school year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement effectively brings with it the cancellation of the spring sports season.
High school sports across the state had been on hold since early March, when remaining winter championships were canceled and spring sports were suspended indefinitely.
The MIAA Board of Directors had recently approved a plan for an abbreviated spring season, but the plan was contingent on schools reopening on May 4, the previous date that schools had been closed through.
With coronavirus cases spiking in the state, it was becoming clear that schools would not be able to reopen or sports be able to resume at that time. Even if the date had just been moved back, it may very well have meant the end of any hope for a spring sports season.
But with schools now officially closed for the remainder of the school year, there's no chance of sports being played. An official announcement from the MIAA is expected soon.
As understandable and unavoidable as this was, it's obviously still a major disappointment for spring athletes, especially seniors who now won't get to play their final seasons.
