Members of Barrington High School spring sports teams received bad news late last week.

Student-athletes who had been hoping to salvage at least part of the season learned that the Rhode Island Interscholastic League had canceled the 2020 spring sports season, due to concerns about the potential spread of the coronavirus.

Boys and girls who had been working out on their own in preparation for baseball, softball, tennis, lacrosse, volleyball, track and unified basketball were left with thoughts of "what-if," and senior members of those teams were especially hard hit.

Barrington High School baseball coach Vin Scandura said his team had six seniors who would have been in the starting line-up.

"It's devastating," Coach Scandura said. "They really wanted to finish what they started last year."

The 2019 Barrington High School baseball team reached the Division II state finals, and came close to capturing the state championship. Coach Scandura said members of this year's team were hoping for another run deep into the postseason.

He added that the senior members of his team were true "baseball players." This sport was the primary athletic focus, and had been for many years. Some senior members of the team had already committed to play baseball for college teams next year.

Coach Scandura said the cancelation of the season is difficult for all members of his team, however. The Eagles' coach had planned multi-day trips for his team, including a visit to Virginia where they would tour a college and play baseball games.

The BHS coach said he had been communicating regularly with the senior captains of his team: "They were holding out hope" spring sports would not be canceled, Coach Scandura said.

The cancelation of the season also hurt players' chances to be recruited.

"This hurts all the kids," he said.

Sandy Gorham, the head coach of the BHS softball team, was also saddened by cancelation of the spring sports season. Coach Gorham, who also leads Barrington's swim and football teams, had been hoping that officials would find a way to let student-athletes play this season.

"Like all of us, I'm very disappointed for the kids but we certainly understand the reason why. Extracurriclar activities are the 'heart and soul' of a school and kids loves representing Barrington," he said. "Most student-athletes when they look back on their high school years will look back on the sports that they participated in. For those graduating seniors, there'll be a big hole for the spring season."

'It's awful'

According to a press release from the RIIL, the governor's decision to continue distance learning for the rest of the school year played the key role in canceling spring sports.

“In our original statement, we said that we would hold a spring season if we returned to school,” said Principals’ Committee on Athletics Chairman and Cranston High School East Principal Sean Kelly. “Throughout this process, we have followed the guidelines set forth by Governor Gina Raimondo, the Rhode Island Department of Health, the Rhode Island Department of Education and our superintendents. We are going to continue to do so. We are a school-based athletic program; therefore, if we do not return to school, we cannot return to sports.

“This is obviously devastating for everyone. It is devastating to all the student athletes, especially the seniors who have been waiting for their final high school season. It is devastating to all the schools. It is devastating to all of our communities. It is devastating to everyone. We do not take this decision lightly. It’s awful. There’s no other way to put it.”

Thomas A. Mezzanotte, the executive director of RIIL, said officials had remained hopeful that some part of the spring sports season could be salvaged.

"We had the best of intentions, but unfortunately were at the mercy of this deadly virus," he said. "We are dealing with a catastrophic situation, and the only way we can respond is in a way that supports the health and safety of our student-athletes and everyone involved.”

Mr. Mezzanotte added: "To our senior student-athletes, we thank you for the positive contributions you made to your teams, schools and communities. While this worldwide event has caused you to grow up faster than planned, you all have very bright futures ahead. We hope the lessons learned while participating in education-based athletics, along with the friendships and memories made, will make a lasting impression.”

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