State tournaments in a pandemic: 'It's made these kids stronger'

By John Naughton, Iowa Capital Dispatch

August 3, 2020


Fort Dodge softball coach Andi Adams looked across the diamond last week and saw players keeping their distance, fans wearing cloth masks and teams spread out across the town’s Rogers Sports Complex.

This is what playing in a state tournament during a pandemic looks like.

Iowa high school softball and baseball teams were awarded state championship trophies to end a shortened season. They played the nation’s first state tournaments since COVID-19 swept across the nation in March.

Yet Iowa, which canceled spring track, tennis, golf and soccer, allowed high school athletes to practice softball and baseball June 1 and return to competition June 15. As the only state with sanctioned summer sports, the kids played through with safety precautions for both teams and fans..

Read more: https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2020/08/03/state-tournaments-in-a-pandemic-its-made-these-kids-stronger/


Cedar Rapids Kennedy players celebrate their class 5A softball championship 5-1 win over against the Fort Dodge Dodgers at Harlan & Hazel Rogers Sports Complex Park in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Thursday, July 30, 2020. (Photo by Matthew Putney)