Spring sports at standstill in Miss-Lou

Published 10:15 pm Monday, March 16, 2020

FERRIDAY — Many high school seniors in the Miss-Lou were saddened that their seasons have been sidelined by concerns over the new coronavirus.

All across the Miss-Lou sports are being canceled or postponed due to COVID-19. The Louisiana High School Athletics Association announced on March 13 that all spring and winter sports were to be postponed until April 13.

The Delta Charter School Storm and other LHSAA spring sport teams were able to play their games on March 13-14.

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Before the baseball games began on Saturday, Mason Ozburn, head Delta Charter baseball coach, talked to the three seniors on the team.

“I think they are starting to realize how important their senior year is and how quickly it goes by,” Ozburn said. “With the epidemic postponing the season, it really hit them hard. Before the games on Saturday, I told them: ‘I hope and pray this aren’t their last games. But let’s play like it is.’ They stepped up.”

The three seniors on Delta Charter are Landon Davis, Cole McGivaran and Chandler Harrison.

The Storm won two games on Saturday. They won the first game 7-1 against LaSalle Parish. The Storm won 17-1 over Rayville High School in the second game on Saturday.

Davis pitched a complete game and struck out five batters. Davis only gave up five hits and one run.

Payten Roberts, McGivaran, Drew Brown and Davis each scored a run in the game.

With the season postponed at this point, Davis said he’s unsure about the rest of his final baseball season.

“It kind of scares me,” Davis said. “Because we never know if it’s going to be just postponed or not played at all. I don’t know if I played my last few games this weekend.”

Another senior in the Miss-Lou is also hoping the season continues.

Lion Dell Minor Jr. has had success at the plate for the Natchez High Bulldogs. This season, Minor has hit at least two home runs.

“When I heard the season was canceled by a sickness, I was devastated,” Minor said. “I would rather have the virus cancel other sports. Baseball is where I have my closest friends.”

Six seniors are on the Bulldogs’ team, Ja’kel Barnes, Kevin Frye, Kevin Jones, Jamickel Mackey, Minor and Rockel Myles.

With the spring sports season on hold, Miss-Lou baseball players are finding ways to stay in shape.

For Minor, he’s focusing on his conditioning. On Monday, Minor ran with a black parachute on his back and ran through a yellow sped and agility ladder.

“With the workouts I did on Monday, I tried to improve my speed,” Minor said. “Even though I don’t have practice or a game, I’m going to be focusing on myself. I will still be doing things to get myself better. There’s always room for improvement. You can’t let something small stop you.”

For the Storm, there are no practices scheduled at this point. But Davis and the other seniors still plan to workout together.

“We have to keep going, no matter what it takes to stay in shape,” Davis said. “We have to stay baseball ready whenever they [LHSAA] tell us we’re ready to play.”