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More sports, events being cancelled or delayed over ongoing coronavirus concerns

More sports, events being cancelled or delayed over ongoing coronavirus concerns

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Clubs, teams in limbo as pandemic shutdown continues

news@theeveningtimes.com

For weeks now, the fields at Tilden Rodgers Park, Patriot Field and the courts at the J.W. Rich Girls Club have been ghost towns.

With continuing concerns about the coronavirus pandemic and the need to practice social disrtancing putting the kibosh on organized group activities, the Marion Youth Sports Association, the Boys & Girls Club of Crittenden County and a number of other sports organizations have announced their intentions to delay, and possibly cancel, their 2020 slate of spring sports.

It’s not limited to recreational leagues. Already, the Delta Regional Volleyball Association has cancelled the remainder of the organization’s tournament schedule. Teams including the Crittenden Crushers, Metro-West 15U and Mid-South Volleyball have seen their season cut short.

The Arkansas Activities Association, which governs all high school sports, has also suspended all scheduled games, including baseball, softball, and track & field events. The AAA has officially extended an activities “dead period” through April 17, mirroring the closure of all public schools in Arkansas. Should that period be extended, it is expected the AAA will officially cancel the 2020 spring sports schedule entirely. The shutdown has already impacted the end of the 2019-2020 high school basketball season, including the 5A State Championship game between the West Memphis Blue Devils and the Jacksonville Titans.

Originally scheduled for March 14, the game, along with a handful of others, was called off, ostensibly only delayed, but looking more and more like cancelled as schools across the state remain closed indefinitely.

As Governor Asa Hutchinson and Arkansas Department of Health officials continue to stress social distancing and isolation, more and more planned sporting events are being cancelled or rescheduled to later in the year. A quick look at the calendar shows a number of events already affected, including:

• The Marion Countryside, which was to take place this Saturday, has been postponed, with plans to run the scenic ride around Crittenden County to be held at a later date.

• DBS 5K – Benefiting the Ronald McDonald House, the Delta Beta Sigma 5K was originally scheduled for Saturday, April 11, at the Crittenden County Courthouse in Marion. The event has been postponed, with a new date to be announced.

• Crittenden County Boys & Girls Club Spring Sports – The club held registrations for 2020 Sports programs, including Tee Ball, Baseball, Volleyball, Co-Ed Soccer, and Girls Softbal. Club leadership is still considering options for the season.

• The West Memphis Animal Alliance Fundraiser at the Memphis Hustle game on Monday, March 16 to support the West Memphis Animal Alliance fell by the wayside after the NBA season was suspended amid COVID-19 concerns.

• J.W. Rich Girls Club Spring Sports – Spring Volleyball is on hold for now, as the club board considers what steps to take in the wake of delays to the start of play because of the coronavirus pandemic.

• The 4th annual CASA 5K “Fun Run for CASA Kids” is still officially set for Saturday, May 2, beginning at 9 a.m., at ASU Mid-South, in West Memphis. “Change A Child’s Story” with this special event. All proceeds will benefit children in the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of the Arkansas Delta programs.

To register online, please to to www.stearns racetiming. com. For additional information, please contact Chloe Harrison or Carolyn Slaughter at (870) 702-5951. A possible postponement could come as CASA leaders monitor the ongoing developments with the pandemic.

• Memphis in May Triathlon – The 38th Annual Memphis in May Olympic Triathlon, one of the oldest continuous running triathlon events in the United States, is cancelled. Shelby County is seeing a surge in positive coronavirus cases.

• The Herbert Carter Missions Memorial Golf Tournament scheduled for April 20 at Marion Golf & Athletic Club and sponsored by Marion First Baptist Church has been postponed until the fall.

Specific details on the new schedule will be announced at a later date.

• Delta Gymnastics classes – Classes have been cancelled temporarily due to orders from the governor to close all non-essential businesses. For more information, please contact Delta Gymnastics at (870) 735-5900,

• Studio Gray Dance Clinic – All Studio Gray Dance Clinic programs at the Boys & Girls Club of Crittenden County have been postponed due to orders from the governor to avoid gatherings of 10 or more people. For more information or to register, inquire via e-mail at info@mystudiogray.com, or call (901) 303-6221.

Spring sports remain up in the air. Club leaders have asked members to keep an eye on their Facebook page for more information about plans for club activities.

Photos by Ralph Hardin

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