Franklin’s softball team made it to the state final in the spring of 2018. The Panthers nearly made it back in 2019, losing in the final game of the regional championship series.
Hopes were very high once again this spring for coach Bobby Bishop and the Panthers. They were 2-2 in mid-March, but both losses were to teams with a combined 9-0 record.
“We we lost to two really good teams,” Bishop said. “I felt like we were starting to come together. I really expected us to have another great season. I didn’t see anything short of going three or four or five rounds deep in the playoffs.”
We’ll never know how far the Panthers would’ve made it in the 2020 playoffs. The NCHSAA officially canceled all spring sports Friday following Gov. Roy Cooper’s announcement of keeping schools closed for in-person learning for the rest of the school year.
Commissioner Que Tucker issued a statement saying it was a difficult decision for the NCHSAA Board of Directors and staff.
“We empathize with the thousands of student-athletes, especially graduating seniors, coaching staffs, officials and family members affected by this decision,” Tucker said.
“We had maintained hope for a conclusion to our state basketball championships and a modified spring sports season to help return a sense of normalcy to our communities. Now, as we continue to deal with this difficult time, we must do so by applying the lessons that education-based athletics teaches us: cooperation, patience, sacrifice, responsibility, perseverance and resilience.”
Sports were halted in North Carolina on March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Schools had the option to play games that day and the next before halting operations.
The basketball state championship games were slated for March 14, which included Murphy’s girls in the 1-A game. However, those games won’t get played.
The initial timeline for halting all athletic games, practices and workouts was for three weeks. That got extended to May 18 after Cooper extended the closing of schools until mid-May.
This affects all athletes but hits seniors the hardest. This was their last chance to make memories and enjoy being with their friends and teammates.
The only sport FHS senior Haley Freeman plays is softball.
“It’s just very upsetting, all the memories that could be made,” Freeman said.
Teammate Taylor Carlton played volleyball and basketball, but
softball was by far her favorite sport. The initial news of postponing the season was devastating.
“My heart kind of broke, because softball has been everything to me,” Carlton said. “That’s the sport I’ve been waiting for all year. I was trying to get the highest and the best I’ve ever done throughout my four years.”
While this is an unprecedented scenario, FHS athletic director Blair King knows what it’s like to have a senior season taken away. He broke his neck in high school, which ended any hopes of playing Division I football.
“When I say my heart breaks for these seniors, student-athletes and all students, I truly mean that,” King said.
“Both coaches and athletes have to be hurting. I know many of these athletes on their own time spent all year training and refining their skills for that final year, and it’s just taken from them. From a guy who has been in that situation, thinking you had games ahead of you and it just stops, it’s heart wrenching. There is a feeling in your gut left there only an athlete can understand and describe.”
FHS soccer coach Dwight Long was very excited about the possibilities for his squad, which was 3-0. Long called it a tragedy, but hopes some good will emerge from this difficult time.
“I know there will be some excellent leaders come from this group as they have experienced something that my prayer is once in a lifetime,” Long said. “For all of the returning athletes, feed your hunger for the sport you love. Start training now for your next opportunity no matter how long or short the season may be. Accept nothing less than your best.”
The move to cancel sports is meant for health and safety, to hopefully prevent the spread of COVID-19 and spare lives.
FHS baseball coach Tim Hawkins said he hates it for all of the seniors – and even the younger players who are missing a year of development that they’ll never get back.
However, this pandemic has proved athletics is only a part of life.
“What we do is very important and it entertains people and gives kids an opportunity to be involved,” Hawkins said. “But at the same time, there are things that can supersede that and take that bigger priority in life, and this is one of those deals.”