The Southeastern Community College softball team was off to a great start to the 2020 season, having won three of its first four games.
Just as the Blackhawks' confidence was growing and the team was set to embark on its annual spring trip to Florida, the plug was pulled on the season.
SCC canceled the trip to Florida because of the COVID-19 pandemic and shortly thereafter the NJCAA put the kibosh on the rest of the season, canceling all spring sports.
It was a stunning blow for the Blackhawks, who were anticipating a big season, but now are left to finish their classes online and wonder what might have been.
"It's almost like we are living in a dream," SCC head coach Melissa Flores said. "We were going so hard at it since August and then two days before we were scheduled to leave for Florida for our spring break trip everything happened. Then two weeks later our season is over and the kids are taking their classes online and we're not together with the team anymore. It's like everything just stopped all of a sudden."
SCC dropped its season opener, then won three straight games against State Fair at The Turf.
The Blackhawks were ready to head south for their annual spring break trip, where they were to play 10 games in five days, including games against Iowa Central. It is a trip where Flores is able to better judge her team, playing outdoors against teams from the South who have been playing for over a month.
In the matter of a few short days, the entire season unravelled.
"March 13 was the last day of classes before spring break and the school would be closed the following week for spring break. Then the college canceled the spring break trip and we were deciding whether to keep the players here or send them home for the break," Flores said. "We told them to go home ad be with their families and come back later in the week to get ready for the rest of the season. They decided to suspend the season until April 3, but the following Monday the NJCAA canceled all spring sports. I think they made a good decision so the students could go do what they needed to do."
Flores said the players came back to move their stuff back home ad have been working on classes online since. She and assistant coach Larry Heath try to stay in contact with the student-athletes via cellphone and social media as best they can.
"It's been mentally tough," Flores said. "We have been working remotely from home trying to stay in touch with our student-athletes and the college. We have teamed up with the rest of the college and are trying to promote the student-athletes through what they are doing at this time."
SCC had just two sophomores and have 14 freshmen who will return next year for their first season of eligibility. Flores said she is still working hard on recruiting players for next season, although that has been made more difficult with social distancing.
"We can't bring anybody on campus, so we are trying to educate them about our school, our facilities and what we have to offer here at SCC," Flores said. "A lot of these student-athletes and their families spent their entire lives traveling to take their kids to games and now everything is at a complete standstill. Everybody is eager to get going."
Flores is trying to maximize her time and work ahead to next year while making sure this year's group of student-athletes stay engaged and focused on their schoolwork.
"Right now I am working on our fall and spring schedules for next year," Flores said. "I have faith and hope that we will get through this and eventually everyone will be back on campus."
