T-L Photo/SETH STASKEY SHADYSIDE SOPHOMORE Korey Beckett throws a pitch during a scrimmage at John Marshall on Thursday. The status of baseball, softball and track seasons, moving forward, remains unknown because of the COVID-19 pandemic that has shuttered basically the entire sports world, including the OHSAA’s winter sports state championships.

COLUMBUS — Ohio High School sports are in a holding pattern.

Just a little more than an hour after OHSAA Executive Director Jerry Snodgrass announced the Ohio State Basketball and Wrestling Tournaments as well as the Ice Hockey Championships were postponed, Governor Mike DeWine announced that all K-12 schools would be closed for upwards of three weeks, beginning at the end of the school day on Monday as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic intensifies.

Though DeWine didn’t mention in his news conference, or on his Twitter account, anything about extra curricular activities, immediately the thoughts were running through coaches, athletes and fans minds about the status of spring sports, which are scheduled to begin on March 28 in Ohio.

Teams were on the fields and tracks Thursday preparing as if there would be a season, obviously. However, with the governor’s school closure directive not set to end until Friday, April 3, there’s a clear state of flux.

“We have to consider all options (as it pertains to spring sports),” Snodgrass said during a phone interview with The Times Leader Thursday night. “There are a lot of things on the table, but nothing is definite.”

Not all area schools had finalized, or shared, their plans as to whether or not their spring sports teams could continue to practice and eventually play during the three-week “extended spring break.”

As of early Friday morning, superintendents for Bridgeport, Buckeye Local, Martins Ferry, Union Local and Switzerland of Ohio school districts had said their respective teams would be shutdown no later than Monday when the school day ends.

Others were hoping for more guidance from the state before formally making their decisions.

Snodgrass and the OHSAA staff have been meeting already about the spring sports calendar. The state track meet and softball tournament are slated for June 4-6, while the baseball tournament goes a week later.

Quite simply, he said there are too many “what ifs” to make any kind of rushes to judgement on the status of the 2020 spring season.

“We’re going to really have to take a look at it, but we’ve been dealing with so much crisis at hand (with the winter sports) that we’ve not really been able to address it yet what we’re going to specifically do for spring sports,” Snodgrass said. “I do know the schools are, have and will reach out to us for guidance.”

Obviously, with the NCAA canceling its spring sports championships, including the College World Series and Women’s College World Series, many questions surrounding the preps intensified.

“We’re emotional and we care about the sports, athletes, fans and schools, but this is bigger than that,” Snodgrass said. “It’s more than people getting sick. It’s trying to stop the spread. We have to do this. It’s a national issue and everyone has to do their part.”

LOCAL NOTES

THE OVAC All-Star Basketball Game has been postponed. According to game director J.R. Battista, it will be tentatively played on April 19 at OUE with the girls game tipping at 2 p.m. and the boys following. The media night for the event and the banquet, which precedes the game, have been canceled.

THE DISTRICT 12 All-Star Game, which was scheduled for April 3 at Buckeye Trail High School, has also been postponed. According to District 12 Director Mark Romick, the game will be played at Trail on Friday, April 17.

THE OHIO North-South Football Game, which was scheduled for April 25 at Massillon’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, was slated to feature four area players, including Dasyn Hores (Martins Ferry), Ja’Von Lyons (St. Clairsville), Cale McAfee (Harrison Central) and Garren Swickhard (Indian Creek).

THE NEW Balance Indoor National Track Meet in New York City was canceled as well. Weir High senior sprinter Sebastian Spencer had qualified to run in that meet.