College News: Highly Anticipated Tracy Beard College Classic in Texas Cancelled Due to Weather

If it’s not COVID-19 forcing teams to miss games–as Cal Poly’s team is dealing with right now–it’s the crazy, unprecedented weather that has hit much of the nation this week including Texas.

On Wednesday, the much anticipated Tracy Beard College Classic, one of the top college softball tournaments in Week 2 of the 2021 season, was cancelled due to inclement weather.

Specifically, there was little chance of getting the fields ready after the Dallas area was hit by a half of foot of snow and brutally cold temperatures.

The field of eight was set to include Texas, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Lamar, South Dakota State, Tarleton State, Texas A&M Corpus Christi and host school North Texas.

The news was announced on social media:

Due to inclement weather; the NTFCA in conjunction with the City of Frisco have cancelled the 2021 Tracy Beard College Classic. Ticket refunds will appear to original payment methods within 5-7 days. No action is required. We look forward to hosting this event next year!

— NTFCA (@NTFCA) February 17, 2021

… followed by host North Texas issuing the following on Wednesday:

Tracy Beard College Classic Canceled

FRISCO – Due to current weather conditions and future forecasts within the North Texas region, the inaugural Tracy Beard College Classic scheduled for this weekend has been canceled.

The decision was made with considerations for each programs’ travel safety as well as field conditions from the weather that has been sweeping through the State since Sunday night.

North Texas was set to be joined by Texas, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Lamar, South Dakota State, Tarleton State and Texas A&M – Corpus Christi at Clyde Warren Park in Frisco. The Mean Green will be looking for other avenues of competition in the coming days, the programs’ next scheduled game is Tuesday, February 23 when they host Abilene Christian for the 2021 home opener.

The Univ. of Texas also issued a statement:

No. 7 Softball’s Tracy Beard Classic weekend trip cancelled by weather

AUSTIN, Texas – The continuing wintry weather situation in Texas has claimed yet another softball weekend as the Longhorns scheduled trip to the Tracy Beard Classic (Feb. 19-20) in Frisco, Texas, has been cancelled due to a combination of current & future weather forecasts, field conditions and team travel safety considerations.

The cancellation was particularly disappointing to many local products from North Texas schools who looked forward to playing close to where they graduated.

Here’s a list of some of those who would have been “happy for the home return” and the colleges they play on:

Texas: Shannon Woods (16, FW Brewer)

Oklahoma State: Mattie Boyd (’18, Sachse) & Reagan Wright (’16, Mansfield Legacy)

Kansas: Savanna DesRochers (’20, Forney), Brittany Jackson (’17, Mansfield Lakeridge), Kaitlyn Gee (’20, Southlake), Madison Hirsch (’19, The Colony)

North Texas: Maia Wark (’20, Frisco Reedy), Meagan Youngman (’19, Mesquite Horn), Ashlyn Walker (’20, Eaton), Jaden Middlebrook (’20, Eaton), Tuesday Dermargosian, Kalei Christensen (’20, McKinney HS), Kourtney Wiilliams (’16, Keller), Tarah Hilton, Saleen Donohoe (’19, Duncanville),

Tarleton State: Lexi Burchfield (Flower Mound), Morgan Medford (’19, Denton Guyer), Kallie Erwin (LD Bell), Tristan Bridges (Denton Guyer), Leah Taylor (’20, Lovejoy), Hope David (Waxahachie), Maddie Goin (Krum), Georgia Capell (Midlothian), Miranda Pruitt (Joshua), Destiny Crompley (Little Elm), Bailee Riggs (Keller Central), Eva Myers (Denton Guyer)

Lamar: Coaches Amy Hooks (North Mesquite) and Tara McKenney (Red Oak)

As explained on the official event website, the namesake of the event which will take place in 2022 was a coach in the game.

Tracy Beard was a Dallas Firefighter and long time FP (fastpitch) Coach. And friend to many. Tracy was a leader who made the people around him better. He inspired others to be the best they can be in all facets of life…

“Tracy helped countless young people learn these important lessons and he helped put them on a path to a successful life. Like most of us, Tracy loved fastpitch softball. He coached for many years and was taken from us too early by ALS.”

“The Tracy Beard Scholarship was awarded in 2015. It is awarded to applicants who are college bound and played softball in HS. Each of these winners demonstrates leadership, perseverance and the ability to overcome barriers to achieve their goals.”