Extra Inning Softball contributor Justin McLeod of Justin’s World of Softball shares his thoughts in this edition of his weekly “Inside Pitch” columnon how the sport of softball has bounced back extremely well after the COVID pandemic of 2020 year saw everything from high school to club to the Women’s College World Series get cancelled.
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At this time last year, travel ball programs and college coaches were wallowing in the midst of a dead period that would extend all the way to May of this year.
Even the travel ball tournaments that did take place relied almost exclusively on live streaming and college coaches spent more time in front of their computers and phones than ever before.
Some people wondered aloud if this was how things were going to go from now on.
With the success of platforms like Athletes Go Live, would live streaming take the place of in-person recruiting? What about the ever-important intangibles within a student-athlete that can’t be seen between the foul lines?
If the last two weeks are any indication, there’s no need to fear: the sport of softball is alive and well.
When the NCAA allowed full capacity attendance at the Women’s College World Series, Hall of Fame Stadium was packed to capacity. Thousands of new seats in a debuting upper deck? SOLD!
For anyone who was in California for the PGF Nationals this past week or in Oklahoma for the inaugural Alliance Fastpitch championship, any doubt that remained is gone now. Teams packed the brackets, parents filled the stands, and coaches were everywhere.
Check out this video from the huge Opening Ceremony on Monday as thousands of young players in the 14U, 12U and 10U age divisions along with their coaches and families showed up for the entertaining kick off to Week 2 of PGF:
The competition level was as good as ever, maybe even better with players digging even deeper to gut out a tough win after limited opportunities a year ago.
Even for teams that didn’t take home a trophy, the word “grateful” was tossed around with sincerity. College coaches weathered temperatures and travel, but as one coach put it: “I would rather be sweating my thumbs off than sitting at home watching TV!”
By no means will last summer’s pandemic-induced adaptations be forgotten any time soon. Recruiting classes, collegiate waivers, and the transfer portal will all be proof of that for years to come.
But as things return to normal (know on wood a second pandemic doesn’t strike), softball once again proves that the sport isn’t going anywhere but up!
— Justin McLeod, Extra Inning Softball Correspondent
