The Top 15 Softball Stories of 2020… & 10 More That Were Considered

Happy New Year, everyone!

Whew! We survived 2020 and pray that 2021 will be much, much better than what we just experienced.

There is optimism that life will return somewhat to normal with the COVID-19 vaccine being distributed, but many are predicting with record-setting Coronavirus cases (and deaths) globally, it will get worse before it gets better. We certainly hope not.

Everyone has been impacted in some way–early on I didn’t know anyone who had COVID; now, I have had family get it, know friends who have lost loved ones from the virus and know others–work and personal contacts–who are in the hospital because of the pandemic.

In softball, we saw the Women’s College World Series, PGF Nationals, the spring high school season and the NPF get cancelled with the Tokyo Olympics getting pushed back into 2021. Yet, somehow, despite “quarantines,” “masks” and “social distancing,” club continued on throughout the summer in places, the Florida Gulf Coast League and Athletes Unlimited had successful first-year seasons and high school and club ball picked up in the fall.

Hopefully, action on the field will continue although we’re hearing it may be later in the spring before things get back to “normal.” Whatever the new “normal” is.

I’ve had many ask throughout the last six months how our business at Extra Inning Softball has been doing. Like 2019, it was a record-setting year in that we increased our metrics across the board: total number of subscribers, number of articles published and revenues, which were stronger than ever before. Why? I’ve had many in the softball world express gratitude that we kept them dialed into what was happening in softball, if only to tell stories and to be a lifeline to the sport.

We posted well over 1,000 stories in 2020 (an average of 3-4 per day) which gave us a lot to go through when looking for those Stories of the Year we felt were most impactful. Not surprisingly, COVID dominated our coverage (more than 350 articles) but there were also the usual tragedies and triumphs, controversies and great accomplishments, amazing plays on the field and inspiring people off it.

We also have some AMAZING things planned for 2021; projects and new ideas never done before in softball that we know you’ll be interested in!

Below you’ll find our complete list of the Top 15 Softball Stories of 2020 as well as 10 others we felt were in the running too. It will be interesting to see next year at this time what will have transpired.

Finally, on behalf of our entire staff, I’d like to wish everyone a happy and successful 2021… and, hopefully soon, we’ll see you on the fields!

— Brentt Eads, President/Executive Editor of Extra Inning Softball

*****

Top 15 Softball Stories of 2020

Clink on links to read…

• #15… NCAA Allows College Athletes to Be Compensated for “Their Name, Image & Likeness”
• #14… The Emotional Tribute for Texas Tech Signee Jaycee Hamlin
• #13… Two USC Union College Teammates Killed in Car Accident by Drunk Driver
• #12… USA Stand Beside Her Tour… Great Start for Team USA’s Barnstorming Event
• #11… The Scrap Yard Dawgs Tweet Controversy & the Quick Dissolution of the Pro Team
• #10… Maggie Bowle’s Softball Career Was Short… but Her Legacy Lives On
• #9… The Explosive Growth & Impact of AthletesGoLive
• #8… How Softball Recruiting Morphed in the Year of the Coronavirus Pandemic
• #7… Athletes Unlimited’s New Pro Model
• #6… The Florida Gulf Coast League – A Big Success in Season #1
• #5… The Alliance Fastpitch Creation Adds New Dynamic to Travel Ball
• #4… PGF & Perfect Game Partner to Create “PG Softball”
• #3… NCAA Grants Extra Year of Eligibility
• #2… The 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games Postponed to 2021
• #1… COVID-19 Devastates the World (& Softball Feels It Too)

10 Other Stories Considered

• NFL Coach Ron Rivera & Wife Stephanie Make “Impactful Gift” to Cal Bears Softball
• Ryenne Elbert Walker Doesn’t Let 29 Eye Surgeries Slow Her Down
• Savanna Luther Helps Her Father Fight Cancer
• UCLA Finishes 2020 #1 in COVID-Shortened Season
• Lakewood Ranch Loses Chance for Florida High School Title, but Finishes #1 in Nation
• Two Top Texas Programs Merge as Bombers Fastpitch Adds Aces Express Teams
• High Schooler Jo’Viannai “Jo” Smith Dies from Stress Issues Related to COVID-19
• Passing of Don Porter, a Key Figure in Getting Softball into Olympics
• Hiring of SEC Coach Jamie Trachsel Announced in Wikipedia
• Flagler College Player Anna Dumovich Fights Cancer with Positivity

Top 15 Softball Stories Archives

• Click Here to see the Top 15 Stories of 2019
• Click Here to see the Top 15 Stories of 2018

To share your comments, insights or thoughts, email: [email protected].