Baseball on hold; coaches hopeful

Coaches Bruce Branch and Dustin Minor are baseball junkies, and even more importantly, they love their kids.

But their seasons have been put on hold by the COVID-19 pandemic. They're missing their favorite time of year. They're missing their players.

"Never in a million years did I think we would not be going to school and playing sports because of something like this, a pandemic," said Branch, head baseball coach at Marshall Academy. "I'm communicating with the kids (group messaging) and that helps me, too, mentally. We're staying positive."

He is encouraging his players to throw, hit (off a tee or in a batting cage) and run on their own as much as they can.

Minor, head baseball coach at Potts Camp, said it's a tough time but one that is understandable.

"I've never experienced anything like this in my lifetime," Minor said. "I've never had to just stay at home for weeks at a time. It's crazy. But I understand it.

"Most of all, I hate it for the kids. It's hard for them to understand this."

He, too, is staying in touch with his players as much as possible via text messaging.

Both Branch and Minor are hopeful that at some point they will be able to finish at least a portion of their seasons.

"The MAIS seems to be committed to finishing their spring sports at some point," Branch said.

Decisions are being made on a week-by-week basis.

Just playing district games or having a district tournament leading up the playoffs is being discussed.

"I'm hopeful, and I'm more than willing to do whatever," he said. "We just hope we can get back in school and play some more baseball."

He said he anticipates if the season is allowed to go forward that teams will need at least a week to practice before playing games.

He said one possibility is playing district opponents twice rather than three times.

"That, too, would generate some home games at each school," Branch said.

His MA Patriots stood with a 3-6 record against a tough slate of opponents when their season was shut down.

"We were optimistic and positive," he said. "We had five one-run losses. We were competing until the last out. I truly believe a tougher first half of the season prepares you better for the second half (the district games and post-season)."

Three of those one-run losses came versus public schools in the Booneville Tournament.

Minor, too, remains hopeful for more games this season. Public schools are closed at least through April 17 and athletics in the MHSAA suspended until then, too.

"A shortened season is still a possibility," he said. "It doesn't sound good for us, but there's still hope. It may be district games only, and I am OK with that."

"I know as soon as they let us back, whether it's spring or summer ball, I will definitely be ready."

His Cardinals had started the season with a 6-3 record.

"We were off to a really good start, and we'd love to be able to keep it going somehow," Minor said.

Both head coaches particularly hate the suspension of the season for their seniors.

Branch has two, Darian Houston and Brayden Daughtry.

"Most importantly, I want those two guys to be able to enjoy this season to the finish," he said. "It's their senior year; they deserve that."

On a positive note about the season thus far, Houston has been offered a scholarship by Northeast Community College. "We were able to go to the campus there (in Booneville) and play in the tournament and it gave him some exposure," Branch said. "He's a very talented player ­ a diamond in the rough," Branch said. "He had a really good couple of days there."

Minor has three seniors on the Potts Camp squad ­ Bradley Nichols, Jaquives Muse and Jeremiah Scott.

"All three were playing big roles," he said. "They're an important part of our team, and we certainly want them to be able to continue their season and contribute and see how things end up."

Minor is a diehard fan of the Chicago Cubs.

"I don't miss a game on TV, even if I have to record it," he said.

Major league baseball, of course, is on hold, too.

"I watched some games on ESPN but those were replays from like three years ago," Minor said.

"All of this doesn't even feel real."