The Madison College baseball and softball team will have to wait a year to be able to play after the recent cancellation of their respective season by the NJCAA in an effort to protect athletes and fans from the spread of COVID-19. 

“We are fully supportive of the measures that both our college and the NJCAA has taken in response to COVID-19. While they have been difficult decisions to make, they have absolutely been the right decisions,”  said Madison College Athletic Director Steve Hauser on the recent announcement of the cancellations of the spring sports seasons.

Both teams had already started their seasons. The baseball team posted a 1-3 record after a hard road series. The softball team started their season out strong, going a perfect 8-0 in the N4C Dome Jamboree. 

“I am extremely disappointed for all involved: student-athletes who have worked long and hard to prepare for the season, their parents and family members, and our coaches and staff who are all so invested in the entire process,” Hauser said. “I know how important this is, and how much this means to everyone. It’s a real empty feeling.”

Madison College’s head baseball coach Mike Davenport and softball coach Leo Kalinowski have been hard at work preparing their young teams for the season. 

“Our coaches are very disappointed as well for all involved, but they too, fully understand and support decisions that have been made in an effort to keep folks healthy and slow the spread of COVID-19. Our coaches and student-athletes are hurting right now, that’s for sure,” Hauser said.

According to Hauser, spring sports athletes will not be charged a year of eligibility. 

“Both the NCAA and the NJCAA have both ruled that baseball and softball players will not be charged with a year of athletic eligibility for this year,” he said.

“I’m sure we will all learn more specifics about those student-athletes that will transfer to 4-year colleges and universities in the near future. Right now, our student-athletes, all of us, simply need to control what we can control and not worry about the things we cannot.” 

In addition, none of the spring sports teams are allowed practice time during this time period.

“We all enjoy doing our part to put things in place so that our student-athletes and our teams can have a great experience here,” Hauser said.

“It’s heart-wrenching to know that our baseball and softball teams will not be able to compete this spring, nor will our other teams be able to practice for the remainder of the academic year. And, we realize that there are much more important things that we all need to focus on right now.”