Update: March 13, 2020 – 3:43 p.m.
Thursday, March 12, the Oswego State Athletics Department canceled the remainder of all winter sports, as well as the spring sports season.
Two days before the Oswego State baseball team was expected to travel to Lexington, South Carolina, for its annual spring break trip, the Lakers canceled the eight-game tune-up. Despite the good health that head coach Scott Landers discussed earlier in the week, saying they “have 18 to 22-year olds that are healthy,” the national pandemic of COVID-19 has increased in severity on Wednesday and Thursday.
Oswego State was looking forward to growing as a team. With eight games in just six days, the Lakers were going to rely on every single player on their roster, including going deep into their bullpen. As of Thursday, the Lakers are expected to continue their season on Friday, March 27, after spring break, against SUNY Oneonta on the road. Updates will be announced through the athletic’s website, as well as through The Oswegonian when new information is made available.
Oswego State’s softball team also canceled its trip, which was supposed to start on Friday in Leesburg, Florida, against Skidmore College.
The Lakers also canceled three men’s lacrosse games, which were supposed to be played over spring break. Oswego State is expected to continue its season Wednesday, March 25, hosting Utica College.
Over the last several days, Div. I and III athletics have seen a big hit in terms of the championship or national events that were supposed to be played. The NCAA announced on Thursday that the national men’s hockey tournament would be canceled. Local colleges like Utica College, SUNY Geneseo and Hobart College all received berths in the NCAA Div. III Men’s Ice Hockey Championship but will not play. As Ben Birnell reported, the Pioneers head coach Gary Heenan was devastated.
“I’m just trying to get my head around it,” Heenan said. “It doesn’t seem right, but I get the gravity of the situation.”
Photo by Casey Stone | The Oswegonian
