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closePostseason action right around the corner
Shaun Scott
This past week, the usual slew of spring sporting athletic activities slowed down to a snail’s pace.
Spring break at East Pierce County area high schools took place from March 31 to April 4, resulting in only a handful of games available on the schedule during that time frame. As a result, I spent much of my work week at my computer desk, which is a terrible place for a sports writer to be.
When I strolled into the office on April 7, I couldn’t have been happier. Spring break was finally over and the action packed athletic schedule was back to normal, giving me an opportunity to do one of the things that I love to do—watch sports.
The next month will be an exciting time in high school athletics in East Pierce County. There’s so much at stake and every game takes on a higher level of meaning and value. The majority of non-league contests have came and gone as only pivotal league games remain on the horizon. The next three to four weeks of regular season contests are of the utmost importance with regards to clinching spots in coveted postseason action. Coaches, players, parents and fans are ever inching closer to postseason play in all prep sports slated for the month of May.
Rogers Rams boys soccer coach JR Farias is pretty excited about the stretch run for his much improved team this year. Last year at this juncture of the season, the Rams sported a 2-2-1 record. This year, the Rams are close to the top of the SPSL with a 4-1-1 record.
“We have a lot of games left this season. I think our last nine games are all league games,” Farias said. “We have some big ones in the next two to three weeks.”
In sports like fastpitch and baseball, mother nature has wreaked havoc on the schedule resulting in a host of cancellations in March and early April.
Many contests that were cancelled will be made up during the final month of the season. Likely, many of these contests will be played on back-to-back days and a handful of teams may play in as many as four to five games in one week.
Fatigue will play a factor and teams with the most depth on their rosters will have a distinct advantage over their opponents.
The stakes are high in April. To be granted access to the big showdowns of May, performing well in April is a perquisite in order to see if those aspirations of advancing to the playoffs actually come to fruition.
That’s what makes high school sports so exciting this time of year. Playoff spots are on the line and the pressure is on. Like many pundits across the country say, sports are a microcosm of life. I agree wholeheartedly with that assessment. The lessons these children are learning in their specific athletic endeavors will not only help them on the field, but will help them in the game of life. Quitting is never an option.
In the next month, athletes will find out what they’re made of. The stretch run is nearly upon us!