We are one week away from the start of baseball and softball season for Iowa High Schools. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the state the schedule for the season was pushed back from a competition start during the week of Memorial Day to a June 1st practice start with first games June 15th. The Southeast Iowa Superconference has been proactive in its approach to implementing the mandated changes from the state and also constructing other policies that focus on promoting the safety of the athletes and spectators. This week, Hillcrest Academy activities director Leanne Bender shared the approach of the conference and differences that spectators and athletes will notice about games this summer. “A decision was made by the executive council of the Southeast Iowa Superconference, which is superintendents, who felt that in order to keep the number of people down, keeping them safe and healthy, it would be best to host baseball in one location and softball in the other. So this year on the originally scheduled dates, baseball will remain at home while softball will travel. Normally we have bleachers at our baseball field, we won’t do that this year. Folks will need to bring their own seating with lawn chairs or blankets. We do have softball bleachers, but we ask that people spread apart with the six foot social distancing guideline that the state has been using. We ask that if anyone is feeling ill, or anyone in their household has been feeling ill or had a temperature, they not attend. We will also have our gate worker wear a mask to protect themselves. Our concession stand will also be closed. Media and other members of the public will not be able to enter the dugout. Because we also have to honor the six feet of social distancing between players we will also be expanding our dugouts along the fence with a chalked off area. We will also post signs featuring these rules.”

Hillcrest Academy opens the season on Monday, June 15th when they take on the Highland Huskies. The baseball game will be played at Hillcrest Academy in Kalona, the softball game will be played at Highland High School. You can hear the softball game live on AM 1380, FM 102.5 and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the Washington HyVee pregame show at 6:30 and first pitch at 7p.m.