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NYSPHSAA announces spring sports season is officially cancelled

Over before it even began

Dunkirk’s Peyton Ahlstrom follows through on a pitch during a game at Silver Creek in the 2019 spring sports season. Ahlstrom and the Dunkirk Marauders threw a combined no-hitter against Silver Creek that day. OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen.

Friday, the decision that many local sports fans expected was finalized, as NYSPHSAA finally announced the cancellation of the high school spring sports season. Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s decision to not have school resume in person this year made the return of spring sports impossible.

“As soon as [Gov. Cuomo] made the announcement, I texted the whole team,” said Fredonia softball coach Jesse Beers. “I told them anything I may have given them, they’ve repaid me 10 times over.”

The decision hits seniors the hardest, as their final season of high school sports ended before it even began.

“Softball is the season I look forward to every year. Of course I love basketball and soccer too, but softball season is the best season. The bonds we make riding the bus, getting wings on Wednesday, and eating orange gummy bears before games are priceless. It’s sad that I’ve been playing since I was a kid and the last year I have with all my friends and my dad is unfair and disappointing,” said Fredonia senior Kazlin Beers.

She was far from the only senior to be disappointed by the decision.

Fredonia’s Kazlin Beers prepares defensively during the 2019 Section VI championship game. Fredonia made back-to-back Section VI title game appearances. OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen.

“It feels terrible not having another year with the team. It sucks not being able to go out there and play a part of something bigger than any one person on the team,” said Dunkirk senior pitcher Peyton Ahlstrom.

Signed to play at Finger Lakes Community College next year, Ahlstrom’s baseball career is not over, but his time in Dunkirk is officially complete. He offers a unique perspective related to how this impacts the chances of playing at the next level.

“As much as I wish I could have another year to showcase how I grew over the offseason, I feel terrible for the juniors this year who lost what might be their most important year of recruitment. I know where I’m playing the next few years, but the fact they don’t is pretty scary to think about. All in all, this situation is terrible,” said Ahlstrom.

In addition to the players, coaches are impacted as well. The situation was more difficult for Coach Beers, as his daughter, Kazlin, was set to play her final year as a member of his team, after growing up playing for him for so many years.

“For me personally, it’s tougher for me than it would have been because of my daughter. I always had it in my mind that we had one more go-round, one more year of practices and games,” said Coach Beers.

“I feel for her, but also all the seniors. For them, this was the pinnacle of what they’ve accomplished. This was what they worked for, and now they won’t have it,” he added.

Many players, coaches and spectators were frustrated by the process of cancelling the season. While many states made the decision to cancel sports weeks ago, NY State athletes were forced to wait around hopeful for good news that never came.

“Honestly I think the waiting was the hardest part. Not having any closure made me have false hope we would have a season after all. I’ve done a lot of sitting around listening to the news not give the information I’ve been waiting for,” said Kazlin Beers. “The realization really hit hard today when they finally announced schools were over. Softball season and graduation were the first things that came to mind. I know we would’ve been a great team this year. I know it.”

Her father offered perspective on the situation as a whole, though acknowledged he may not view it the same way if he were in his daughter’s shoes.

“It’s disappointing obviously, but as difficult as it is right now, you’ve got to keep this in perspective,” said Coach Beers. “We can’t think about how hard it is for us, when it could be so much worse. So many people are dealing with things so much more serious than this.”

Coach Beers added that his ability to take a step back from it all is something that came over time. “I can have perspective on it now, but if I were 16 or 17, I’d be feeling like I was robbed,” he said.

Although the ending came prematurely, the journey Coach Beers and his team shared will still be remembered fondly.

“15 years from now, they will remember the music we listened to at practice. They will remember stopping at McDonald’s on the ride home,” said Coach Beers. “That’s what they’ll remember most, all of those experiences. Especially for the kids, what it’s really about is the fun they have with their friends. There’s nothing like it.”

Now that is officially over, Kazlin Beers looks back on her time playing at Fredonia as one of her fondest high school memories.

“Playing for Fredonia has been an amazing experience. Both my dad and [assistant coach Tim] Wright have such a passion for the sport that it makes playing fun. It’s always a great feeling to execute what they teach us. I wouldn’t trade them for any other coaches in the world,” she said. “The passion they have fuels me as a player. I always wanted to win not just for myself and the team, but for them. My teammates and I were always closest on the softball field because we shared that desire to win. It’s rare to find players who love the sport as much as you. And when you have nine players on the field who want to win as much as you do, it makes an unstoppable team. Playing Dunkirk and hearing your name on the radio are two feelings that can’t be replaced. It’s a bummer that I’ll never be able to experience it again.”

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