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La Conner High spring sports teams launched their 2021 campaign earlier than usual with practices starting Monday afternoon.

Even so, they have some catching up to do.

After all, the 2020 season was entirely wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic. The school’s softball and baseball teams managed one scrimmage together in mid-March before campuses were closed statewide in response to the virus crisis.

In years past, the first day of full spring workouts would have coincided with completion of the state Hardwood Classic, held the first week of March, at the Spokane Arena.

This year the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, which governs high school sports in the state, developed modified season schedules from February to June. That plan, announced in early January, calls for three shortened seasons –with the various leagues in the state free to schedule seasons that best fit their communities.

The Northwest 2B/1B League, of which La Conner is a member, opted to start with spring sports, noting they are outside activities and thus at lower risk for spreading COVID-19.

Other leagues and districts in Washington state, many of them comprised of larger enrollment schools, have chosen to kick off with traditional fall sports.

Nevertheless, La Conner coaches and players were more than eager to jump-start their spring sports slate barely a week after the town was blanketed in a foot of snow and on a day in which midday showers and gusty winds forced the baseball and softball teams indoors.

Perhaps no team was more enthused to get going than the baseball group. La Conner, which has a long tradition of deep playoff runs under coaches Jeremiah LeSourd and Andy Otis, has not fielded a team since 2018. In 2019, low numbers scuttled the season. Last year it was the pandemic.

“We had 20 players last season,” Otis said, “but then COVID-19 hit.”

The brief 2021 baseball season wraps up April 3.

“There are still a lot of questions,” said LeSourd, referring to game schedules, “but it’s very important that we play. We haven’t played in three years.”

La Conner softball players gathered in Landy James Gym, where head coach Loran James used the inside setting to work on footwork and baserunning techniques.

The La Conner track teams hit the Whittaker Field oval after a heavy downpour.

“It’s great to have the kids out here,” said assistant coach Amanda Voorhees. “The kids are learning and at least right now it’s not dumping rain on us.”

The La Conner teams are practicing pandemic safety protocols as well as sports skills, the coaches stressed. Masking and social distancing are observed.

Still, even masks cannot hide the enthusiasm coaches and players alike have to be back in the game.