THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2020 Page 11 Still hope for high school spring sports season and tourney By Greg Phipps I t’s pretty clear the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) is doing everything in its power to keep the possibility alive that there will be a spring season for high school sports. On Monday, the MIAA Board of Directors voted by a unanimous 19-0 margin to have the season start in early May. The MIAA’s decision came following Gov. Charlie Baker’s announcement last week to keep all schools in the state closed until May 4 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The MIAA approved a measure Monday to begin the season on that same day, May 4. The campaign would run till June 27 with consideration of the 28th for weather and facility reasons. The MIAA’s Tournament Management Committee (TMC) had recommended weeks ago that playoff tournaments not be held if the season’s start is extended beyond April 27. At Monday’s teleconference, the board voted 12-0-1 to set the number of regular-season games to 12 (needing eight wins to make the playoffs). Teams that don’t qualify for the postseason would be given the option to play past the 12-game regular-season allotment up to the June 27 closing date. Spring sports include baseball, softball, lacrosse, outdoor track & field and girls golf and tennis. Issues such as academic eligibility and physical exams were reviewed on Monday, with the board deciding to waive academic eligibility rules for the spring and allow individual schools to determine academic standards for competition. Any physical exams completed as of March 13 would suffice. Students still needing a physical have to have one done by May 4. Preseason practice days were also reduced from the customary 11 to seven to accommodate the shortened timespan. Regular season games would begin on May 11. The TMC is reportedly working on plans for reworking the playoff tournaments. No proposal was brought forth on Monday. At the same time, leagues and school athletic directors will work to determine spring sports schedules. The May 4 start date is contingent on the opening of schools that same day. The MIAA has expressed all along that the situation is fluid and subject to change, depending on any future mandates by the state. Main Street drug bust Reportedly, officers in the Special Criminal Investigations Unit of the Everett Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force recently searched the property at 386 Main St. and seized approximately one kilogram of fentanyl, more than one kilogram of crack cocaine and more than $20,000 in cash. In addition, one male suspect was reportedly taken into custody and is now facing several drug charges. (Photo Courtesy of the Everett Police Department) Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper Facebook.com/Advocate.news.ma
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