Iowa to Open HS Baseball, Softball Starting June 1

Iowa governor Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday that summer athletic seasons may be conducted for high school baseball and softball following a two-month activities suspension due to COVID-19.

As reported by KNIA-KRLS Radio, the announcement approved the reopening of school facilities and the start of practices for Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union and Iowa High School Athletic Association sanctioned summer sports starting on June 1.

Per the Iowa Department of Education, first contests may occur as early as June 15, and fans will be permitted at games.

Member schools are to follow reopening guidance titled “Summer Sports” and “Use of School Facilities,” as supplied by the Iowa Department of Education, with recommendations based on conversations with the IGHSAU, the IHSAA, the Iowa Department of Public Health and the governor’s office.

“We trust that our administrators, coaches, umpires and fans will responsibly follow the guidelines in place to keep themselves and each other safe," IHSAA executive director Tom Keating said. "This is terrific news and is a step toward getting our student-athletes reconnected to the activities that mean so much to them.”

Spring sports seasons never began and were ultimately canceled on April 17 following the cancellation of in-person K-12 schooling for Iowa’s 2019-20 academic year. The original first practice dates were May 4 for softball and May 18 for baseball. The IGHSAU and IHSAA plan to issue further sport-specific guidance and FAQ lists early next week, according to KNIA-KRLS.