The University Interscholastic League decided Wednesday that the first round of the state softball playoffs is to be completed by May 12 after suspending all play because of the swine flu scare. Based on Texas Education Agency and Department of State Health Services recommendations that all schools across the state of Texas reopen, the UIL rescinded its suspension of all interscholastic competitions and said teams could resume play last Thursday.
"The UIL has made every attempt at rescheduling all events to promote the best possible scenario for competition," said UIL Executive Director Dr. Charles Breithaupt. "By allowing interscholastic competitions to resume on May 7, it will provide those student-athletes an opportunity to compete in a more comparable manner to the original schedule."
Because of the magnitude and scope of the regional track meets and the academic state meet, there is no change to the tentative schedules of those events released last week.
However, the change does affect softball, which must now have its first-round playoff game complete by Tuesday, rather than returning to the field on Monday as previously announced. Therefore, two of Wise County's three playoff qualifiers rescheduled their Tuesday games for this weekend.
Northwest faced Coppell Friday night in Lake Dallas in a Class 5A showdown, while Chico was set to take on Ponder at 5 p.m. Saturday at Boswell High School in Saginaw in a Class 2A clash.
Alvord did not change its first-round game against Aubrey, and they will hit the field at 6 p.m. Monday at Texas Woman's University in Denton. Bridgeport has a bye in the opening week and will face West next weekend.
Below are the new playoff schedules for softball and the format to be used.
Bi-district: May 12 (1 game or 2 out of 3)
Area: May 16 (1 game or 2 out of 3) Regional quarterfinal: May 19 (1 game only) Regional semifinal: May 23 (1 game or 2 out of 3) Regional final: May 30 (1 game or 2 out of 3) State tournament: June 4-6
