Wiley College has announced that after it’s doubleheader sweep in game one 6-5 and a 5-3 win in game two over Tougaloo College Wednesday that it was shutting down all spring sports because of the coronavirus cited in its announcement.
In accordance with public health over the virus, students will not return to campus after spring break, and classes will be held online during the semester, the schools’ presidents said in a statement.
Wiley’s president informed the student body Tuesday during weekly convocation that a possibility that all springs sports in a meeting with the board regency and the school board that the school will close down and all students will have to leave campus by March 20th, but the school will resume online courses. That became facts Wednesday.
In a Tweet on social media, Wiley athletics has announced that starting pitcher and ace of the staff “Austin Rotramel has thrown his final pitch.” The team used the game as senior day.
Some of the Wildcat players have reached out to other schools to transfer into their baseball program.
Head baseball coach Kendrick Biggs sent a statement to the RRAC head coaches “good evening coaches, this is Coach Biggs at Wiley. I wanted to let you guys know, I have been informed that I will have to forfeit the rest of my season. I am truly sorry that this will cost some of you to have off weeks. I truly had no say in the matter. I wish everyone best of luck the rest of the season.”
With the cancellation of baseball, the RRAC has stated that all games cancelled by Wiley is a forfeiture. The conference also said it would let individual schools decide whether spring sport athletes compete in their NAIA schedules.
The NAIA decided today that due to the widespread health risks posed by COVID-19, “it will limit fan attendance” and “concerned about how these extenuating circumstances will affect policies around eligibility and spring competitions.”