Prep Sports

The coronavirus pandemic has nearly shut down the entire world and it’s no different for Arizona schools and their sports programs as Gov. Doug Ducey canceled all school-related operations for the rest of the year.

At 71 years old, Arizona Coaches Hall of Famer Ted Blake continues to be active and is currently an assistant baseball coach at Chino Valley High School.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced on Friday that school will remained closed an additional two weeks until April 10 amid coronavirus concerns. The Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) will abide by that directive and suspended all athletic operations until further notice.

After Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey issued a decision on Sunday to shut down all schools statewide for two weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) followed up on Monday by putting athletics on hold for two weeks as well.

In a joint effort, Prescott Unified School District superintendent Joe Howard and Humboldt Unified School District superintendent Dan Streeter announced on Saturday that both districts will suspend all school activates, including athletics, for the next two weeks due the coronavirus pandemic.

With the NBA and NHL suspending their seasons, MLB delaying its Opening Day by 2 weeks and the NCAA completely cancelling their men’s and women’s basketball tournaments due to the coronavirus pandemic, the sports world is in pause mode.

Following suit with many professional, collegiate and amateur leagues across the world, Little League International issued a statement Thursday asking its 6,500 programs in 84 countries to temporarily suspend league activities due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Bradshaw Mountain softball emerged with a respectable 4-2 record after competing in the Mohave-hosted Tournament of Champions, which lasted from Thursday to Saturday.

Since dropping its first two games of the season at the Wayne Decombs Pre-Season West Side Invitational, Bradshaw Mountain baseball has went on a tear. The Bears strung together their fifth straight win by swiftly defeating Deer Valley 11-1 in a freedom game on Friday.

It took a couple innings for Prescott softball to get going, but pitcher Makayla Reyes held on strong as the Badgers’ bats eventually found a groove to top Shadow Mountain 7-0 on Thursday.

Prescott boys tennis takes care of business to defeat Shadow Mountain 8-1 for first win of season on Thursday.

Sophia Fanchin of Prescott softball joins us for our Courier Athlete Q&A!

In a four-way match against Wickenburg, Sedona Red Rock and Williams at Antelope Hills Golf Course on Wednesday, Chino Valley golf opened its season with a 196, which is the best score the team has carded under nine-year coach Jerry Behm.

Prescott came out a little shaky in their home opener on Tuesday, even falling behind early to a historically substandard Tempe team. However, the Badgers’ bats caught fire in the middle innings and the rest was history as they routed the Buffaloes 12-1 in five innings.

Josh Baille of the Prescott Pirates Swim Team takes fifth place at the Senior State Championship Meet on Sunday.

The “Defenders of the Cave II” kickboxing tournament will held at Little Dealer Little Prices in Prescott Valley on Saturday, March 14.

In the past few seasons, Prescott boys volleyball has emerged as a state playoff regular, and is coming off one of its better seasons. It will be interesting to see how the Badgers build off that success this year under new head coach Courtney Adams.

Wade Krug, Chino Valley High School’s former head football coach, said he’s spent more than three decades in the world of football, having started when he was in sixth grade.

The Prescott tennis teams split their season opener against Casteel on Saturday as the girls won 7-2 while the boys fell short 5-4.

Finishing only 10 points behind eventual state champion Snowflake a season ago, the Prescott girls track and field team knew if they worked hard in the offseason, 2020 would bring another chance at glory.

Prescott girls tennis had no seniors on its roster when it made its tremendous run to the state semifinals last year. They were ultimately eliminated by Catalina Foothills but now, the Badgers seem to have a lethal mixture of young talent and experience to contend for a state title.

Much like how the kids would say, it’s been a minute since Prescott boys tennis qualified for state — since 2015 to be exact. The Badgers have hit a lull recently but 14-year head coach Sterling Fetty said the team is experienced enough to turn the ship around.

Heidi Madsen of Prescott girls tennis joins us for our Courier Athlete Q&A!

Having fallen on hard times, it’s been a tough stretch for the Prescott softball program in the past two seasons.

With the Chino Valley High School softball team heading into their season opener against the Kingman High School Bulldogs in the Wrangler Softball Classic 2020 tournament at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 28, Coach Matt Dunn said this year’s team is a young one.