Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

There were plenty of happy coaches and players in Iowa on Wednesday as word made its way around the state that the summer sports season was going to happen.

Few households were more excited than they were at the Lapel home.

Together Andy and Chandran Lapel account for all the head coaches of summer sports teams at West Branch.

Andy will enter his second season leading the West Branch baseball program when practice begins on June 1.

Chandran is in her second year as the head softball coach.

As COVID-19 put the summer sports season in jeopardy there were some anxious moments at the Lapel home over the past several months.

Wednesday offered a moment, albeit a brief moment, of excitement and relief.  

“I jumped up and gave my wife a big hug and a kiss,” Andy Lapel said of his reaction of hearing the baseball season would be played. “Then I said, ‘It’s time to get to work’.”

Governor Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday morning she was giving the go-ahead for spring sports to take place.

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union and the Iowa High School Athletic Association released a joint statement in the afternoon approving of the schedule and guidance released by the governor with the guidance of the Iowa Department of Education.  

“I actually didn’t see it until 15 or 20 minutes after it was released but we were both pretty jacked up about it,” Lapel said. “I was thinking it was probably 50/50 but we were gearing up like we were having a season.”

Spring sports never got started in Iowa.

The spring sports season was initially suspended and ultimately cancelled last month over concerns of the pandemic.

Many feared the summer sports season was in jeopardy as well.

For some coaches and athletes Wednesday’s announcement was a pleasant surprise.

“I’m over the moon,” City High softball coach Jeff Koenig said. “It’s been the best day I’ve had in at least two months.”

According to the Iowa Department of Education team-organized practices for baseball and softball can begin on June 1. “unless circumstances dictate a change in date.” Games may begin in both sports June 15.

In Wednesday’s release the Department of Education announced a long list of mitigation efforts required to “help ensure player, coach and spectator safety.”

Among those efforts are using dugouts only for games, players and coaches checking temperatures before attending practices or games, sanitizing equipment before practices and eliminating the spitting of sunflower seed shells.

Fans will be allowed at games but are encouraged to bring their own chairs or stand and to practice social distancing.

No concession stands will be permitted.

“It was a big hoot and a holler in the house right away when I heard the news, I was amped up and then my mind immediately went to how are we going to do this?” Koenig said. “How are we going to run a practice, what are we doing about our field, how is this all going to look? I celebrated for an hour and then I was on the phone trying to figure this all out.”

Both West Branch programs are coming off their best seasons in recent history.

The West Branch baseball team returns four of its top five hitters and its top two pitchers from a team that went 20-8 and advanced to the Class 2A state tournament last season.

Seniors Matt Paulsen, Trey Eagle and Pete Espensen anchor a West Branch team on the rise.

The West Branch softball team returns nearly intact after an 18-18 season in which it reached the regional semifinal.

“We have six or seven seniors coming back but my wife and I were talking and she has her entire team coming back,” Lapel said. “She is obviously excited about what she has coming back and for us to have six or seven guys that played major innings for us we are going into this year we some confidence.”

Koenig had just as many reasons to be excited.

City High is considered among the top state title contenders in Class 5A after going 36-8 and finishing third at the state tournament last season.

All-stater juniors Ayana Lindsey and Carey Koenig headline a list of returning starters that includes the top six hitters and all the pitchers from a year ago.

“The group of girls that we have right now is as talented as I have seen on a team and I know what they are capable of,” Koenig said. “Of course we always want to play but this year we have the added incentive of what can this team do. This team is capable of some pretty special things.”

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by becoming a member.