“I threw a whiffle ball party.” How Ceres alum Sis Bates celebrated NCAA ruling
University of Washington senior Sis Bates was in Ceres on March 30 playing a game of whiffle ball.
The NCAA Division I Council was supposed to announce if spring-sport student-athletes would get an extra year of eligibility as a result of the coronavirus outbreak that forced the cancellation of baseball, softball and other spring sports seasons.
The news hadn’t been released yet and Bates, a two-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Award winner and Ceres High alum, was antsy.
“I was looking at my phone for 30 minutes and thinking, ‘Oh my god, I am going crazy,’” Bates said Friday “So, my boyfriend, brother, and neighbor decided to play whiffle ball like when we were 10 and had so much fun. Every half-inning, I was running over to check my phone.”
Finally, the news was released that Bates and other spring sport athletes would receive another year of eligibility and Bates celebrated.
“I threw a big whiffle ball party in my front yard,” Bates said.
While the coronavirus started to spread in early March, Bates said the team didn’t really know too much about it until they returned from a March 8 trip after the Silicon Valley Classic ended.
“There was a case at the San Jose Airport and we were all exposed to the airport and had to cancel our weight session (the next day),” Bates said.
Bates, who had missed over two weeks with a concussion, was on a seven-game hitting streak and Washington was 23-2 and No. 2 in the nation in the middle of March.
Washington was to play Team USA
Washington was scheduled to face Team USA in an exhibition game on March 12 but that game was postponed and then the Huskies’ first conference series against Utah (March 13-15) was postponed.
On March 14, the Pac-12 canceled the spring-sports season.
“It just all happened so fast and it was devastating,” Bates said.
The Huskies had been to the Women’s College World Series in the previous three seasons and Bates said the team had “unfinished business”.
The two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association First-Team All-American said she stopped at the school’s stadium to get some workout gear before she traveled back to Ceres.
“I had to go out to the field to see it one more time,” Bates said.
Fortunately for Bates, her career isn’t over just yet.
“Coach (Heather) Tarr talked to us seniors about the details and everything and our group chat was a big ol’ party,” Bates said. “We have weekly meetings on Zoom and it’s nice to see everyone’s faces.”
Oakdale alums and Arizona State seniors Kindra and Maddi Hackbarth have also announced they will return for one more year as well as Georgia senior Mahlena O’Neal (Ceres).
Bates said she has a lot of motivation for next year, including the same goal.
“Win the last game played in Oklahoma City (site of WCWS),” she said.
Sac-Joaquin Section Dale Lacky Awards
The CIF Sac-Joaquin Section announced its 48 award winners for the A. Dale Lacky Scholarships, totaling over $30,000.
The award, named after former section and CIF State President, honors seniors who had outstanding athletic performance, community service, and academic service during their four years of high school.
Beyer’s Chloe Leder and Ripon’s Nico Ilardi and Reina Sausedo were all awarded $1,000 scholarships.
Five local athletes were awarded $500 scholarships and they were: Lauren Edh (Turlock), Melony Garcia (Orestimba), Ben Harless (Enochs), Nolan Lingley (Ripon Christian), and Andrea York (Oakdale).
The two top honorees were awarded the Clark Coover Scholarship Award and received a $1,500 scholarship. They were David Chen (Merced) and Alexa Edwards (St. Francis).
All of the winners were to be recognized at the annual CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Breakfast Awards Ceremony but that was canceled due to the coronavirus.
