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Former Billings West softball coach Ed Kriskovich recalled the 1996 state softball tournament being rained out in a recent interview. Kriskovich feels the right decision was made to cancel this year's spring sports season due to the new coronavirus.

BILLINGS Ed Kriskovich remembers the highs and the lows from the 1996 high school softball season.

The retired Billings West coach, who led the Golden Bears to three state titles and over 500 victories in his career, also remembers life lessons learned during that season.

While its hard to compare 1996 to 2020, when the Montana High School spring sports season was canceled on Wednesday due to the novel coronavirus and in-school study was shut down to limit the spread of COVID-19, there may be some similarities in human feelings and wisdom to be gained.

In 1996, the Class AA and A state softball tournaments to be played at Stewart Park in Billings were rained out. On Thursday, steady rain had led to a postponement.

By Saturday, despite an all-out effort to prepare fields, Mother Nature won out. At one point, workers had three fields ready to play, but it started to drizzle again.

If the tournament had any chance to continue, games would have to be played well into the night. However, the playable fields two in the Heights and one at Stewart Park didnt have lights.

Budgetary concerns came into play as teams would have to spend another night in a hotel, and the weather forecast also was a factor. Graduations and other functions were also upcoming.

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Former Billings West softball coach on disappointment: 'Make the best of what happens' - Billings Gazette