The “What Might Have Been” feature series is Big Country Preps’ effort to celebrate area athletes who have seen their seasons affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The series will continue through June 15 or until the UIL rules that high school athletics statewide may resume. If you have a suggested story for the “What Might Have Been” series, please contact Big Country Preps at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.

Clyde senior Christian Deal had been working for this moment his entire career.

After spending his first two years on varsity as a super utility player, the do-it-all standout had finally found himself anchored at his two most natural positions as the Bulldogs’ starting shortstop and de facto pitching ace.

But despite excelling in both roles during a start coach Colby Rowley described as “phenomenal,” Deal has seen what should have been a dream season cut short by the COVID-19 outbreak that now threatens the spring sports season for all Texas athletes. Instead of backing up last year’s all-state season with an even stronger senior campaign, Deal has no choice but to wait out a state-mandated shutdown at home and wonder if his days as a baseball player are over.