By Tim Clinton

SPORTS EDITOR

The COVID-19 pandemic has reared its ugly head in the realm of area sports once again.

It was announced Tuesday afternoon that all three games of the Seattle Mariners' current home series with the Oakland A's have now been postponed because of the coronavirus after it originally was just going to be the first two.

Also postponed now are the entire fall seasons for high school cross country, golf, boys tennis and slowpitch softball in King County.

Practices were originally scheduled to open next Monday across the state of Washington, but only in areas under Phase 3 of the state's reopening plan.

King County is still in Phase 2, so those sports have now been slated to begin in early March along with football, girls soccer, volleyball and girls swimming.

No high school sports are now scheduled here until the Winter season practices in December.

As for the Mariners, their makeup games against the A's will come in a pair of doubleheaders.

One twin bill is to take place in Seattle on an originally scheduled off day for both teams Monday, Sept. 14.

One game has been added to a single game scheduled in Oakland for Saturday, Sept. 26.