Start of MLB season is a reminder of what we’ve missed around here
Iwas watching, and chances are you were too, when Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer rared back and fired the first official pitch of the 2020 Major League Baseball season at 7:08 p.m. Thursday.
At long last, we had regular-season Major League Baseball. During the past few weeks, we’ve been able to watch NASCAR, some pro soccer and PGA Tour golf.
Slowly, the sports world is returning. On the Peninsula, there are laps at Langley Speedway, Peninsula Pilots baseball at War Memorial Stadium and Lionsbridge FC soccer.
But the MLB opener also was a reminder of just what we’ve missed during the past four months, and what we’re likely to miss as the coronavirus pandemic keeps us mostly on lockdown.
The Virginia High School League will announce Monday its plan for athletes to return to the fields and courts for competition, and my guess is it won’t be until at least December. Harbor Park is quiet and will remain that way until the Norfolk
Tides’ 2021 season.
Hampton University, Norfolk State, William & Mary all have suspended fall sports.
Old Dominion and its league,
Conference USA, have not announced plans or the suspension of fall sports. But athletic director Wood Selig expressed doubts about sports returning soon, telling odusports.com “until there is a vaccine, I think we’re just kidding ourselves into thinking that it’s going to be safe” to play.
That leaves us hoping the pro sports can keep us occupied — the WNBA returned this weekend, followed by the NBA next week. Still, it’s hard not to miss local sports.
Here’s what I miss the most, and some happenings I’m looking forward to when all local sports returns …
Hits at the Park and hits at Harbor Park.
Charcoal-grilled pretzels along the first-base line.
The Tiger Cage.
The Eastern Am. Darnell Dozier’s trapping defense.
Saundra Sawyer’s fastbreak offense.
Hank Sawyer’s veer. Ed Young’s snazzy suits.
Low surf at the East Coast Surfing Championships — still scheduled for Aug. 23-30.
VHSL spring championship Saturday.
Tee times at the PureSilk Championship at Kingsmill.
Phoebus-Hampton football at Darling Stadium on Friday night. Or Saturday.
Any football game on Friday night. Or Saturday.
Saturday afternoons at
Armstrong, Dick Price and Zable stadiums.
A sellout at Ballard and tailgating in the Silver Lot. Big Blue.
Faceoff at Scope.
Teddy Bear Toss.
The wing-T.
Rip Tide four-wheeler rides and Turn-Back-the Clock soda, popcorn and hot dogs.
Tip-off at the Ted. (Sorry, but Chartway Arena hasn’t stuck yet.)
Jeff Jones questioning a call.
“Ice Cream and Cake.” (It’s OK to admit you miss it, too.)
NSU’s Spartan Legion. ZOOperstars!
Hanna Hull Ks. Bagpipes at Kellam. Loud pings and seventh-inning stretch at the Bud.
Shamrock in the spring. Rock ‘n’ Roll in the summer.
Virginia Duals at the Coliseum.
Hawk Burgers.
Playoff games at the ’Plex.
Seven-on-seven in the summer.
Summer ball at Boo’s. What’d I miss?
What do you like most about sports in Hampton Roads? What are you most looking forward to when sports return? Tell us in 200 words or less and send it to sports@pilotonline.com. We’ll publish our favorite responses in a future edition.
And if you don’t recognize some of these, drop me a line and I’ll explain the ones that stump you.