‘Ecstatic’ youngsters flock to Southaven for baseball
USSSA event draws hundreds of players
SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – A smattering of face masks.
A healthy amount of social distancing. Zero sunflower seeds.
But, there was baseball. Real and live and in its purest form.
“Finally,” said Cody Atkinson minutes before first pitch Friday.
Atkinson’s son, Caleb, was one of hundreds of youngsters – ages 8-14 – to get back on the diamond at Snowden Grove Park in Southaven, Mississippi, for the first time since last fall, as coronavirus put such endeavors on a months-long hiatus.
Dozens of teams from at least eight states are scheduled to get together at the 17-field complex for a tournament.
The event’s original label – School’s Out Celebration – altered slightly by USSSA Baseball West Tennessee/mississippi director Scotty Baker.
“Yeah, I changed it to the School’s Been Out Celebration,” Baker joked.
That kind of joviality permeated the premises as players, coaches and parents alike were happy to ring in summer with anything other than more quarantining. Atkinson said he got the call that the tournament was back on the schedule earlier this week. Especially welcome news for 12-year-old Caleb, who pitches and plays shortstop for the Collierville-based Big League Wildcats.
“Oh, he was ecstatic,” Atkinson said. “They started practicing two weeks ago, but it was split up into two groups of six. They’d have six come at one time and the other six another time.”
Sure, there were Xs on the ground outside every concession stand, each one spaced six feet from the other.
And, no, spectators were not allowed to occupy any of the park’s chairback seating. It hardly mattered.
Bryson Vance, 13, arrived shortly after the first set of games began at 6 p.m. A first baseman for the 12U Jackson Storm, he said he has had his fill of Fortnite and Apex Legends. He’s had enough of riding his bike.
And individual practice sessions with his coach. He’s been ready for a return to some semblance of normalcy.
Vance and his squad took part in a tournament last week at Gameday Baseball in Cordova.
It was the first organized sporting event he played in since February when his baseball team at Crockett County Middle School had its season cut short.
“I’ve been looking forward to getting back to this for so long,” he said.
“Because you’re able to be outside and be with your friends.”
Southaven Mayor Darren Musselwhite, a former professional baseball player, expressed appreciation for everyone’s patience throughout the global pandemic.
“Our kids are super excited to get the chance to play ball again,” Musselwhite said in a statement.
“They’ve been patient with the city as we canceled all events in March, April and May, but are anxious to do what they love. Many of our business owners are equally as excited as they rely heavily on the customers that our events bring to the city. We have implemented a ‘Return to Play’ safety plan to ensure the safest environment possible for our kids and all others in attendance and will strictly enforce it.”
Craig Davis, whose son, Cody, plays for the Memphis Travelers in the 11U division, was also at the tournament in Cordova last week. Davis said while he is happy play has resumed, he isn’t sure the measures taken to curb the spread of coronavirus weren’t too extreme.
“I think it was all overblown,” he said. “Way overblown.”
For Atkinson, though, what’s done is done.
“Their first full practice was actually (Thursday). They’re trying to get ’em right back into it,” he said.
“Which I’m happy about and I know they are, too. They’re all ready. All dying to get out there and get back into it.”