Teams looking to salvage seasons
Local organizations preparing abbreviated seasons upon Pa. going green June 26
“Going green” has taken on a new meaning at this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beyond the ecological connotation the phrase carries, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s entry into the “green phase” of social-distancing and precautionary practices is being welcomed on a large scale. Many businesses and recreational activities will welcome Friday, June 26, as the date when the states moves out of the “yellow phase” into a lifestyle closer to the “normal” conditions prior to the March 17 shutdowns.
The “green phase” is being welcomed by youth-level summer sports organizations. Around the area, many are moving toward lighter schedules and venue changes from school-district playing facilities still currently closed as a result of the pandemic.
Such is not the case for the Pine Forge Senior Babe Ruth program. It will have its home park at the Pine Forge Athletic
Association available and ready when it gets into action with the Ches-Mont Senior Babe Ruth League, at a date in July yet to be established.
“The kids are excited to get going,” manager Rich Zuber said. “We could have two Senior Babe Ruth teams.”
Zuber and his assistants have been working to get their park ready to host games. Pine Forge’s Senior and Junior Babe Ruth programs will be playing during the summer while its programs for younger players
are looking to be part of an extensive fall ball season.
“We will practice all guidelines put out by the state,” Zuber noted. “All precautions are in place.”
Senior Babe Ruth baseball has cancelled its national and regional tournaments for the 2020 season ... an action matching that of American Legion baseball, which called off national regional and World Series tournaments in the spring prior to announcing cancellation of all play in 2020.
The chance for highschool age athletes to get playing time this summer wasn’t completely dashed, however.
Community organizations had the option to organize teams and play games outside the American Legion’s organizational umbrella, and some are taking advantage of the opportunity.
Several local teams are looking to do that. A number of Berks County League franchises have gotten together to see about getting youths in their communities the chance to get back out on the diamond and participate in games.
One of those is the Norchester Bulldogs, Their manager, Alex Condello, lost the opportunity to debut with the American Legion program as a result of the cancellation of the 2020 Legion season, but he could be stepping out this summer nonetheless.
“Norchester is planning to play any games we can get,” Condello said. “We are talking with teams in our league and are looking to play a few games a week. The other teams are trying to do the same as well. Maybe a tournament amongst us on the weekends.
“It would probably be exhibition games. Just playing whenever we can against anyone in our league.”
Condello noted teams like Boyertown, West Lawn, Daniel Boone, Twin Valley, Shillington and Oley all had showed interest in such an arrangement.
“There won’t be standings or anything like that,” he said. “We all just want to give the kids a chance to play. We hope to start in early July, but it is still a little uncertain because of field availability.”
“We had talked about the idea of some of our teams playing with SchuylkillBerks teams, but it sort of fell through. At that point in time, it didn’t look like we would play at all this summer.” Chris Grubb, director of the Daniel Boone Athletic Association’s 13-19 division, noted the Legion base ball aged team is busy working to get back in action. “Briefly, our Senior Legion level team is in the final stages of planning their possible return to the field,” Grubb said. “Also, our Junior Legion 16U and Prep 14U levels are starting as soon as we change to green. “We will know definite for Senior Legion on Thursday or before. We did have to cancel some of our younger levels.” Its website reported the Boyertown team will not be able to use Bear Stadium for games due to school-district restrictions in place since the start of the pandemic. It will instead utilize Lee Mecherly Field in Gabelsville, home of the Boyertown Bear-Cubs Junior Legion program. “Berks County Legion baseball teams have gotten together and decided to form an independent baseball league for the 2020 summer season,” the website statement read. “The league will consist of many of the teams the Bears normally face but will not be under the Legion banner. “Games begin after the July 4 holiday and continue until late July or early August.” Baseball teams from Schuylkill and Berks counties have organized themselves to play a schedule of games starting June 27 and running to Aug. 1. The Schuylkill-Berks Independent League is comprised of nine teams: Hamburg Reds, Kutztown Cougars, Muhlenberg Athletics, Pine Grove Grovers, Post 625 Wildcats, Schuylkill Valley Falcons, Southern Area A’s, Tamaqua Blue Sox and Wyomissing Warriors. Each team will play the others twice, for a total of 16 games per team and 72 for the league. Junior Legion and Prep League-age teams will also have the opportunity to get on the field this yar, according to Chris Fidler. “We as a league are planning on playing baseball this summer and starting July 8-9,” Fidler, president of the Berks County Jr. Legion and Prep leagues, said. “We in our youth league have 12 teams, and in our prep league have 10 teams. Youth league are ages 14 to 16. Prep ages are 12 to 14. “The youth teams will be playing games on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Prep will be playing games on Tuesday and Thursday. We have changed things we think that will make both league more enjoyable for both age groups.”