Independent Collegiate Baseball League set to compete this summer
ALBANY, NY » The Independent Collegiate Baseball League (ICBL) announces it will launch a four-team collegiatelevel league this summer starting July 6th and playing through August 13th. The league plans to operate for just the 2020 season.
The franchises of the Albany Dutch, Albany Athletics, Amsterdam Mohawks and Glens Falls Independents have banned together to play a 30-game season. Teams will play three doubleheaders per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays with all league games being played at Shuttleworth Park in Amsterdam and East Field in Glens Falls.
The ICBL will have a focused effort on the safety and health of its teams by implementing numerous protocols this season including a certified athletic trainer at every game, sanitized baseballs during games, sanitized dugouts after every game, players being required to bring their own equipment (bats, helmets, gloves), and players spread out throughout the dugouts, bullpens and stands during games. Per state guidance, the ICBL will allow participating players up to two family members per game in attendance. Both ICBL venues will also offer sitdown outdoor dining options as well in accordance with county health regulations.
The ICBL is the only collegiate-level league in the Greater Capital Region to operate this summer after the cancellations of several other local baseball leagues. Rosters have been recruited by each team and are comprised of the most talented locally based players. Nick Davey will manage the Dutch, Joe Altieri will manage the Athletics, Keith Griffin will manage the Mohawks, and Steve St. Claire will manage the Independents.
TORONTO (AP) » Canada has approved a National Hockey League plan to play in Canada during the coronavirus pandemic, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Friday.
The plan required an exemption as the U.S.-Canada border is currently closed to all non-essential travel until at least July 21 and those who enter Canada must self-isolate for 14 days. The league plans to have training camps open in July and to play games without spectators in a couple of cities in late July or August.
Freeland said Canada’s top public health officer as well as the top health officers of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Toronto worked closely with the NHL to approve the plan.
Freeland said it will be very important for the players to continue to work very closely with health officials and follow their instruction.
HOUSTON (AP) » The Houston Astros have signed second baseman J.C. Correa, getting the brother of star shortstop Carlos Correa on the third try.
The Astros signed the younger Correa for $20,000, the maximum allowed for an undrafted free agent.
Houston had picked Correa in the later rounds of the last two drafts. This year’s draft was drastically cut to only five rounds because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Correa hit .245 in 14 games as a senior for Lamar University this year before the season was shortened by the virus. In 2019, he led the school with a .332 batting average, 10 home runs and 44 RBIs.
Correa played all over the infield for Lamar. The Astros announced his signing on Friday and listed him as a second baseman.
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) » Clemson said 23 football players have tested positive for coronavirus since returning to campus this month.
Clemson announced the results Friday. It did not identify the athletes.
In all, school spokesman Jeff Kallin said 28 people were found with COVID-19 since testing began for athletes and other personnel on June 8.
The uptick at Clemson mirrors one in the state of South Carolina, which reported a single-day high of 1,081 people testing positive on Friday.
Along with the players, two football staffers and three athletes from other sports were found with the virus.
The school said all were asymptomatic and have begun isolation for at least 10 days. No one has been hospitalized.