District 12 leagues can begin play on July 6
Little League baseball and softball players began practicing again this week, and New Jersey District 12 Administrator David J. Edwards said that those teams can begin playing games on Monday, July 6.
Regular-season league play can continue as long as teams would like, provided the players, coaches and fans follow the necessary COVID-19 health guidelines.
Edwards had more good news for the oldest of the Little League bunch — the 12 year olds. With two months to play before Labor Day, leagues can also prepare their 12YO all-stars for a longer ride if they so choose.
“We plan on having (12YO) District Tournaments for baseball and softball in early September,” Edwards said. “For baseball, it will be a double-elimination tournament with the championship games being played the weekend of Sept. 12 and 13. The actual start date will depend on the final number of leagues participating. Sunnybrae Little League will be the host this year.”
Edwards said dates for the softball tournament are still to be determined.
As previously announced, New Jersey plans to proceed with its Little League championships in order to determine a state champion, even though the 2020 National Regionals and Little League World Series officially have been canceled.
“The Section and State Tournaments (for baseball) will both be single elimination on the two weekends following our District Tournament,” Edwards announced. “The Section 3
Tournament will be Sept. 18, 19 and 20 at Brick Little League. The State Tournament will be Sept. 26 and 27 at Holbrook Little League in Jackson.”
That’s good news for the biggest little dreamers among us.
Even though this baseball/softball schedule may interfere a little with the players’ return to school in the fall, the Little League title chase figures to give some middle schoolers reason to smile after their last school year ended on a sad note as buildings were shut down and spring sports were canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.