Little Leagues prepare for season
Cape Breton Little League associations take aim at development
SYDNEY — It's been nearly two years since Cape Breton Little League baseball players last stepped on the diamond for a practice or a game.
The last time players represented their communities at the Little League level came in 2019 after the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the disappointment of spending a summer away from the baseball field, local associations are beginning to take the next step in preparing for what they hope will be a successful season.
Ken Bradley, Atlantic divisional director for Little League Canada, anticipates players will be on the field this summer in some manner.
“I don't know what the extent of it will be, but I definitely expect to be playing ball,” said Bradley, a Sydney Mines product. “I think it's going to be sooner rather than later, I really believe that, with the case numbers going down.”
Last month, Little League Canada announced the cancellation of all national championships for a second consecutive year. However, the organization has permitted local leagues to play once permission is granted by public health officials.
“We hope to have a Cape Breton league with our different divisions — major, junior and senior,” said Bradley. “It won't be a national tournament, but it would be a Cape Breton tournament, for sure.”
With the lengthy layoff, Bradley expects the players to be fairly rusty when they return to the field.
“A lot of people don't realize this, but it's going to be hard on the kids coming back and starting to play again,” said Bradley.
“It's going to be tough on them coming back. They're not going to be at the skill level that they should be at — I don't expect the quality of players to be high, but that's not just us, this is right across the country and North America.”
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
With no national tournaments, Bradley said local associations will focus fully on house league programs to help with the development of the players moving forward.
“A lot of the time everyone is concerned about the rep teams and the house league kids get lost in the shuffle,” he said.
“You can't have a rep team without house league teams to pick from. It's a catch-22, if you want the players you have to look after your house league — Little League Canada and Little League International says if you don't have a house league, you don't have a rep team.”
As part of the agreement, players have to play house league and if they don't play 60 per cent of their games in the league, they can't play rep, said Bradley.
“Our grassroots are a big thing for us,” he said. “The kids are not just going to jump back into baseball, they will be rusty, but for the players on the Northside, that's where the new infield at the Nicole Meaney Memorial Ball Field will help the kids.”
Michelle Ferguson, president of Sydney and District Little League, echoed Bradley, noting the bigger focus for the association is getting the players back on the field this summer.
“We've always focused on house league, but this year it's all going to be focused on the house league,” said Ferguson, noting if games are permitted teams are likely to be on the field close to three times a week for game play.
“We're hoping for big numbers in the program where
the kids can all come, play, learn and develop skills. We need our league and that's what we're going to focus on.”
POSITIVE START
After more than a month under a provincial lockdown, sports in Nova Scotia will move one step closer to normal operations today.
The provincial government announced Friday restrictions
for outdoor practices and training will be eased. People can now gather in groups of up to 10 — or multiple separate groups of as many as 10 — without social distancing.
Competition and games are still not permitted for the time being.
Ferguson told the Cape Breton Post last month the Sydney association has a plan if games are not permitted to take place this summer.
“We're lucky this year because we have some of the (Sydney) Sooners who are planning on coaching and doing training sessions with the kids," said Ferguson.
“National tournaments are great, don't get me wrong, but this year we can really focus our attention on teaching and giving the kids that don't make the nationals a chance to feel more important and shine at the house league level.”
PUSHING FORWARD
Despite Little League Canada's decision not to have national tournaments, there will be a Little League World Series this year, however, it will only feature teams from the United States.
Meanwhile, closer to home, along with Glace Bay, Sydney and Sydney Mines, Amherst
has returned to Little League this season. There's also a Little League program based in the Dartmouth area.
“Amherst wants to get a tournament going up there and that may be a possibility if teams are allowed to travel,” said Bradley. “There's going to be a Cape Breton league, but I don't know about the rest of them — if protocols allow them to come down, we'll have to wait and see.”
Sydney Mines and District Little League has already held its registration for the year. However, anyone interested in playing can contact the association at 902-736-0519.
As for Sydney and District Little League, the association had one registration prior to the provincial lockdown. Another registration is expected to take place in the near future.
Glace Bay Little League was scheduled for have registration on April 26, however, it was cancelled due to rising COVID-19 numbers in eastern zone. No further information was made public.
The Cape Breton Post recently contacted Glace Bay Little League president Jen Nicholson regarding the 2021 season, however was unable to reach her before press time.