Tidewater league balances fun, action, COVID-19 guidelines
Dogpiles and high-fives have been replaced with air-fives and celebratory shouts, but baseball is back.
The Tidewater Summer League began its season June 23 under strict guidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the cooperation by the players, coaches and fans has impressed commissioner Michael Dooley.
“Getting it started was the first battle,” Dooley said. “Keeping it going is the next battle.”
Virginia, home to three of the league’s four teams, moved into Phase Three of reopening Wednesday, which increases fan allowance from 50 to 1,000.
That’s good news after the league’s last game at War Memorial Stadium in Hampton maxed out at 50.
North Carolina, home to the Edenton Steamers, delayed its next reopening phase and will remain in Phase Two until July 17.
“The uncertainty has been the toughest part of it all,” Dooley said.
For all team games, fans must undergo a temperature screening and short COVID-related questioning before giving their name, address and phone number in case of emergency.
“There’s a lot of extras and it’s gonna drag out getting everyone
into the gate, but it’s what we’re gonna do,” Dooley said. “We’ve been very blessed with the cooperation from everyone.”
Fans maintain social distancing in their seats enough to where “they have to holler to say hi to someone next to them,” Dooley said.
Games also are streamed through the Tidewater Summer League’s social media accounts, and that’s important to players on the roster who must stay home for certain games.
“We carry a large roster, but because of social distancing and limiting the number of guys in dugouts, we’ve split the rosters in half for each team,” Dooley said. “Half the team is designated with an off day, and only a handful come in as bench or utility players.
“For the most part, players have embraced these changes with enthusiasm because their desire to be at the ballpark exceeds any inconvenience change brings,” Dooley said.
The on-the-field enthusiasm manifests in different ways.
If someone hits a home run, “their habit is to jump up and head to home plate, but we have to say, ‘Ho!
Ho! you can’t do that!’ It takes a second for them to get used to that.”
But, Dooley said, at least baseball is back.
“It is wonderful,” Dooley said. “Being at a ballpark brings me back to really good times, and in the world we’re living in right now, taking a threehour break and enjoying a ballgame is good for everyone.”