Sugar Land Skeeters create buzz for 1,800 masked fans.
1,800 fans eager for live sports enjoy independent league opener
Jeff Yanas craved a live sports fix, and the trek south from Cypress to Sugar Land wasn’t too troublesome to get it.
The 51-year-old is a Texans season ticket holder and has gone to Dynamo games as well. He wishes he could attend the Astros’ fanless home opener July 24, evidenced by his attire from head to toe on this Friday night — an Astros hat, a “Hate Us” Astros shirt and Astros shoes.
The Constellation Energy League opener between the Sugar Land Skeeters and Eastern Reyes del Tigre will do for now, and Yanas wouldn’t be able to joy it without the most important part of his attire — his mask.
“It’s hard to get used to,” Yanas said of constantly wearing a mask, which the Skeeters require patrons at Constellation Field to do while walking the concourse. “It’s real hard to get used to. It’s not every day you put one of these on. Now, it’s everywhere you go now. You have to wear it. You have to be safe.
“At least I get to see a game.” That was the general feeling in Sugar Land in what could be considered a snapshot of what watching live professional sports will be like in the COVID-19 era.
With the minor league baseball
season canceled, the independent, four-team Constellation Energy League kicked off a 56game schedule that will end Aug. 30.
The league features the Clemens family, with Koby Clemens managing Team Texas, famous father Roger Clemens assisting, and brothers Kody and Kacy Clemens playing.
With minor leaguers who have permission to play from their parent clubs in the fold, the quality of play is thought to be a step up from the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, where the Skeeters normally compete. Scouts are expected to attend games all summer.
It was 97 degrees but felt like 111 during pregame batting practice Friday.
Every five or six rows were closed off to enforce social distancing, with patrons only allowed to sit with someone they came with. There wasn’t a bare face in sight, with masks and temperature checks required to get in.
The park filled quickly with people from all walks of life, including families, groups and even spectators who came by themselves. There was a line out of the door of the retail shop, with the team only allowing a few people inside at a time. It halfway blocked the concourse but was clear by the first pitch.
Eastern’s Evan Marzilli got the first hit, and Jake Romanski got the first RBI.
“These players, we’ve got to be careful, be smart in the dugout, in the clubhouse and away from the ballpark,” Eastern manager Dave Eiland said. “But still once these guys put the uniforms on and come out here and the first pitch is thrown, it’s baseball. That’s the way it should be.”
There was no way it truly could be a normal night at the ballpark, but the 1,700 or so fans on hand made it feel as close as possible.
Constellation Field seats about 7,500, but the Skeeters are capping it at 30 percent capacity.
“I’m a college football guy,” said Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmerman, who threw out Friday’s first pitch. “I love pro sports. We hadn’t seen anything right now. For this to be here, it seats 7,500.
We’re only going to allow 1,800.
“It’s exactly what the governor asked for. We were in communication with (Gov. Greg Abbott). Matter of fact, I invited him tonight, he just couldn’t get down here. This is a regional facility, so we look forward to people coming out and having a good time, kind of taking this COVID thing off their mind a little bit.”
That was part of Christine Fulcher’s thinking when she brought sons Payton and Auston Ware from League City for a game. They came to see Eastern left fielder C.J. McElroy, who coaches Payton.
The 13-year-old Auston plays grassroots baseball for the Southeast Texas Gators, and 11-year-old brother Payton plays for USA Prime Express. Both, with gloves in hand on this night, recently took part in tournaments.
But attending a game was special.
“They’ve been counting down the minutes until we can get here,” Fulcher said.
Fulcher and her family try to stay cautious while out like most people must be these days. She the reward Friday night was worth it.
“It gives us a bit of normalcy,” Fulcher said.