Little Leagues prep to play ball
Organizations set up guidelines for games to begin by June 15
Rob Foster just wants to give children throughout San Antonio a chance to play baseball and softball — and to forget everything that is happening in the world around them.
“I think it’s important that we do our very, very best to ensure that this experience for these kids is one that we don’t want them to forget,” said Foster, the Capitol Park Little League president. “We want this to be like any other season experience, so they’ll want to come back. If they come back (next year), then we’ve done our job.
“I want them to focus on having fun on the field, playing ball and not worry about all the other stuff.”
Area Little League seasons in baseball and softball will kick off practices next week after being delayed from mid-March by the coronavirus pandemic. Following Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement that practices could begin May 31 and games June 15, several leagues have plans to play under state and local health guidelines, along with their own, while also incorporating Little League International recommendations and best practices as outlined by the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control.
The boards of four Little Leagues — Alamo Heights, Capitol Park, McAllister Park and Northwest — are moving forward following the governor’s announcement.
Even though things outside the playing fences may have a different feel, leagues are trying to deliver the Little League experience under coronavirus restrictions.
The worldwide pandemic halted play in at least one local league in mid-March while others never got underway. The pandemic also ended any hopes of a trip to Williamsport, Pa., for the Little League World Series after Little League International canceled the series and its regional tournaments April 30 for the first time in its 83-year history.
The Windcrest Little League board also voted to hold a shortened season last week, but will meet later this week to make a final determination once participant commitments have been finalized.
“If we do not have an adequate amount of participants, we will be canceling this season,” said Windcrest secretary Victoria Garza in an email to the ExpressNews.
Before the governor’s orders,
both the Towne & Country and Greater Helotes Little Leagues canceled their seasons.
Player participation levels have fallen due to COVID-19 from initial registrations earlier this year, but one league will try a different approach to boost participation.
“We have a company coming to our park to set up cameras and stream live one field a night on YouTube,” said David Hinebaugh, Northwest Little League president. “I don’t know if we would do it in a regular season, but since people susceptible to the coronavirus are asked to consider staying home, I think this is a way to encourage kids to play.
“In a regular season we’d want them to come out and spend money in our concession stand, but in this situation since we’re not doing a concession stand other than drinks right now, I think it’s a good idea.”
With safety at the forefront in the COVID-19 era, ballparks will take on a different look than in past years.
Per the governor’s order, only one parent or guardian will be allowed at practice. At games, social distancing of 6 feet or more is required, the order adding that “individuals should avoid being in a group larger than 10 individuals. Within these groups, individuals should, to the extent possible, minimize in-person contact with others not in the individual’s household.”
Other changes include sanitizing stations or hand sanitizer throughout the ballparks; limited concessions, such as prepacked food and bottle or can drinks; open-air dugouts; players tipping caps at the end of games instead of handshakes or highfives; social distancing for both players and spectators; and trying to clear parks as quickly as possible before another game begins to avoid the gathering of large crowds.
“We have discussed roping off sections of the bleachers, putting signage up to follow social distancing and encouraging spectators to bring lawn chairs so we can space everybody out,” Foster said about Capitol Park.
At Northwest, bleachers will be marked off so a family of two or three can sit with a 6-foot radius on all sides. The league is also encouraging families to bring lawn chairs to promote social distancing.
“On our T-ball and machinepitch field, we’ll have the kids in the bleachers, not in the dugouts, and put parents and spectators beyond an outfield wall where there’s a little hill,” said Hinebaugh, a 20-year Little League volunteer.
Alamo Heights, Capitol Park and McAllister expect to begin games June 15 and complete their seasons by the end of July. Northwest will start June 15 or 16 and finish Aug. 15. The plan is to play six nights a week with teams scheduled for two games per week.
“We’ll meet June 7 and hammer out the actual schedule,” Hinebaugh said. “Everybody wants to know the plan first. I think, as time goes by, more people are going to get more comfortable, providing there’s not a huge uptick in cases reported.
“But by June 7, participants will need to be completely in or completely out because we won’t be able to change.”