City, Humboldt Eagles agree to end games in Eureka
After meeting Monday officials from the city of Eureka, where the Humboldt Eagles summer baseball club play their home games, informed the organization it would no longer be allowed to play games within city limits.
Eureka’s Director of Public works Brian Gerving told the Times-Standard on Tuesday that he had spoken with Eagles team officials and informed the organization which plays its home games at St. Bernard’s Academy that the city could no longer allow baseball games to take place due to state-wide orders banning team sports, among other activities, in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Because the state doesn’t currently allow team sports, the county health officer (Teresa Frankovich) says we cannot allow them,” Gerving said. “I told (team officials) we appreciated the additional measures they have taken to try and be safe. They were completely understanding and agreed to not play any more games in the city.”
Gerving said he and other city officials understand the impact cancellation of spring and now summer sports do to concerns over the coronavirus have caused.
“We wish we were in a position to let the games continue, we understand the value that team sports bring both the players and their families,” Gerving said. “But until state orders change, we are just not in a position to do that.”
There are plenty of baseball fields in the county outside of Eureka, however. The Eagles’ younger 17-U counterparts have played games in both Cutten and in Arcata this summer. No one within the Eagles organization has informed the TimesStandard that Eureka’s recent order will stop the club from competing elsewhere.
On June 22 Humboldt County
Health Officer Dr. Teresa Frankovich said during a media availability session, “When you bring together kids who are practicing for baseball, that is not a stable cohort of kids… and, if you bring in another team that has traveled from somewhere else, you bring into that mix whatever conditions are in that area potentially as well… The state has made it clear, with questioning, that (team sports) are not to operate until official guidance has been released on this, and we have not received it…It should not be operating now, in spite of the fact that I recognize, apparently it is… I have concerns about its safety.”
So far this summer the Eagles have brought in teams from outside the county including from Sacramento and Redding, and another team comprised of players mostly from Oregon along with a select few international players.
The Northern Humboldt Giants play home games in Arcata at the little league fields behind the California Highway Patrol station. Over the weekend and the week prior the Giants hosted teams from Tehema and Sutter counties, as well as other local summer teams.
Arcata Police Chief Brian Ahearn told the Times-Standard on Tuesday that his department has not yet moved to enforce any baseball bans in Arcata.
“The responsibility rests with the (events’) organizers,” Ahearn said. “Outdoor exercise with social distancing has been allowed since these shelter-in-place orders from the state went into effect. We haven’t done any enforcement (at baseball games) yet, but we’ve come close… (In light of recent rises in COVID-19 cases in the state) we may have to lock things down further, we don’t want to do that but the safety of our community members comes first.”
Local teams began to come under fire from county officials as games continued last week. Heather Muller, an information officer with the county’s Joint Information Center, wrote Friday in a message to local media, “Health Officer Teresa Frankovich spoke with (former Eagles board president Alan Fischel) tonight to say that we appreciate that he felt he could do this safely, but he understands the fact that team play cannot resume at this time. County personnel have reached out to other teams and hope they will also discontinue play. The state currently does not allow team sports, and we do not have the authority to approve this or any similar plan. We appreciate the conversation and look forward to the day we’re able to open team sports safely.”
Alan Fischel informed the Times-Standard Saturday that he stepped down from his position within the Eagles organization on Friday.
In previous interviews with the Times-Standard Fischel contended the Eagles were similar in construct to a recreational club, such as a hiking or kayaking club, which are allowed under the spirit of recent revisions to the county’s shelter-in-place order. The Eagles have submitted a plan for play to the county for approval which is still pending.
The county has recently allowed for the resumption of almost all businesses, including gyms and family entertainment centers.
However the state and subsequently the county continue to mandate that team sports are not allowed under current shelter-in-place orders, a directive which the county is following.
Eureka Police Chief Steve Watson, reached by phone Saturday night before city officials had made their Monday decision, said the onus rests on the games’ organizers more than it does his department, the city or the county.
“The responsibility here rests on these events’ organizers to follow the county’s orders,” Watson said. “We are really counting on people to be responsible… We do not want to be the (COVID-19) police. The reality is, 100 percent enforcement of the current shelter-in-place orders is not realistic. It doesn’t mean our department is being dismissive, but it means people need to do the right thing.”
Watson stressed that from the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Eureka’s method in enforcing shelter-in-place orders has rested more on the city’s code enforcement department more so than the police. “The city’s strategy has been for code enforcement to take the lead,” Watson said.
The police chief added he felt it was “irresponsible at this time” for any local teams to be bringing in teams from outside the county.
“People want to enjoy the camaraderie of baseball and everything that comes with it, and I get that,” Watson said. “But people need to do the right thing.”
Games have also recently been played at Redwood Fields in Cutten, which rests in the Sheriff’s Office’s jurisdiction.
The Sheriff’s Office did not return request for comment before this edition went to press.
As of Monday there were 133 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county. 115 people have recovered. No cases have come from any player or coach affiliated with the Eagles or Giants organization, according to team officials.
On June 18 Governor Gavin Newsom issued a state-wide directive mandating the use of facial masks in all public places. The county already had a similar order.
This reporter has observed, while in attendance at several games in Eureka over the past couple weeks, the use of face masks by players while not on the field. Bleachers have been empty at St. Bernard’s, and families of players have seated themselves in family units along the outfield fence with more than six-feet of separation between units. This reporter has not attended any games in Arcata.