One of the stalwart players for the local American Legion team was left-handed pitcher Andrew Miller, shown above. With no American Legion ball being played this year, there is going to be an empty spot in the schedules of quite a few fans who enjoy turning out to cheer on the local kids who give luster and shine to the baseball diamond. Staff photo/ Brian Larsen
Boys planning summer jobs around playing American Legion baseball were disappointed to learn that the season has been canceled.
This news comes on the heels of the high school baseball season that never got off the ground.
For kids that played for the Cook County/Silver Bay American Legion baseball team in 2019, it means they won’t get a chance to compete for a regional title and possibly make a trip to the American Legion State tournament. Last year the Cook County Senior American Legion team fell to Nashwauk Keewatin in the first round of playoffs. The year before, they won the regions and advanced to the state tournament.
It’s the first time in 91 years that there won’t be any American Legion baseball games played anywhere in the country.
Viking’s head coach Arleigh Jorgenson notified his American Legion team on Sunday, May 9 that they wouldn’t be playing this summer.
The next day when asked about losing the high school and summer seasons this is how he responded, “These are my thoughts today. We are all disappointed beyond measure, coaches, players, and parents. It is a big deal to us. Becoming a good baseball player is a multi-year process. It requires sacrifice and commitment over several years. Losing a season is a big loss.”
“Against all odds, we were hoping we might be able to pick it up this summer, even if we had to wait until July. Minnesota’s American Legion Board was prepared to present a plan to the governor that might allow him, with his public health officials and medical advisors, to decide we could safely compete. We were pinning our hopes on our state’s rising comprehensive testing and tracking readiness. Frankly, I was feeling somewhat optimistic that we might be able to proceed.”
“The proposal was shut down, however, by the Minnesota State Commander on Saturday before the proposal could be presented. It was categorical. The Commander was given no choice as he had been notified that the National American Legion leadership was completely cancelling all American Legion Baseball nationwide for 2020.”
“A very promising CCHS high school baseball season has been cancelled, as well as American Legion play. It’s tough. Last year’s varsity squad was dominated by seniors. This was going to be the opportunity that we knew the younger players were ready for. There was a lot of excitement for it and I know a lot of disappointment today.”
“It is difficult to find the silver lining, but perhaps we are having to learn some of the life lessons that baseball teaches, one of which is accepting the umpire’s call. We have to accept it and move on.
“We will be back next year, a year older, and a year stronger.”
“We are going to miss the young man who was to be our ace on the mound in 2020, Adam Dorr. And, after missing a couple of years, Masen McKeever was back, already showing us his superb athletic ability. Both of these 2020 graduates are young enough to come back next year for Legion ball if they decide to do so. We certainly hope they do. We congratulate them for their fine high school careers and wish them the very best going forward. Congratulations Adam and Masen.” American Legion baseball
Each year about 4,000 teams compete in American Legion baseball.
Kids age 13 to 19 are eligible.
In late March, the National American Legion Baseball Committee sent a memo to American Legion department commanders, adjuncts and baseball chairmen strongly encouraging American Legion departments to put a hold on all baseball activities until the COVID-19 social interaction restrictions had been lifted.
So far, governors are slowly lifting the curtain on what activities are allowed and what are not allowed. Social distancing and wearing facemasks to slow the spread of the coronavirus are still the recommended social norm. And it could be the norm for some time in the future, which could put a kibosh on the way sports have long been played and watched by fans. But baseball will come back, even if the fans have to watch for a while from their TV’s or computer screens. The kids will play ball, coronavirus or no coronavirus.
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