“Let’s play ball!”
One of the best sounds a human voice has ever made will soon be heard again, as baseball will be played this summer.
On Friday, June 19, at 5 p.m., Minnesota’s Department of Health released permission for baseball to return to play, with a list of protocols to guide practices and games.
This was good news for Viking’s head Coach Arleigh Jorgenson and a group of boys who were already following the June 1 governor’s commission for youth sports that had issued a return to practice plan.
Included was the anticipation that games would be permitted later when the statewide COVID-19 case numbers showed a steady decline, said Jorgenson. And while sports were categorized, baseball was deemed a “medium risk,” sport.
“So, while some “low risk” sports were allowed competitive play, baseball was not. We were allowed to practice in pods of no more than ten players, including coaches. These pods were not interchangeable, nor were they allowed to have contact with one another on the field.”
In late May, said Jorgenson, “The question was presented to our high school players and their parents, ‘Would they like to participate?’ Twenty-six players responded affirmatively. Four coaches stepped forward to lead three pods. Coaches Andy Feddema, Nick Hingos, Jorge Gomez, and Shem Falter have led these pods since June 1.”
While practice began, the District 8 American Legion coaches began communicating via email and Zoom, to determine a schedule for those teams who would like to play games, should the decision be made in St. Paul that baseball games could return. American Legion was out, said Jorgenson. A national decision was made in May that American Legion would not sponsor baseball this summer. Alternatives were researched and the Babe Ruth league said it would sponsor a Senior Babe Ruth program in Minnesota following the exact same rules and age limitations as Senior American Legion. Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Baseball would do the same for Junior American Legion.
All of this was great news. Some players returning to play this summer on the Senior Babe Ruth team, said Jorgenson, “Will include Andrew Miller and Joe Deschampe returning from college play, as well as players from our 2018 Junior Legion State Tournament team: Ero Wallin, Timmy Perfetto, Lucas Stadler, and Riley Tiboni.”
Because of the COVID- 19 pandemic, Jorgensen said, “We ask players not to come should they feel sick. Before games begin, temperatures will be taken of all players and game personnel, and no one other than game personnel will be allowed on the field. Players will use hand sanitizers before, after, and during games. Equipment and dugouts will be sanitized. There will be no handshakes after the game, rather a tip of the cap. Social Distancing in the dugout will be accomplished by extending the dugout areas along the fence. We are asking spectators to refrain from interacting with these players along the fence and to social distance from these players as well as from one another. We ask everyone to respect these protocols for the safety and confidence of everyone.”
Game schedule
Below are the tentative Senior Babe Ruth and VFW schedule. Games are dependent upon the weather and are played on the high school ball field in Grand Marais.
Thursday, June 25, Taconite, Here: VFW at 3:45 p.m., Babe Ruth after. Friday, June 26, Ely, Here: VFW 3:45 p.m. Babe Ruth after.
Tuesday, July 7, Eveleth, Here: Babe Ruth, only one game or two TBD (to be determined), either a 3:45 p.m. start or a 6:00 p.m. start.
Thursday, July 9, At International Falls: Babe Ruth doubleheader 3:45 p.m. start or earlier pending their answer.
Tuesday, July 14, Aurora, Here: Babe Ruth, one game only, 6:00 p.m. start.
Thursday, July 16, At Virginia: VFW at 5:00 p.m., Babe Ruth at 7:15 p.m.
Friday, July 17, Proctor, Here: VFW at 3:45 p.m., Babe Ruth after.
Tuesday, July 21, At Taconite: VFW time TBD, Babe Ruth after.
Thursday, July 23, At Ely: VFW at 5:00 p.m., Babe Ruth after.
Thursday, July 30, At Aurora: 5:30 p.m. start. Possible VFW vs. Cherry before Babe Ruth with Aurora after. Aurora Babe Ruth is on. VFW with Cherry uncertain. (New turf field).
Note: Coach Jorgenson said, “One of our pods and, part of another, is made up of players coming out of 7th and 8th grades. We are not part of a league for this group. We will seek games for these players as best we can.”
When they get games scheduled, they will try to keep them posted in the newspaper.
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