In a delay… Youth baseball and softball still have a shot in 2020
Published 2:31 pm Thursday, April 23, 2020
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File Photo/Ivan Sanders Sometimes all it takes is the look to be ready to play the game of baseball.
File Photo/Ivan Sanders A batter has a bead on the ball as he prepares to make a big cut on the ball.
File Photo/Ivan Sanders A couple of fielders chase down a ball on the infield.
File Photo/Ivan Sanders Baseball is about having fun and hanging with your teammates.
File Photo/Ivan Sanders Sometimes its just downright boring when you are playing in the outfield.
File Photo/Ivan Sanders A batter takes a hefty swing at the ball during the youth Coach Pitch League in 2019.
File Photo/Ivan Sanders Sometimes getting that big hit is all about having your bat on the right trajectory with the baseball.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
At this time of year, one should be able to drive by any of the fields utilized by the Elizabethton-Carter County baseball and softball youth league and see little ones playing in the dirt while coaches try to show their teammates how to hit off a tee or perhaps the older players being shown how to swipe a base.
However, that has not been the case this spring as teams have been benched while waiting out a long delay due to the recent COVID-19.
According to Scott McIntosh who is the General Manager for the league, the spring season had to be canceled for players in the 4-12 age category but hopefully, if things pan out over the next four months, the league could possibly play an extended summer league in August and September.
“We had all the coaches in place and ready for the player draft just before the stay at home was put in place,” said McIntosh. “Players had already registered and paid their fees and we had sponsors for the teams.
“If the parents decide they want to get a refund, they can do that from our website and we are offering the sponsors the opportunity to also have their sponsorship fees refunded or they can wait to see if the summer league is played and sponsor the team then.
“It’s really about what Governor (Bill) Lee determines what happens going forward.”
The good news is that if a player was eligible to play in the spring as determined by their age then those players will also be eligible to play in the fall due to the postponement of the spring season.
“This was just an unprecedented event and there really is no template on how to handle it,” McIntosh said. “We are hoping that we can play in the summer and have a 12-15 game schedule for each team and also have a tournament.
“Everything that we are doing will follow in line with what the Little Leagues do.”
While most young players may be bummed out about not getting to hit the field, everything will be done to try to ensure those players will have the opportunity to swing for the fences before the summer has passed.
