Play ball!
Four months after the high school baseball season was canceled, the boys of summer are on the fields again. With inherent risks of coronavirus infections, coaches and players have established guidelines to play the games as safely as possible.
The safest game of them all
“We made our parents fully aware of the risks involved,” said Jim Thorpe coach, Joe Marykwas, “We told them if they opted not to have their sons play on our summer teams, there would be no consequences going into next year’s high school season.”
No parents opted out. They had to sign COVID-19 waivers giving them full responsibility if their kids get sick. In fact, Jim Thorpe is rostering two large teams of 35 total players.
Palmerton coach, Matt Solt’s said baseball, with its unique logistics of the game, is the safest of all the team sports and therefore a significant reason why parents are comfortable with allowing their kids to play.
“Social distancing is natural in baseball,” he said. “There is less communal contact.”
Solt was referring to the players on the field of play. Position players are naturally greater than 6 feet apart. The only exception where distancing is not possible is at home plate where the hitter, the catcher, and the umpire are in close quarters. Of course, there are situations at the bases when the ball is in play where fielders and runners become unavoidably close to each other.
There is also close contact in the dugout.
The challenges are many
Lansford coach, Tim Goida coaches two teams that together amount to 26 players. He believes the summer season should have begun sooner.
“I think much of this has been blown out of proportion,” said Goida, “but to be honest, it would be helpful if every parent has their son tested and cleared to play whatever sport they choose.”
Goida said the CDC guidelines are apparent at every game, but they are hard to enforce with teenage boys who habitually congregate on the benches.
“At our home field, we have signs in the outfield reminding everyone about the 6-foot social distancing and we even had team masks made,” he said, ‘‘but every five minutes, we seem to be telling the kids to stay apart and to wear their masks.’’
Few attendees are seen wearing masks.
Karen Dougherty, whose son plays for Jim Thorpe, said that kids will follow the guidelines if they are taught at home.
“In life there are always inherent risks,” she said, “but how we conduct ourselves around each other makes the difference. In the home and outside the home, a kid’s behavior should be the same and if he is taught social distancing and to wear a mask, then that’s what he should do during baseball games and wherever he goes.”
Jave Butler, whose son also plays for Thorpe, had a different take on the guidelines put forward by the CDC.
“I don’t view the risks like some,” he said, “but I respect those who follow the rules.”
He believes that playing baseball is a healthy activity during these unprecedented circumstances.
“The kids were stuck in the house for months and they were quarantined when they weren’t sick,” said Butler. “Now they can final get out, get some natural Vitamin D and most of all, get to interact with each other.” Butler added, “Our kids know the rules, but they shouldn’t keep living in fear.”
With his official Connie Mack season canceled, Marykwas’ teams aren’t playing in a sanctioned league. The schedule was thrown together as area coaches looked for teams to play. Basically, the games will be counted as scrimmages.
“It’s great to get back to the game no matter who we play,” he said. “There certainly are challenges that we address with the CDC guidelines. We have 20 players on our older team so enforcing social distancing is difficult when they are on the bench.”
Although his players signed COVID-19 waivers, Solt takes the temperature of each player when they arrive at the field and does it again about half way through the game.
“We tell our parents to be aware if their sons should show symptoms. We try not have the players share equipment and we have hand sanitizer and clean the balls with rubbing alcohol or Lysol.”
Goida said that the Schuylkill Teener League had an attorney draw up COVID waiver forms. The league keeps standings and will have playoffs. Depending upon where his teams play, there are different guidelines.
“In Pottsville, each person is temperature-checked before entering the playing area to confirm they are under the 100.4 CDC guideline,” said Goida.
The Schuylkill league umpire assigner enforces a set of stricter rules. The umpire calling balls and strikes stands behind the pitcher and also officiates plays at the bases. The second umpire stands against the back stop and calls fair and foul balls.
“The strike zone is larger because the umpire is farther from the plate,” said Goida, “but it’s fair because it’s for both teams.”
Rewards worth the risk
All three coaches said playing ball again had many benefits.
“We are re-introducing the kids to society after they have had to stay at home for so long,” said Marykwas.
“We all love baseball,” said Solt. “To see the kids on the field again is worth all the challenges and restrictions.” “The kids got lazy after being in their homes for three months,” said Goida. “Now they can get outside and get some exercise.”
Coaches are aware that if one player becomes sick with the virus, the games will likely come to a sudden stop, but for now, the kids and their coaches are enjoying playing the game they love after missing their school seasons.
Time will tell if the virus strikes out the game or making the decision to play hits a home run.
Palmerton head coach Matt Solt gives his team instructions through the fence at a recent Connie Mack Baseball League game against Jim Thorpe. BOB FORD/TIMES NEWS
