Youth Baseball Plays it Safe
A July 6 game between the Brewers and A’s of the NSBS majors division. Photo: Colwyn Hals
On Monday, July 6, it poured at Houston Park in Nether Providence. The downpour flashed in streaks of silver past the brand-new lights on the baseball field. The first youth baseball game played under these lights was supposed to take place months ago. But now, even the half-inning of play before the rainout felt like a step in the right direction.
When the Nether Providence Athletic Association (NPAA) and Swarthmore Recreation Association (SRA) baseball leagues were shut down in March due to COVID-19, teams were just beginning to practice for the spring season. As the virus picked up speed, Nether Providence Township revoked the league’s permission to use their athletic facilities. But Dave Shuster, board president of Nether Swarthmore Baseball and Softball (NSBS), never stopped hoping for a 2020 season.
That being said, safety had to come first. The league followed the guidance of NSBS board member and ER doctor Tom Ball, who recommended that as many people wear masks as reasonable. “We’re expecting every spectator to arrive at the field masked and to remain masked while watching the game,” he said. The rule applies to coaches too.
“We’re going to try to have the batter masked,” Ball added. “but we’re not going to make it a flat rule.” All players will wear masks when not on the field.
Furthermore, players will bring lawn chairs to the game, avoiding the dugout for the sake of social distancing. Sharing equipment is banned, as are high fives and other unnecessary physical contact.
The umpires are affected as well. To keep more distance between them and players, umpires will stand behind the pitcher’s mound this season, rather than behind home plate. Frank Gorgone, Umpire-in-Chief of the Tri-County Umpire Group, said their biggest challenges will be seeing the foul lines and checked swings clearly. Also, without the umpires behind the plate, leagues may have to be more flexible about designating balls and strikes. “I told them to open up the strike zone a little bit,” Gorgone said. “If they can reach it with the bat, it’s a strike.”
Harry Mapps, whose grandson Michael Mapps plays in the majors division, is impressed with the plans. “I think they’re taking enough safety precautions and making sure the kids stay relatively far apart,” he said. “As much as you can, at least.”
Genevieve Chaney, whose son Luke Motlasz also plays in the majors, was more apprehensive. “I’m glad for them to be able to get back out here,” she said. “I think they’re still thinking through how to do it.”
Of course, hiccups are likely along the way. Shuster said, “One of my pitchers last night, he struck out the side, he came up to me to give me a high five, and I’m like, ‘Dude, I can’t.’ So I think it will take some time to get used to it.”
Ball, the ER doctor and board member, reported a board member having to remind an umpire to wear a mask.
Overall, however, Shuster thinks the league is doing a good job following the protocols and keeping everyone safe. He reported that Ball consulted a physician from the Chester County Health Department, who said, “What you’re doing is above and beyond what we would expect any league to do.”
Before the game on that rainy Monday night under the lights, former board president Eddie Bonett sang the national anthem. “I think [the anthem] is going to have a little extra meaning this year,” he said. “When you lose something, you realize how precious it was to you. So having the baseball season taken away, and now starting up again, I think it’s beautiful.”
Colwyn Hals is a rising senior at Strath Haven High School. He lives in Swarthmore.
