Daily Sitka Sentinel

Little League Plans Season with Safeguards

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer

Despite a number of difficulties and delays, the Sitka Little League plans for a modified summer 2020 baseball and softball season, league officials say.

“We’re going to do something for the kids who want to do it, even if it’s sandlot baseball,” Sitka Little League president Karen Case told the Sentinel. She noted that following the cancellation of the Little League World Series on April 30, local organizations got a green light from the international organization to coordinate their own summer leagues, with local- and state-level guidance.

“As each state and community will have different guidance for resuming organized youth sports, Little League International strongly encourages volunteers to confirm with their local and state health officials that it is safe to do so before resuming Little League activity,” Little League International said in a statement April 30.

At the moment, Sitka Little League is in the process of doing just that by coordinating safety and mitigation plans with local and state authorities.

“What I’m hoping for is drafting teams in very late May, starting practices in the first week of June, and then scheduling some games,” Case said. “We will look into the possibility of a tournament in Southeast Alaska, but that’s far down the road right now. We’re just trying to get the kids on the field.”

Sitka Little League players take to the field in spring 2017 as they are introduced during opening day ceremonies. This year’s opener is on hold because of COVID-19 concerns. (Sentinel file photo)

Case emphasized that given the uncertain nature of the ongoing pandemic, dates aren’t yet definite.

League Information Officer Nikki Balovich, who works primarily with the softball side of Sitka Little League, said, “We’re hoping to do more of a sandlot style season. Just with our lower numbers and not knowing how many girls are going to participate – I’m just trying to be hopeful and optimistic that we can make it work and that something will happen for the girls.”

She added that the league is waiting for the state’s “Phase Three” reopening plan before making a final plan for baseball and softball this summer.

Case described the cancellation of nationwide Little League activities as “crushing.”

“It was really shocking. It’s such a big part of our lives,” she said. “The kids were very disappointed. The very tail end of the youth basketball season got cut off, and then the news came out that possibly there would be no Little League.”

She said plans are now in the works and awaiting state approval to allow for organized sports to resume.

“Currently, our assistant district administrator and state safety officer are submitting a whole package, protections and guidelines, on how we will handle the COVID situation as a local league and a state league,” Case said.

In the ongoing second phase of the Reopen Alaska Responsibly plan published by the state government, “athletic organizations must establish a COVID-19 Mitigation Plan for their participants during practices, trainings, events, or competition addressing the practices and protocols to protect staff, participants, volunteers, spectators and the public.”

Rich McAlpin jogs around an empty Moller Field this morning. McAlpin, a Sitka Little League board member, said that teams had been practicing in the batting cage all winter and were ready to take the field just before state mandates to stay at home came into effect. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

Among other requirements, the state plan calls for health screenings of participants and the regular sanitizing of public areas.

Case said that in order to protect players’ health, Sitka Little League will ensure social distancing and prohibit the sharing of items such as bats or helmets. She added that there also will be regular cleaning of shared facilities.

“I think we can make it work, with some guidelines and being careful,” she said.

As for the spectators, Case said the league is looking at multiple options, from social distancing in the stands to asking spectators to watch the game from their vehicles.

Case said in a typical year, about 300 kids, from small children to 16-year-olds, play in Little League. But while there’s been public interest in the league this year, she’s unsure exactly how many families will want their children participating. She added that the league is seeking a waiver that would allow 17-year-olds to play as well.

Sitka Little League player agent Ryan Gluth said, “We believe Little League is a vital part of our community and a great thing for our kids, parents, and coaches. My job as a player agent is, first of all, safety and making sure that the players have a good experience safety-wise and baseball-wise.”

Specifically, he said, the league is looking into areas where social distancing may be difficult, namely the dugout and home plate.

He noted that it’s likely that fans will watch games from the fenceline or from vehicles. “We’re doing our best to make sure that our players and spectators are safe,” he said.

While there’s traditionally been a large opening ceremony to kick off the season, Case said that won’t be possible this year.

“We’ll try to do something special for each division or each team but we will not be able to hold the typical opening ceremonies,” she said.

The main thing, she said, is to focus on putting together a season, despite the challenges.

“We just decided that I have had enough phone calls and enough interest that we will go ahead and do it,” she said.

Little League registration is open now.