By Jim Correale
Though the coronavirus pandemic derailed high school spring sports, a group of baseball coaches is hoping to give graduated seniors a chance to step into their cleats and compete against each other this summer.
Catholic Central League (CCL) coaches have put together two rosters of players, with games scheduled to start Monday on the new turf field at Austin Prep in Reading.
While major league players and owners have quibbled for months over the return of professional baseball, the young guys are eager to take the field.
“They are very excited for the chance to be back out there,” said Bishop Fenwick coach Russ Steeves.
Having lost their final high school season just as the first practices were about to begin in March, members of the class of 2020 have not been able to play competitively at any level this summer, though some hope to play college ball.
“These seniors have taken so many hits,” said Austin Prep coach Jonathan Pollard. “As coaches committed to these kids, we wanted to do anything we could.”
The CCL coaches worked for two months, meeting on Zoom every Friday, to put together a format that works for the players and is also in compliance with state guidelines.
“We want to give them as close to a season as possible,” said St. Mary’s coach Derek Dana. “The guys are very excited.”
Players have practiced in small groups in recent days, and with Gov. Charlie Baker’s announcement that Massachusetts is moving into Phase 3 of the reopening process on Monday, “organized youth and adult amateur sports” will again be allowed, according to the state’s web site.
The coaches combined players from the schools participating based on total numbers, as well as available pitchers and catchers, and the result is two squads: players from St. Mary’s and Austin Prep will square off against those from Bishop Fenwick, Arlington Catholic and Archbishop Williams.
Games will be played Monday and Friday evenings, with opening day starting at 7 p.m. and games after that at 6 p.m.
The sparkling venue at Austin Prep is part of the draw as well.
“We didn’t want these guys to lose the opportunity to play on the new field,” Pollard said.
Looking ahead, the coaches all seem optimistic about what 2021 holds for their teams. With the 2020 season scrapped, Dana’s Spartans are still the defending Div. 2 state champions.
“We’ll have eight seniors next year, which will be good as far as leadership,” Dana said. “Hopefully, they’ll get some innings in this summer.”
Steeves, whose squad made it to last year’s Div. 3 state semifinal, said that the cancellation of the spring season was “devastating,” but he believes his Crusaders will not miss a beat when they return to action next year.
“We have a strong group,” the Fenwick coach said. “They missed last year, so they’re like caged animals. I think my job is to just get out of the way and let them play.”
