The Prince Albert Royals will take to the field once again, starting on July 6. Submitted photo/Duane Krip

By Jeff D'Andrea

Play Ball!

A Royal return; baseball games returning to Prince Albert on July 6

Jun 25, 2020 | 2:41 PM

Umpires around the province are warming up their voices to finally yell “play ball,” as the start to the baseball season is just around the corner.

Thanks to changes put into phase 4.2 of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan, baseball is getting the go-ahead to play games. Although they will technically be cleared to play on June 29, they will continue to practice until games get underway on July 6.

“It’s really exciting. I’ve had lots of comments from a lot of parents and kids that they’re ready to get going,” said Duane Krip, president of the Prince Albert Minor Baseball Association.

There will be some changes and challenges to be presented to baseball teams this season, as there are various guidelines they will need to follow. Only three players will be allowed in the dugout at any given time, personal equipment like helmets can’t be shared. Catcher equipment will need to be sanitized before being used by another player, among other restrictions.

But once the ball is in the pitcher’s hand, everything will be back normal. It’s still three strikes and you’re out, and four balls and you’re walking. Slides and tags and interactions at home plate will remain the same and have been cleared by the province. Pickoffs, steals, and bunts—it will be baseball as we know it.

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“Fortunately with the guidelines, nothing is changing as far as the game itself,” Krip said. “The only thing that is going to change is the protocols of social distancing, making sure there are only three kids in the dugout, and having people stay apart. No sharing of equipment, no sunflower seeds, no sharing of bats. But everything stays the same.”

Like softball in the province, there will be two different ‘gatherings’ of 30 people, allowing for 30 game participants in the diamond, and 30 spectators on the outside looking in.

But unlike softball, all provincial tournaments have been cancelled. Although Krip said it’s possible for Baseball Sask to change their minds at some point, the decision is that no provincial tournaments will be played this year.

“Unfortunately, Baseball Sask had made the decision to cancel all provincial tournaments,” Krip said. “What we have right now is league play and a few travelling leagues like the Sask Premier League that will go. They will just play their league and not go to provincials.”

Unlike some sports, baseball will not be required to be playing in mini-leagues. Various Prince Albert Royals teams can continue in their travel leagues. The 18U Royals will be playing in their second straight season in the Sask Premier AA Baseball League, and will start holding their tryouts on Thursday.

The baseball season usually runs in the spring, which can be a busy time for athletes with other sports and schooling requirements. But now that baseball has been moved to the summer and is cleared to play, Krip hopes to see even more people take up the sport.

“What we’re really encouraging people to do is take this opportunity to come out and experience baseball. There’s a lot of kids out there that because of their normal schedules in the springtime, they’ve just never been able to play baseball. Now that we are a summer league, and we know there are a lot of kids that haven’t had any organized sport for many months, that this is a great opportunity to come out, join in and have some fun playing baseball.”

The Prince Albert Minor Baseball Association has re-opened registrations and will accept them until June 29. Games will start on July 6.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW