By Dewey Terrill
Preparations are being made for the Junction City Brigade to play baseball this summer. This is a work in progress as recovery begins following the COVID-19 virus.
The general manager of the summer collegiate baseball team, Cecil Aska said after a Mid-Plains League conference call the staring date was tentatively moved back from May 27th to June 15th. "But we're going to have another conference call May 12th. By then all of the different teams within their communities should have a better idea of what restrictions may or may not be on there. So we'll finalize things on May 12th but right now we're moving forward with plans to play, effective June 15th." Officials are still talking about playing a full schedule, which means it would run until about Aug. 12th.
Aska explained he is preparing to have a conversation with local health officials so there can be a determination on what needs to be in place to accommodate requirements such as social distancing.
There still have to be preparations with sponsors, getting equipment, preparing the field, and determining what must be done to ensure the safety of the players and fans, including the team's travel to away games.
One area of need is host families. "When we have a better handle what we can do to assure the host families we may need some additional host families. " Players often live with host families during the summer while they play for the Brigade.