The boys of summer are hoping to become the fall guys.
Teams in the sa国际传媒 Premier Baseball League have been fielding and hitting in earnest since Baseball sa国际传媒 began allowing full team practices starting July 10 as part of Phase 2 of the return to play guidelines. An abbreviated September to late-October season looks to be the only option, if it happens at all. The 2020 season was scheduled to begin April 8 before being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 13-team BCPBL includes the Victoria Mariners, Victoria Eagles, Parksville Royals and Mid-Island Pirates of Nanaimo. The players dream of becoming the next prospects out of a league whose alumni include current or former MLB players Nick Pivetta from the Eagles, Rich Harden and Michael Saunders from the Mariners, James Paxton, Tyler O鈥橬eill, Rowan Wick, Larry Walker, Ryan Dempster, Jeff Francis, Brett Lawrie, Adam Loewen and Justin Morneau.
鈥淔all is sort of the reset we are looking to when play will hopefully be allowed,鈥� said Mariners head coach Mike Chewpoy.
鈥淚t would be awesome to have a fresh start then. But it鈥檚 all speculation, to be honest.鈥�
Sports practices in the province have expanded from 10聽people allowed on a pitch or diamond to 50 now. Games between teams, however, will not be allowed until Phase 3. That process is slower than in neighbouring provinces. Baseball teams in Saskatchewan have been allowed to play other teams and travel since June 29. Alberta moved into its Phase 3 on Wednesday and began allowing baseball play on a regional basis.
Sports leagues and teams in sa国际传媒 are awaiting word on when Phase 3 will begin, which would allow for games on limited regional basis.
鈥淥ur guys are hungry to get out there,鈥� said Chewpoy.
鈥淚deally, we would like to play other teams. If it means having to stay on the Island, we would love to play the Eagles, Pirates and Royals. Something is better than nothing.鈥�
Until then, it鈥檚 practise, practise, practise.
鈥淲e have been going hard since full team practices were OK鈥檇 last Friday [July 10],鈥� said Chewpoy.
鈥淲e went Monday to Thursday with skill-set workouts the first two days and controlled, [intra-squad] simulation games on the next two days while following social-distancing and disinfecting guidelines. It鈥檚 great to have live batting practice again. But the guys are hungry for real games. We are working as a unit to get better and sharper and be ready for when that times comes and we get the OK to play.鈥�
At least the BCPBL still has a chance. The Victoria HarbourCats of the West Coast League of baseball and Victoria Shamrocks and Nanaimo Timbermen of the Western Lacrosse Association had their 2020 seasons cancelled.
Several international sporting events planned this spring and summer for the Island have also been scrubbed. The sa国际传媒 men鈥檚 soccer fixtures against Trinidad and Tobago, considered crucial for 2022 World Cup Qatar qualifying in CONCACAF and scheduled for Westhills Stadium, were cancelled along with the sa国际传媒 Sevens women鈥檚 rugby tournament at Westhills and annual sa国际传媒 10K, GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon, Oak Bay Half Marathon and Ironman Victoria 70.3.
The Tokyo Olympic basketball qualifying tournament at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre has been rescheduled to next summer to coincide with the new Olympic starting date of July 23, 2021. The Canadian Little League baseball championship next month at Layritz Park and 2020 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, were cancelled, but Layritz was awarded the 2021 national tournament as a consolation.
The annual pro golf DCBank Open was cancelled last month at Uplands, but the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour sa国际传媒 will hold two pro tournaments next month on Bear Mountain.
The pro Canadian Premier League of soccer, which includes Pacific FC, is considering an abbreviated, single-site season at Westhills Stadium or in Charlottetown, P.E.I.
The Victoria Royals and Western Hockey League have targeted an Oct. 2 start date and the sa国际传媒 Hockey League a Dec. 1 start, but both are predicated on socially distanced fans in attendance to make it financially viable. The Westshore Rebels and VI Raiders of the sa国际传媒 Football Conference are planning for a tentative Sept. 19 start for their delayed 2020 season.
