Reds baseball keeping kids busy during pandemic

By Jacob Miller Times Reporter

Baseball is back in Strathmore after the future of sports was unknown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the second phase of Baseball Alberta’s Return to Play Plan, which went into effect on July 1, the Reds are back playing once again.

“The kids seem to be really happy to be back out on the field,” said Jeff Bodie, the president of the Strathmore Minor Baseball Association (SMBA).

“The season has been going well, we’ve been getting good turnouts at our practices we’re running and now we’re starting to play some games against neighbouring communities like Chestermere,” said Bodie.

Currently, under Baseball Alberta’s guidelines, the teams are only allowed to play exhibition games against other communities within the designated cohort, up to 50 people, but are not allowed to have league games. 

Under these guidelines, teams have to stay two metres away from each other, players are not to have contact with players on the other team, and players are recommended to eat before the game at home and travel only with people from their family home.

Players are also recommended to bring and use their own equipment.

Bodie said that about 80 kids registered this season, which is a little low from last season, and there are four teams, U11, U13, U15 and U18 groups.

“It’s down overall because we didn’t run a program for the younger kids, like T-Ball and rookie ball,” he noted. “But considering the season was cancelled at one point, we’re pretty happy with the turnout we got.” 

The Reds plan on playing the season out till late August.

“Right now, we’re planning to run as long as the kids keep coming out,” said Bodie. “It’s been really good to have the kids out and give them the opportunity.”