ROCHESTER, N.Y. (NCC News) – No matter who you ask, this summer looks different for everyone, especially young athletes who have had many of their tournaments canceled. But summer softball tournaments in the Central New York area are still going strong. This is due to the strict rules put into place at this tournaments.
Steve Speno is the head of the CNY Bombers softball organization based out of Waterloo, N.Y. Several of his teams have traveled to tournaments this year around the state. All of the tournaments have rules about social distancing.
“Well one thing I know they’re doing is limiting the kids in the dugout,” Speno said. “For example when we’re on offense, there will be a batter up, the next kid on deck will be in the dugout, the ‘in-the-hole’ kid will be in the dugout, and a coach will be in the dugout. The rest of the team has to be out of the dugout.”
When players go to the bathroom or to the snack bar, they have to wear a mask. At all of the tournaments Speno’s team has been to there is a plexiglass shield at the snack bar also.
Although they are required to wear masks off the field, they are not required to wear masks on the field.
“They are not wearing masks on the field,” Speno said. “It’s pretty impossible in some of the 90 degree weather.”
Some parents have also been strictly following the rules also. This includes Erin Sperry, whose daughter Leah Sperry is a part of the 10-and-under UNY Revolution team based out of Rochester.
This weekend Leah’s team is playing the Lady Lions Invitational in Perry, N.Y. There are rules at this tournament as well including: only two spectators allowed per player, no handshakes or high-fives at the end of the game, and umpires cannot be behind the plate. They can only be in the field.
“I think the biggest thing they’re enforcing though, is that you can’t play in a tournament outside of your region,” Sperry said. “A couple of weekends ago when we were in Webster, there were a couple of Buffalo teams. Somebody called the town and complained. So Saturday evening they were sent home.”
Tournament administrators consider Webster a ‘Central New York’ region, and consider Buffalo a ‘Western New York’ region.
The biggest thing, Sperry said, was that the tournaments are giving these girls a chance to play.
“That’s what’s kept her going through this whole thing,” Sperry said, referring to her daughter. “I get the feeling from a lot of parents that is what has kept their mental health, has gotten better because of the fact that they are able to play softball.”
Sperry’s team is scheduled to play three games Saturday at the tournament.
