Artie Burke is optimistic.
The Pioneer Valley Youth Baseball League doesn’t start for another month. Burke, who serves as the league’s commissioner, isn’t sure if the league will start on time, but he likes the chances a season will be held at some point.
“We have to observe the directives of the governor and the cities and towns. Momentarily everything is shut down. We can’t even have a personal meeting of course,” Burke said. “Having said that, I do know that our group is very interested in having a summer baseball season to a person. We’re certainly not going to disregard in any shape or form anyone’s directives and we’re not going to put any at risk.”
The PVYBL field teams in a Mickey Mantle Division (ages 15-16) and a Sandy Koufax Division (ages 13-14). Last year, Amherst, Dalton, Hatfield, Mohawk, Northampton and Westfield formed the Koufax Division. Amherst, Frontier, Mohawk, Northampton, Franklin Tech-Pioneer, South Hadley and Westfield formed the Mantle Division.
The Koufax Division typically starts June 1, with Mantle following a week later. Each division plays six-week regular seasons followed by a double-elimination tournament. The championships are held at Headmasters’ Field at Deerfield Academy.
“If its possible we’d be delighted to start in the middle of June if that were sensible and safe,” Burke said.
Gov. Charlie Baker extended the non-essential business closure date to May 18 on Tuesday. That extension may alter the schedule of the PVYBL.
“We just have to respond to developments,” Burke said. “The governor’s proclamation will cause us to revisit the timing of things again. One of the things that is interesting is that we’ve stopped around August 1 in the past because families want to vacation during August. It’s possible in fact likely that not too many people will be taking a vacation this summer. We may, if we can, we may like to play all the way through August.”
If the PVYBL were to have a season, Burke is open to the idea of adding teams. He said in the past Wilbraham and Ludlow have added teams, while Brattleboro, Vermont, has asked this year if they could field a team in both divisions.
“If it’s logistically possible, I certainly would imagine we’d be very happy to accommodate anyone wants to play ball,” Burke said.
While the PVYBL will plan for a season, it all hinges on state and local governments as well as the health and safety of everyone involved.
“We’re going to proceed most discreetly and safely but with the idea that if someone is going to let us play ball the sense that I get is ‘Hey, let’s do it,’” Burke said. “If we have to start on July 1 and play to the end of August people will, I think, like to do that.”
AMERICAN LEGION — No decision has been made on the American Legion baseball season in western Mass. District 3 chairman Tom Pitoniak is waiting for more direction from state chairman Dick Paster.
“I recommend that we don’t have baseball this year,” Pitoniak said. “I’m waiting on the department chairman to come up with an answer. With Baker’s extension of distancing I don’t recommend have baseball. There’s going to be too many restrictions.”
Belchertown Post 239, Easthampton Post 224, Greenfield Post 81 and Northampton Post 28 field Senior Division teams. Belchertown, Easthampton, Greenfield and Holyoke Post 325 field Junior Division teams.
American Legion Baseball canceled all regional tournaments as well as its World Series on April 7. Two days later, the Massachusetts Athletic Committee announced that the Junior and Senior Tournaments that were scheduled for July 25 were postponed to Aug. 8. The extra time would give Legion some flexibility in order to have a season, which its had for 94 straight summers.
Tryouts are typically held in May with the regular season starting in early June.
Pitoniak said he expects a decisions by the end of May.
Some states have already canceled the season, however, none in New England.