Play ball: Youth baseball, softball given green light in Delmont, Murrysville
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With Westmoreland County in the green phase of Gov. Tom Wolf’s covid-19 reopening plan, youth athletic associations in Delmont and Murrysville have been given the go-ahead to start their seasons.
“We’re ready to go,” said Erin Salas, who serves as softball vice president for both the Delmont Area and Franklin Regional athletic associations. “We’re just waiting on the green light.”
Salas said both leagues have developed health and safety guidelines that will be distributed to participating families.
FRAA teams have begun practice, and will begin playing games next week. DAAA officials are developing their schedule and will meet on Monday evening.
Murrysville Chief Administrator Jim Morrison said the burden of maintaining a safe atmosphere will fall to the associations.
“They’ve got to make sure they practice social distance, they have to make sure they’re wiping things down,” Morrison said. “We’re not going to send the police out. We’re not going to have the park patrol come out. That’s on the organization.”
Among the health and safety guidelines in place for both players and spectators:
• Each baseball diamond is not to exceed a gathering of more than 90 people.
• Players are permitted no more than two spectators.
• Players will provide their own food and drink, and there will be no team water coolers or shared drinking stations.
• Bleachers and benches will be disinfected every four hours.
• Start times will be staggered so that no more than half of the complex is entering and leaving at the same time.
• All balls and equipment will be disinfected before and after every practice.
• Social distancing will be required, with no more than half of a team in the dugout at any one time.
Restrooms at the Murrysville Community Park ball fields will be open.
Four teams from both associations will also share time at the Newhouse Park ball fields in Delmont.
“I think it’s important to get the kids back out there,” said Murrysville Councilman Mac McKenna. “The hardest part is going to be keeping to the guidelines.”