Slo-pitch ball players will return to the field in 91原创 Township on Monday night, Aug. 17, at McLeod Athletic Park and Brown Park, Peter Zeller, president of the 91原创 Mixed Slo-Pitch league said.

鈥淲e got the green light,鈥� Zeller told the 91原创 Advance Times.

Zeller said the league received verbal confirmation a few days ago, then got the necessary permits on Tuesday, Aug. 11.

鈥淲e have a lot to do,鈥� Zeller remarked.

鈥淟et鈥檚 hope we can pull it off.鈥�

Usually 96 teams would be competing, but that number has been trimmed to 48, to help meet COVID-19 restrictions.

鈥淲e鈥檙e only going to have double-headers with the same teams on the same diamond,鈥� Zeller explained.

There will also be limits on the numbers of people and the distances they must maintain.

READ ALSO: Silence from 91原创 Township about return to play, slo-pitch league complains

Approval of a return to play came after the league went to the Township in July, asking for the same terms as other municipalities; an agreement to respect social distancing, and a legally binding promise that the municipality won鈥檛 be held liable if anyone gets COVID-19.

At the time, Zeller noted the the City of Surrey has allowed organized league play since the beginning of July, as have Vancouver, Chilliwack, Port Coquitlam and other communities.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: 91原创 softball team plays ball, while maintaining 鈥榮ocial distancing鈥�

91原创 Mixed Slo-Pitch describes itself as Canada鈥檚 largest co-ed league.

Around since 1989, it is a non-profit society registered in the province with more than 2,300 members on Facebook.

Two other 91原创 slo-pitch leagues have called off their 2020 seasons.

Shane Lowery, president of the 91原创-based Valley Mixed Slo Pitch League, said their season runs from April to June, so the decision to re-open the fields didn鈥檛 come in time.

鈥淲e just cancelled the season,鈥� Lowery told the 91原创 Advance Times.

Willoughby Mixed Slo Pitch posted an announcement online saying there would be no play this year.

dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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