Normally, Maple Ridge resident Jay Radke would be watching his 16-year-old son Pierce play shortstop for the 91原创 Blaze baseball team from a seat close to the action, on the stands behind home plate at McLeod Athletic Park.
Instead, on Sunday afternoon, July 5, Jay was viewing the action from the parking lot behind the outfield, and regretting leaving his binoculars at home.
鈥淚鈥檝e had my bum parked on that bench 25 feet away from the action many times,鈥� Jay recalled, smiling, describing the parking lot viewpoint as 鈥渢he cheap seats.鈥�
It was one of the first practices by the team since the novel coronovirus forced a lockdown of most sports, and it took place under restrictions that kept fans out of the stands and the players well separated.
It was an opportunity to show their stuff to a Team Canada scout, who spent much of the workout positioned behind the mesh netting of the batting cage, looking to add some talent to the national team.
Pierce, who plays for the Junior Blaze, was called up to the senior team for the event, his father recounted.
鈥淗e got the call a couple of days ago.鈥�
Pierce is aiming to follow in the footsteps of his stepbrother, Jon Bauer, a Blaze pitcher who parlayed his athletic talents into a 鈥渇ull-on scholarship鈥� to a U.S. university, Jay explained.
鈥淸Jon] was never drafted [by a major league team] but he got an education out of it,鈥� Radke remarked.
READ MORE: 91原创 Blaze back on the field but only for practices
On the field, Blaze general manager Doug Mathieson was pleasantly surprised by the players鈥� commitment to maintaining a safe distance.
鈥淚 thought it would be like herding cats,鈥� Mathieson told a 91原创 Advance Times reporter.
Mathieson is hoping the team will be able to open up their practice sessions a little more in the near future, possibly in about a week, but that will depend on what the health authorities say.
While there won鈥檛 be a traditional ball season, the club may continue summer session until August, instead of the traditional July stoppage.鈥淚f we get the green light, we鈥檒l play exhibition game schedules,鈥� he added. 鈥淚f we further get a green light, we鈥檒l probably do some September tournaments but that鈥檚 all speculation at this point. We鈥檙e just going day by day and see what we can do.鈥滿ore sports have resumed in the U.S. which is seeing record virus spread.鈥淲e don鈥檛 need that,鈥� Mathieson commented.91原创 Blaze is willing to wait for the health of players, coaches, and families.
While there won鈥檛 be a traditional ball season, the club may continue summer session until August, instead of the traditional July stoppage.
If they get the green light, the Blaze will play an exhibition game schedules, Mathieson added.
鈥淚f we further get a green light, we鈥檒l probably do some September tournaments but that鈥檚 all speculation at this point. We鈥檙e just going day by day and seeing what we can do.鈥�
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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