Fingers crossed: FCBL hopes to play baseball this summer
The Fayette County Baseball League hopes to play baseball this summer and has plans in place should the opportunity present itself.
鈥淲e had a conference call with the managers and league officers (in early April concerning the coronavirus pandemic) and had a discussion on how we are going to handle things and get games in. The way we鈥檙e set up we can be more flexible,鈥� explained FCBL President Ryan Encapera. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to meet again around May 1 and set an appropriate schedule.鈥�
Encapera stressed the establishment of any schedule would follow all guidelines established by the federal, state and local governments.
鈥淲e鈥檒l wait for the government to roll things open,鈥� said Encapera. 鈥淲e are trying to be as flexible as possible. Everyone is happy to play at least one game.鈥�
The league has a three-tiered approach to scheduling games should the situation avail itself.
鈥淥ur best-case timeline is start June 1 and play 15 to 20 games, with the playoffs in late July. We could play a shortened, round-robin tournament,鈥� said Encapera, adding, 鈥淲orst case is nothing.
鈥淲e鈥檒l just roll with it every two weeks.
Encapera encourages those interested in putting a team together for the hopeful season to reach out to him via his email, ryanencapera@aol.com. He has received interest from some already, and expects to hear from a few more folks with the cancellation of the American Legion season and other AAU and travel ball tournaments.
鈥淲e want to keep as open as we can and have interested parties be in touch before May 1,鈥� said Encapera. 鈥淲e鈥檙e having an online meeting, and make something happen.
鈥淭his is the perfect time to do this (league expansion). It could be a good thing.
鈥淲e have four teams coming back (from last season) and there鈥檚 chatter two more are coming. If we get 8, 10 teams, that would be a nice league. More than that would be great.鈥�
Encapera said games would provide entertainment and an opportunity for players to showcase their abilities.
鈥淐ollege scouts, they have nothing to watch,鈥� said Encapera.
The league would also have to secure fields.
鈥淭he question becomes the facilities. Carmichaels plays at the high school, but Mill Run has its own field. My team plays at Veterans Memorial Field in Charleroi. We rent from the Charleroi Chamber of Commerce,鈥� said Encapera. 鈥淗utchinson Field, Bailey Park, DiVirgilo (Complex) could be used.
鈥淢ost of the fields are private, so it makes it more enticing and gives us more flexibility.鈥�
Encapera is cautiously optimistic baseball will be played this summer.
鈥淚f there鈥檚 a way to get it done, we鈥檙e going to get it done. Hopefully, it will be something for people to do,鈥� Encapera said.
鈥淎ny bit of positive hope is good for everyone.鈥�