“You can observe a lot by watching,” said Yogi Berra once upon a time, and a lot of people will be doing just that when high school baseball and softball games get underway next week in DMPS and most districts statewide, despite the fact that live attendance will be purposely limited.
By virtue of its status as the only state with summertime interscholastic sports, Iowa is drawing the eyes of the nation as it leads the way back to some form of normalcy for extracurricular school activities. First-in-the-nation ballgames should play out more smoothly than the most recent round of presidential caucuses did in February. At the very least, final scores figure to be disclosed in real time.
Will hand sanitizer substitute for pitchers’ resin bags and hitters’ pine tar rags? And what’s this-no spitting of sunflower seeds allowed? Say it ain’t so! Those wrinkles are just for the players. Fans who take themselves out to the ballgames won’t be able to buy peanuts and crackerjack. No concession stands will be open for business.
Still, there will be bats and mitts and balls; runs and hits and errors. A game that lost its status as the national pastime a generation or so ago will at least be one state’s pastime again, if only temporarily. And that will make the livin’ just a little bit easier in the summertime of 2020.
Something almost as timeless as summer itself will also sport an experimental look this year, so now’s a good time to review the revised ground rules for fans before a pitch is thrown.
The Central Iowa Metropolitan League (CIML) issued an advisory that includes the following protocols:
”Schools will distribute two (2) tickets per player in uniform and two per coach at each level to be used at that level throughout the season. This ticket will allow the ticket holder to pay admission or use a school specific pass to gain entrance for the contest. The ticket only allows an individual to purchase admission and has no cash value and may only be used at the venue and event listed (i.e. varsity baseball tickets may only be used at the baseball field for the varsity contest). This ticket will ensure that the individual may purchase admission up until the conclusion of the first game of a doubleheader at the same level. In events featuring a doubleheader at the same level (varsity baseball, varsity softball, 10th baseball, 9th baseball, and 9th softball), individual schools may allow additional persons to pay admission if space allows after the conclusion of the first game at their discretion. In combined events (JV/Varsity), the venue will be emptied after the first game. Individuals holding a ticket to pay for admission for both contests will only be required to pay one time. Individual schools are responsible for communicating their seating availability and social distancing plan for each venue. At all venues, individual family household units (2 people) are encouraged to sit together to help with overall capacity. Fans are encouraged to bring their own chairs in the event the bleachers meet capacity. Ticket gates will open 30 minutes prior to the start of the contest. Concessions will not be offered at venues. Coolers will be allowed to be brought in for individual use and are subject to inspection. ”
NOTE: Fans are required to wear a face mask at all DMPS venues unless underlying health conditions, such as asthma, may be impacted by a mask.
All five DMPS schools are hosting varsity softball and baseball games on Opening Day, next Monday, June 15. Dowling is at North, Southeast Polk is at Lincoln, Johnston is at East, Urbandale is at Hoover and Roosevelt hosts Ankeny Centennial.
The boys and girls of summer are back and the whole country will take notice. Just you watch.
VISIT ACTIVITIES.DMSCHOOLS.ORG FOR THE BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL SCHEDULE FOR DMPS HIGH SCHOOLS.
*The Iowa Cubs announced yesterday that Principal Park will be the site for two CIML clashes involving DMPS teams next week. The Roosevelt/Ankeny Centennial doubleheader on Monday and another matching Lincoln against Dowling on Wednesday will start at 5:00. Tickets are $8 and will go on sale at the box office one hour prior to first pitch. Stadium capacity will be limited to 1,933 in order to comply with social distancing guidelines. Children age three and under will be admitted free. Concessions stands will be open. All purchases of tickets, concessions and merchandise will be cashless transactions.
