Baseball Sask released its return to train and play protocols for the 2020 season. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Keaton Brown

baseball on deck

‘A step in the right direction’: NSRBL commissioner weighs in on return to train and play plan

Jun 15, 2020 | 2:00 PM

It may look different this year, but baseball will be back in Saskatchewan this summer.

Last week, Baseball Sask put out its return to train and play protocols. It is a comprehensive plan for all members of Baseball Sask to return to baseball diamonds and start the 2020 season.

Kelvin Colliar, co-commissioner of the North Saskatchewan River Baseball League (NSRBL), said they are optimistic about the upcoming season and excited to receive the news of baseball’s return to the province.

“This is a step in the right direction for us. We kind of looked at the timeline as to when phase three was opening up and if that same kind of trend continues it will be three weeks down the road when phase four would start and that opens up the outdoor recreational facilities,” he said.

Colliar said having a plan from Baseball Sask for everyone to follow is a good start, but it will take a lot of cooperation to make it work.

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“It is going to be a combination of not only what the teams can do, but what the recreation boards and towns and municipalities do as well because they are the people that own the facilities that these guys play in,” he said.

Colliar explained they will host an online meeting for all the teams in the league so they can explain the new protocols and answer any questions the teams might have.

“Just to clarify what those protocols actually mean. What degree you’re going to have to clean and sanitize,” he said.

Unfortunately for many of the teams in the NSRBL, the COVID-19 protocols outlined in the return to train and play plan are only one of the obstacles they have to get over to return to the diamonds. Colliar said a lot of the players in the league may not be available when the time comes.

“The vast majority of the teams we have, a lot of their guys are working in the oil field. With the combination of the COVID-19 and the combination of the fall in the price in oil a lot of guys haven’t worked in a while. They are slowly getting back to work and they have to put in the hours to get their lives on track,” he said.

“I know there has been some concerns about even being able to field a team,” he added.

Regardless of the obstacles they face, Colliar said the league is excited about the prospect of getting back out on the diamonds and playing some ball.

“We are excited about, you know, being one step closer to returning to a sport that we love. We recognize there are still some concerns, but hopefully we can get the season underway,” he said.

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Keaton.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow