Legion baseball coach hoping for 2020 season

While seven states nationally have cancelled their summer Legion baseball programs, Imperial Coach Bruce Peterson is hopeful a 2020 season remains on track.

As of Tuesday, Nebraska American Legion is still planning for summer ball, but it’s a bit of a guessing game as coaches and players wait out how far-reaching the COVID-19 pandemic will be.

Imperial has had its 2020 season schedule set since December, Peterson said.

Their season opener is set for Sunday, May 31, when Holdrege comes to town for a double-header at Campbell field.

He has an anticipated roster of 20 players this summer. The majority, about 13 or 14, will be in the junior age group. Five to six are true senior age. For senior games, several of the juniors will fill in, he said.

Imperial competes in the Mid-Nebraska Baseball League. 

In addition to league games, a new junior tournament was added to Imperial’s schedule in early June. Teams are to include Lexington, Wood River and others from eastern Nebraska.

Peterson said before the 10-person group mandate went into effect, they were able to have a couple small group practices. Those have since stopped.

Nationally, there will be no American Legion baseball regionals or a World Series this summer.

Peterson said that really doesn’t affect Imperial since only Class A teams in Nebraska would qualify for those tournaments.