Legion still planning for summer with baseball

    Imperial Legion Coach Bruce Peterson said it’s still a waiting game, but he continues to be hopeful for a summer of baseball.
    Fifteen State Legion Departments across the country have cancelled their seasons this year, but Nebraska is not one of them.
    It’s still the intention of Nebraska American Legion’s athletic committee to “hold as much of or any part of a playing season in Nebraska as the situation allows.”
    In the past week, Nebraska Legion officials did announce they have canceled all area and state post-season playoff tournaments.
    But local leagues, like the Mid-Nebraska League Imperial plays in, are still planning to have games at this point.
    It may not be as long of a season as in summers of past, Peterson said, but he continues to hold out hope.
    “There’s still hope for a lot of baseball,” Peterson said.
    “Our league is working to play as much of our season as allowed and then play East-West league tournaments during similar dates when the district and state tournaments would have been,” he said.
    As soon as a start date is issued, each team will be required to conduct 14 days of practice prior to any games against another team, Peterson added.
    The Nebraska Legion web page added, “Once the Governor announces a date to allow youth sports, the committee will stipulate a start date of the 14-day practice period.”
    It continued, “Even at that time, Legion teams will still be required to adhere to all local, state and national health measures.”
    Gov. Pete Ricketts issued an order on April 9 that suspended all organized team sports, youth and adult, until May 31 which includes Legion and younger baseball and softball programs.
    Peterson has a roster of about 20 players for the 2020 season. Their first scheduled game is May 31.

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