Russ Pankonin | Johnson Publications
Coach Bruce Peterson keeps a watchful eye on Cooper Dillan, right, and Jaret Peterson as they work on a fielding drill at practice.
Russ Pankonin | Johnson Publications
Morel Jurado, foreground, and his teammates get in some throwing practice as Imperial’s Legion teams get ready for their first games in two weeks.
Opening Legion games just two weeks away
After a long few months with limited sporting events thanks to COVID-19, baseball games are just two weeks away.
Imperial’s Legion team will open its season June 18 for a junior double-header in Hershey. That’s the first date games can be scheduled on the Governor’s Phase II reopening schedule.
After four more double-headers on the road, Imperial’s junior and senior teams will make their 2020 home debut on Sunday, June 28, at Campbell field.
Practices were allowed to start this week, and Imperial Coach Bruce Peterson said he’s pleased how it’s going.
“It was a good first night,” he said.
With limited time before the first contests, Peterson said he plans daily practices through the week, with equal emphasis on offense and defense.
Getting arms in shape will be a priority, he said.
His team of 18 players who showed up for practice this week vary in their condition, he said. Some were able to get into weight rooms on their own since the school’s was closed due to COVID-19.
With the pandemic in play, Peterson said it’s been a little different this year. Normally, they would have been practicing weeks ago.
With all the restrictions in place, such as no use of dugouts at practice, it’s a lot to remember, he said.
“But, we are doing it. The players are adjusting,” he said.
Luckily, with the sport of baseball, it’s not difficult to keep players spaced out as the guidelines suggest, he added.
Imperial’s schedule will feature five home double-headers and six on the road.
After the regular season concludes July 12, the Mid-Nebraska tournaments and championship games will begin.
Nebraska Legion cancelled its post-season tournaments, but, if they chose to, leagues could schedule their own.
Mid-Nebraska did just that in both junior and senior divisions. Coaches will turn in regular season records, from which traveling, single elimination tournaments will be seeded in separate east and west divisions.
The winners of the junior and senior east and west tourneys will then meet in championship games.