This summer's baseball season in Chatham has fallen victim to COVID-19.
The 2020 season has been cancelled by several leagues.
The Chatham Minor Baseball Association (CMBA) announced on Friday that its season has been cancelled. CMBA officials said it was a tough decision but safety comes first.
"The Executive of CMBA has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 baseball season. It was made after much deliberation. The safety and wellness of all of our players, coaches, umpires and volunteers is our first priority," CMBA President Jason Chickowski said in a statement.
Parents of CMBA players can either request a refund or rollover their registration to next year. CMBA parents are being reminded to indicate their child's name and date of birth. Chickowski said refunds will be processed as soon as possible.
"This is unprecedented times for us at CMBA so we ask for your continued patience as we navigate this historic set of circumstances," he added.
Parents of CMBA players must make their choices by June 15, or the registration will roll over to next season.
"We look forward to a fresh start in 2021 and hope that our 600 members will return with the energy and excitement that makes CMBA so special," Chickowski concluded.
The season for the Maple City Slo Pitch Men's League (MCSPL) has also been cancelled due to safety concerns.
MCSPL President Kurtis Holmes said it was not an easy decision to make but felt it was the "correct call" after a meeting between the executive and division presidents Thursday night.
He wants players to let the league know if they would like to get their money back or keep it on account for next season.
"We are going to take this summer and upcoming winter to work on our league to make 2021 a very successful season," added Men's Division President Rodney Juniper.
The Chatham Girls Minor Softball Association also said it had no choice but to cancel the 2020 season because of safety restrictions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, the league is planning to hold clinics and practices to develop players when the fields are released for play under a more controlled environment.
To request a full refund, email info@ckeagles.com or players can stay registered and take a credit for next season. Those who stay registered will be allowed to participate in any programming that takes place this summer.Questions can be emailed to president@ckeagles.com.
The Blenheim and District Minor Baseball Association said a decision about the 2020 season will be deferred until June 16 to follow direction from provincial and local health authorities and the Ontario Baseball Association.
"Although we hope that baseball activities will resume this summer, our ultimate desire is for the health and safety of every player, family member, and volunteer," read a Friday post on their Facebook page.
