The London Majors take on the  Kitchener Panthers at Labatt Park, June 5, 2015. (File photo courtesy of Blair Henatyzen)The London Majors take on the Kitchener Panthers at Labatt Park, June 5, 2015. (File photo courtesy of Blair Henatyzen)
London

Intercounty Baseball League cancels 2020 season

Londoners holding out hope the London Majors would be able to take to the field in Labatt Park this season are officially out of luck.

The Intercounty Baseball League has announced it is cancelling the 2020 season due to operation obstacles related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The cancellation brings to an end the league's streak of playing 101 straight seasons.

In March, three of the league's eight teams announced they wouldn't play this year because of the virus. Late Thursday, the remaining five teams also threw in the towel on the 2020 season.

"Many aspects of life in the province are returning to some sense of normalcy, albeit slowly and cautiously. However, a clear path for team sports – that includes fans, is not imminent and the five teams that were still hoping to play this year – Guelph, Hamilton, London, Toronto, and Welland – unanimously decided a meaningful season was no longer viable in 2020," the league said in a statement.

While the season won't go ahead, some teams plan to hold events and activities at their facilities this summer, where allowed.

The Intercounty Baseball League is the fifth-longest continually operated baseball league in the world. It played its first season in 1919.

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