College-level baseball returns to Lexington next week. And you can go see it.
While minor league baseball and the Lexington Legends remain on hold as the sports world continues to try to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, the loosening of some restrictions at the end of this month will allow baseball to be played in front of fans at Whitaker Bank Ballpark beginning next week.
The Legends announced Wednesday that their home field is hosting a college wooden-bat league featuring dozens of players from in and out of state beginning with a first pitch open to the public on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Ticket information, along with detailed safety protocols will be released on LexingtonLegends.com in the coming days, the Legends said.
The Commonwealth Collegiate Baseball League is composed of five teams with players from at least 11 NCAA Division I schools, including Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky and Northern Kentucky and many more from Division II, III, junior college and NAIA schools. The teams are being managed by local college and high school assistants
“We are extremely excited and ready for baseball to be back.” Legends President and CEO Andy Shea said in a news release. “We have been preparing during this time to keep Whitaker Bank Ballpark a safe and family friendly place to enjoy a game and we thank Governor (Andy) Beshear for giving us the opportunity to show that.”
Beginning June 29, the state’s coronavirus guidelines allow for baseball and softball games to be played as long as certain safety restrictions continue to be in place. Some local youth leagues plan to have their postseason tournaments at Whitaker Bank Ballpark later this summer.
College wooden-bat leagues have existed across the nation for years as a way for college players who typically play with aluminum bats to get experience and show their skills with wood bats during their college offseasons. Wood bats are used at professional levels. While notable wooden bat leagues, such as the Cape Cod League in Massachusetts, normally require some travel, travel baseball remains restricted in Kentucky under COVID-19 guidelines.
The Ohio Valley League, which includes wooden bat teams such as the Paducah Chiefs and the Hoptown Hoppers in Western Kentucky, for instance, has canceled its season. So, the CCBL is holding its summer league in one spot — Lexington.
“CCBL is a summer league and was formed with the intent for local players to live at home in the summer, work and make money, and still play baseball at night in a very competitive environment,” a statement on its website says. “This allows the player to get experience in both their career and baseball paths at the same time preparing their future on both ends. We welcome players of all college divisions.”
The CCBL has apparently already held some games behind closed doors, according to its schedule, but June 30 will be the first date, the games could be open to the public. The Legends announced that safety protocols and an adjusted seating capacity will be put into place for all upcoming games at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. Masks are also strongly encouraged when attending these games, the Legends said.
