(Undated) — Minnesota youth sports leaders are working with state leaders in crafting the “Safe Play Plan” with hopes that games can start soon with safety in mind. Minnesota Youth Athletic Services (M-Y-A-S) executive director Dawson Blanck says they’ve been given the go-ahead to begin youth baseball and softball practices for youngsters in Minnesota on June 1st. The hope is that games can be played starting on June 15th, but safety protocols need to be finalized first. Metro Baseball League (M-B-L) administrator Kim Eul says they plan to put safety protocols in place which will limit how many people can be in the dugouts, while also utilizing space behind the backstop for players, move fans to the outfield fences with proper distancing, and have one-person umpiring crews with the official standing behind the pitcher’s mound. Players will be advised to wear a mask while playing, but that will not be a requirement. There would be no post-game game handshake between the teams, instead players would tip their caps to each other from in front of their bench area after the game, then head straight to the parking lot. M-B-L and M-Y-A-S are two of the largest independent youth baseball organizations in the entire country. They are putting this effort together with Minnesota Softball, the organization working with youth softball players in the state. The Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission and State I-T Commissioner Tarek Tomes is working with the groups to try to find safe solutions to playing this summer.
M-B-L administrator Kim Eul and M-Y-A-S executive director Dawson Blanck spoke with MNN Sports Director Mike Grimm:
