Missing that Field of Dreams

by Stephen Morales

Sports Event Technician

(photos courtesy of Adrian Nevarez; Instagram: @baseballtrenches)

Spring and summer time usually mean fresh air, sunshine, and the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, and peanuts and cracker jacks.

Sadly, that is not be in 2020.

Coach Jim Hines's squad was left wondering what could have been as the Huskies season, along with the other CCCAA baseball teams were cut short in Mid March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Huskies were 4-17 and had struggled since winning two of their first three games. However, the team was looking to turn a corner as they recovered from key injuries and started to once again play games with their full squad - ELAC actually were playing better right before the stoppage. We caught up with Coach Hines for a few minutes and asked how the players were doing and occupying their time. Like most coaching staffs these days, Hines and his coaches are keeping tabs on their players via Zoom, Facetime and other social media applications.

"Players are working out on their own as they can," Coach Hines said over the phone. "Pitchers and catchers are working together and the players continue to lift whatever weights they have around the house."

On the subject of potential recruits for the 2021 baseball season, Hines is adamant that the process is continuing as normal as possible. "Our incoming players are working on getting their information together and the assistant coaches are keeping tabs on recruits," Hines stated.

Another major area that the coaching staff is working on at this point is helping sophomore players move on to the next level of their collegiate careers. There's no official word on anyone yet, but Hines states that they're, "helping our sophomores and fielding some offers." 

Like most of us, Coach Hines - along his staff and team - are awaiting the future of their beloved sport. Here's hoping to bright green diamonds, the crack of the bat, and the roaring crowds real soon.