Youth softball, baseball pulls the plug

HAMPTON – Even though high school teams are set to go and Iowa governor Kim Reynolds gave the OK for youth programs in softball and baseball to go ahead and play, the Hampton youth softball and baseball teams gave that a thumbs-down last week.

Youth softball made the announcement on Sunday, May 24 before the governor’s proclamation and even though the governor made the proclamation, youth baseball joined the no-go the following day on Wednesday, May 27.

“It is about safety,” youth softball coordinator Kolette Ivey said. “I think the major reason was that we don’t know enough about this to protect our little ones. We go from Pre-K all the way to seventh grade. To get a five-year-old to social distance and enjoy the season, it would be really hard. We looked really hard, unfortunately that is what they came to.”

When asked if it would have made a difference if the governor had made the proclamation sooner, Ivey said, “It may have, but I’m sure with all of the rules and precautions that high school has to take and I think we have some of the very best volunteers and that could be a lot for volunteers and it’s not fair for volunteers to delegate the safety things (that are being asked).

“It’s a hard decision to make, you are never going to know if it will be the right decision or not. My family spends every day out there during the softball season, even in the ones my daughter were not involved in.”

Youth baseball co-chair Bobbi Brocka said a lot of discussion went into the decision.

“We had hope when governor Reynolds opened it up yesterday morning,” Brocka said. “We talked about the rules and regulations to put forth the best effort to keep the kids safe. It was just going to be a lot. We were putting the health of people first. We wanted to play baseball, but we decided at the end, it was a lot. With kids, after not seeing their friends after two and a half months, they are going to want to hug each other and you want them to be able to do so.

“In the dugouts, we can’t keep the kids away from each other. Also, to ask the parents of kids to each buy a helmet and bat and sanitize both between each usage, it’s a lot to ask the parents to have that expense. Just for the safety of our kids. It’s just one summer, we’ll be back next summer.”

Both programs took some consideration into what surrounding towns were doing with their youth programs.

“I know West Fork decided they weren’t going to do their softball and baseball (as far as) wouldn’t play out (teams) of county,” Ivey said. “It didn’t factor into it. It’s about safety. We want to keep everyone safe and would feel bad if anyone were not safe and there was a way to prevent it.”

Brocka added, “Yes and no. There are several towns who have not decided yet. Others said, ‘no we’re done.’ When we heard softball was done, we were leaning towards it, standing united.”

Ivey said she just felt bad for the kids, who want to be active with their friends.

“The kids are (the ones who are) suffering the most,” Ivey said.

Brocka said she hopes that kids and their parents are still out there practicing – batting, playing catch – and hopes to do something at either the end of July or August for a camp of some kind, although that hasn’t been set in stone.

“We hate to say no, but we have to say no at this time,” Brocka said.