THE CODY CUBS LEGION BASEBALL TEAM HAS OFFICIALLY BEGAN PRACTICING. THE CUBS HIT THE DIAMOND FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR LAST MONDAY, WHILE ADHERING TO THE RESTRICTIONS LINED OUT BY ALB COMMISIONAR CODY BEERS. THE CUBS ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO BE ON THE FIELD EVEN IN A LIMITED CAPACITY, NO MORE THAN NINE PEOPLE ON A FIELD AT ANY GIVEN TIME. HEAD COACH OF THE CUBS BART GRENZ TALKS ABOUT TAKING TO THE FILED FOR THE FIRST TIME.
“JUST TRYING TO GET INTO A ROUTINE, GET INTO A THROWING ROUTINE AND STUFF. THE BIGGEST THING THAT I WANT TO SEE FROM THE PLAYERS IS ENTHUSIASM. JUST ARE THEY SHOWING UP, HAPPY, READY TO GO, WANTING TO BE AROUND EACH OTHER. WE DEFINITELY HAD THAT. WE’RE CONSCIENCES OF ARMS AND LEGS AND STUFF, AND WE’LL PROBABLY HAVE A LITTLE SORENESS BUT WE JUST WANT ENTHUSIASM.”
THAT ENTHUSIASM IS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR AS THE PLAYERS ARE EXUDING EXCITEMENT.
“THEY SHOW UP. IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THEM. SOME OF THEM HAVEN’T SEEN EACH OTHER. YOU KNOW, HAVE ONLY SNAP CHATTED EACH OTHER AND TALKED TO EACH OTHER THROUGH TEXTING, SNAP CHAT, SOCIAL MEDIA STUFF AND IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THEM JUST INTERACT. IT WAS KIND OF TOUGH AT TIMES TO KEEP THEM APART BECAUSE THEY’RE SO USED TO BEING CLOSE AND HIGH FIVE AND DOING THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WE HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE CONSCIENCES TO SAY ‘HEY WE CAN’T DO THAT RIGHT NOW.’”
COACH GRENZ ASSURES THE TEAM IS FOLLOWING PROTOCOL. THEY ARE HOLDING MULTIPLE PRACTICES A DAY, THAT LAST ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF EACH, TO GIVE EVERY KID A CHANCE TO GET ON THE FIELD.
“YOU KNOW, WE JUST SPREAD OUT AND WE TRY TO ADHERE TO ALL OF THE RULES. KEEP THE KIDS SAFE, KEEP US SAFE AND JUST DO WHAT WE CAN DO. WE’VE SET UP A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT GROUPS WHERE WE’RE RUNNING MULTIPLE PRACTICES. JUST DOING THE BEST WE CAN UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. WE HAVE TO TRUST IN OUR LEADERS AND WHAT THEY’RE TELLING US TO DO, TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. WE JUST WANT TO PLAY. WE’LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES AND WHATEVER THEY TELL US TO DO JUST TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT ON THE FIELD.”
WHILE WE DON’T KNOW WHEN OR IF GAMES WILL BE PLAYED, GOVERNOR GORDON IS SET TO ADDRESS THE STATES RESTRICTIONS ORDERS MAY 15TH. COACH GRENZ ON THE POSSIBILITY OF FIELDING THE ENTIRE TEAM.
“YEAH, WE’RE HOPING RESTRICTIONS LIGHTEN UP A LITTLE BIT. IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE COULD HAVE A FULL TEAM PRACTICE BEFORE WE PLAY OUR FIRST GAME BUT WE’LL SEE WHEN RESTRICTIONS LIGHTEN UP. EVERYBODY AROUND THE STATE WANTS TO GET INTO GAMES RIGHT AWAY. HERE IN CODY, I DON’T KNOW WHAT WE’LL DO FOR SURE WHEN THEY OPEN UP, WHEN WE’LL START PLAYING GAMES BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE THE WHOLE GROUP TOGETHER AT SOME TIME.”
AND WITH UNPRECEDENTED TIMES COMES UNPRECEDENTED MEASURES. COACH GRENZ HIGHLIGHTS HOW THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS EFFECTED THE TEAMS SCHEDULE.
“WE’LL HAVE QUITE A FEW CHANGES. WE’VE ALREADY CANCELED SOME GAMES. WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT OUT OF STATE TRAVEL, WE DON’T KNOW RECOMMENDATIONS OF STAYING IN MOTEL ROOMS OR TEAM TRAVEL. OUR SCHEDULE’S GOING TO GREATLY CHANGE FROM WHAT WE PUT TOGETHER IN FEBRUARY. RIGHT NOW WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE, THAT’S A MINOR THING. JUST BEING ABLE TO GET OUT AND PLAY IS THE MAJOR THING. SO WE’RE JUST GOING TO DO WHATEVER WE’RE TOLD.”
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