Play ball!: FCBL set to begin play on June 28
The Carmichaels Copperheads will open the defense of their 2019 crown on Sunday, June 28, when the Fayette County Baseball League officially starts the 2020 season.
Carmichaels, which won its fourth consecutive and 14th overall league title last year, travels to German-Masontown Park to play the new team in the league, Masontown.
Mill Run, which lost to the Copperheads in last year蘑菇视频 final, is on the road against Mitch蘑菇视频 Bail Bonds at Charleroi蘑菇视频 Veterans Park.
The Fayette Raiders, the fifth team in the league, open their schedule on the road Tuesday, June 30, at Masontown. Carmichaels hosts Mitch蘑菇视频 Bail Bonds to close out play in June.
Dickie Krause manages the defending champion Copperheads. Ryan Encapera will again be at the helm for Mitch蘑菇视频 Bail Bonds. Veteran Ray Orndorff manages Mill Run. Vince Dellapenna is the manager of the Fayette Raiders, and John Palmer manages Masontown, the new team in the league.
According to league president Encapera, there were a few hoops to jump through before games could be scheduled.
鈥淲e had to get the fields. Getting the fields was the tough part,鈥� explained Encapera, adding, 鈥淯sing one or two fields for all the games was on the table, but we didn鈥檛 get to that point.鈥�
Mill Run has its own community field, as does Mitch蘑菇视频 Bail Bonds. Masontown also plays at a community park.
The Copperheads were able to secure Carmichaels鈥� high school baseball field, and the Fayette Raiders found a home at Redstone Field, the home site of Brownsville high school baseball.
Encapera was looking to add another team or two this year based on early inquiries.
鈥淥ther opportunities came up, so that didn鈥檛 materialize. We鈥檇 like to have more teams,鈥� said Encapera.
Encapera said the teams they have are looking forward to returning to the field.
鈥淲e tried to get a sense of normalcy given the way things have been. It蘑菇视频 something to look forward to,鈥� said Encapera. 鈥淐ounty League baseball has been playing (for a long time). We wanted to keep carrying it on.
鈥淭he umpires are ready to go. That蘑菇视频 not a problem. They鈥檙e ready to work.鈥�
The return to the field will be done under the guidelines outlined by health agencies.
鈥淲e will follow the CDC recommendations and guidelines for sports. We will make sure everyone is safe,鈥� said Encapera. 鈥淲e will make sure we have hand sanitizer for the guys. No post-game handshakes.鈥�
Each of the five teams will play the other three times for a 12-game regular season schedule that closes on July 31. The fourth- and fifth-place teams have a play-in game on Aug. 2, with the best-of-three semifinals set to begin on Aug. 3.
The championship is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 7, depending on the length of the semifinal series.
Encapera expects the abbreviated 2020 season to feature good play and offer enough opportunities for the players to get some action.
鈥淓ach team will be solid. Actually, with the extra hitter and designated hitter, we can play 11 guys (nine on the field and two more at the plate),鈥� added Encapera.