Young baseball players relishing return to outdoor sports

The scene at Regina’s Kinsmen Park Sunday was one that Chris Kayter had been eagerly anticipating since last summer.

It included kicked-up infield dirt, the mosaic of different-coloured uniforms, with the ringing of baseballs striking aluminium bats.

Saskatchewan kicked off Step 1 of the provincial government’s Re-opening Roadmap, which meant outdoor sports organizations were able to begin competition. The easing public health measures came just in time for opening day in the North Regina Little League (NRLL).

As league president, Kayter found joy in seeing kids play games that count, instead of just practicing.

“It gives parents, kids, something to cheer about. It puts smiles on their face. The big hits, the strikeouts, the plays at first. It’s normalcy at the end of the day to a point and it puts on the right track,” Kayter said.

Kayter said the league had a successful season last summer, operating safely without any cases of COVID-19. He had been waiting for this season to begin.

“It’s just kind of been an itch that you couldn’t scratch and today it got scratched,” he said.

At first glance, it’s a sight that resembles pre-pandemic life, with the diamonds occupied and parents in the bleachers. But there are still a number of public health measures to be followed.

Among them, Kayter said they had to keep the dugouts empty, with players spacing out along the foul lines. As well, visitors to the park had to be logged if contact tracing is needed later.

Up until this point, teams were only able to practice.

“Now, I can compete against friends that I go to school with,” said Cooper Jones, hungry to step up to the plate. “I can hit off real pitchers now. It’s a lot of fun. I really miss that.”

Cohen Morissette was also restless to play against an opposing team.

“I didn’t go to sleep until about 2 o’clock last night. Just nervous for today,” Morissette said.

For his teammate Dawson Gabriel, it wasn’t just about the competition.

“You get to spend more time with your friends and family and you get people to watch you, your relatives,” Gabriel said.

Kayter found himself basking in the atmosphere, getting reacquainted with players he previously coached.

“You can’t walk around here without saying ‘Hi, how’s your day going,'” he said.