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DRAPER — Youth and club sports leagues will be able to resume competitive games as the state moves into the “yellow,” low-risk phase of the pandemic.
On a Draper field Thursday evening, you could hear one of the sounds of spring.
“It’s so much fun to get back,” said Derek Tate just before taking batting practice.
Tate plays on the Corner Canyon Chargers' 13-and-under baseball team based in Draper and Sandy.
Since the coronavirus pandemic has been throwing a perfect game against baseball the past two months, Tate and every other player in Utah haven’t been able to play competitive games.
In fact, he was kind of taking up another sport at home many parents will recognize.
“Fighting my siblings happens a lot,” said Tate with a laugh.
However, when his parents told him on Thursday Utah was moving to the yellow level, it meant competitive baseball games again.
His team practiced at Galena Park to get ready to finally start their season.
“It’s nice to see them out here having a good time,” said Corner Canyon Charger coach Bryan Nordhoff. “It’s been rough. They’ve been begging to play. They asked me all the time, but I’d just keep saying, we’re not supposed to, so we’re not going to.”
For all the familiar spring sounds starting to pick up, though, the silence at sporting facilities has been even louder.
“It hurt bad. When this hit originally in early March. My business dropped probably 70%,” said Michael Maze.
Maze, the owner of D-Bat, a baseball and softball training facility in Herriman, said March and April are his busiest months.
It’s still too cold for teams to practice outside, so they pack his facility to train.
“That’s kind of the last of our two big months,” said Maze.
Maze had to furlough all his workers and close.
Sports facilities have been empty the past two months. But, with @GovHerbert announcing Utah was moving from orange to yellow, that means sports can pick up again. Places like @HerrimanDbat can't wait. Like many businesses, this place was hit hard economically. @KSL5TV at 10. pic.twitter.com/PvJhsgO1JJ
— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) May 15, 2020
However, with Utah going to the yellow level, he’s opening Monday with new safety regulations.
“Make sure they wash their hands before and after and sanitize. If they’re using the machines, I will sanitize the balls before and after,” said Maze. “We’ll regulate everyone to make sure they’re keeping a safe space from each other.”
It was one thing to lose money, but for Maze, it was something else to lose baseball.
“I think I read something yesterday that was like 192 days now without baseball, so, we’re ready,” he said with a laugh.
Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday’s announcement does not affect sanctioned high school sports sanctioned by the Utah High School Activities Association.
