West Cook News

Little League has been a big part of Greg White’s life for decades.

He wants the kids in his town to play this summer, but says that remains like a fly ball off a bat — up in the air.

White is the president of the River Forest Youth Baseball and Softball League. He also serves as the District 10 administrator.

He said River Forest still hopes for a season this year, but five of the 10 leagues in his district have already canceled their seasons.

“We at this point are planning on playing,” White told West Cook News Tuesday. 

There were 55 youth baseball and softball teams in River Forest last summer, with around 600 kids taking a swing, making the play and running the bases.

It’s unclear how many will play this year.

“I hope at least half,” White said. “I hope more than that. I hope all of them.”

They might not get the chance. The city’s parks are closed, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker could announce Illinois parks will remain shut down all summer as a precaution during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, Pritzker announced a plan to restore Illinois to normal activity, dividing the state into four regions — southern, central, north-central and northeast — and setting guidelines on when activities could resume.

The earliest a region can engage in events is May 29. However, if the coronavirus reports do not look promising, youth sports and other activities may be canceled.

Each region must pass through five phases before fully reopening. Most of the state is currently in Phase 2, a slight reduction of restrictions.

Most Little League seasons run mid-April through mid-June. 

Pritzker’s approach guarantees nothing as far as reopening venues for medium-sized crowds at this point. In fact, the June 26 timeline he set for reopening restaurants and bars in some parts of the state has led some to believe the chances of hosting outdoor sporting events are slim. The phase-in plan for Illinois lacks enough specificity that it has parents concerned the Little League season will have little choice but to be canceled.

Until Phase 4 — which would allow gatherings of 50 or more — a Little League game could not be played if social distancing rules are enforced. The start date of Phase 4 is not known. 

Pritzker’s recent comments make the probability of a season unlikelier with every day of the shutdown.

“If the parks aren’t open we can’t play,” White said.

He grew up playing Little League and when his son was young, coached his team. For the last two decades, he has served on the River Forest Little League Board of Directors and has been its president for at least 12 years.

It’s a league with a tradition of success. Its 12-and-under baseball team won the state and district title and came within one game of qualifying for the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

White loves baseball and wants to help kids play. He thinks they need it this summer more than ever.

“I think it is important to get the kids back out there,” White said. “I think it’s important for the kids to play, no doubt about it. At this point, we’re going to have to wait and see.”

He said kids need the outlet and being in the fresh air should be good for them. But White said he knows some parents are apprehensive about having their children in large groups of people, in a setting where people sweat, spit and intermingle.

On its website, the league says it will let players, coaches and parents know when it finds out what will happen this summer.

“We know that you are receiving many messages from various organizations updating you on their procedures in light of the coronavirus outbreak, so we will keep this one relatively brief. Most importantly, we hope that you and your loved ones are staying healthy and safe under less than ideal circumstances. While these times are difficult to say the least, there is at least a bit of solace in knowing that our entire community is in this together.

“Regarding baseball & softball, we wish we had more information to share at this time but all that we are able to tell you is that the start of the house league season will be delayed. The word out of Little League International HQ in Williamsport, PA is delayed until at least May 11. Of course that may or may not change, we simply don't know at this point, as it is out of our hands. As soon as we have more concrete information, we will share it with you.

“Please know that we will do everything in our power to play ball this season, but as this situation continues to remind us, there are more urgent priorities that we all must deal with. We appreciate your patience, understanding and support.”

The league will issue “strong recommendations” on how to keep people safe, White said. Everyone wants to do all they can to keep the game going without exposing kids or adults to a health risk.

But he said right now, the goal is to start the season on June. They will aim to play a full schedule, although with the knowledge that there will be no postseason.

Little League has canceled its World Series for all age groups. Little League President Stephen Keener made the announcement on April 30. This is the first time the youth championship has been called off since the tourney was founded in 1947.

“Let me tell the folks in all those communities and all the sites where we have regional qualifying tournaments how disappointed we are to have to do this, but it was inevitable,” Keener said in a Facebook Live event. “It would be irresponsible and impossible to bring teams and thousands of people from all over the world into the community of Williamsport as well as those six other communities that have been such great friends and supporters of ours over the years.”

But it is up to each community to determine if it wants to play this year, Keener said.

White does want to play, and he said a lot of kids do, too. If Gov. Pritzker allows parks to be opened, and the city doesn’t prohibit it, there will be kids on the diamond in River Forest this year, White said.

“We’re going to have a season,” he predicted. “We’re hoping to get a full season in."