PRESS EDITORIAL: Restart of baseball is a home run for kids

The European Union is refusing to allow American visitors into its countries because the coronavirus is out of control in the United States.

Last week, verified Covid-19 infections in the U.S. reached the highest number recorded since the virus arrived, and the CDC estimated that the actual number was 10 times higher.

Several states that lifted Covid-related restrictions early are shutting down parts of their economy again in response to surging infections and overwhelmed hospitals.

After decreasing for a number of weeks, the infection rate in Wisconsin has risen to its highest level in more than a month and the state this week was listed among those with the fastest growing numbers of positive Covid-19 tests.

Meanwhile, the U.S., with only 4% of the world’s population, has recorded 25% of coronavirus deaths worldwide.

We mention these sobering and (in the case of the European ban) humiliating facts for the benefit of anyone who is losing concentration on the threat of the pandemic or is tempted to believe it will go away if it is ignored or denied. Life as it used to be, and as everyone wants it to be, is simply not possible now.

The people of Port Washington are fortunate to have an example of a wise and responsible response to that reality in the way their hometown has handled baseball.

Yes, baseball, which in the summer of the pandemic is much more than a game; it’s a spirit-lifting activity that provides needed moments of joy and exuberance, especially for school-age children, adolescents and teenagers.

The Common Council and the Port Washington-Saukville School District did the right thing in spring by not allowing the opening of city and school district baseball fields, and they are doing the right thing now by approving their opening and the start of play by Port Youth Baseball and Softball with carefully planned safety procedures in place.

The early caution was necessary, but as the state’s safer-at-home restrictions ended and the Port city government allowed the opening of the farmers market and the Upper Lake Park beer garden—adult activities that challenge social distancing standards—denying access to organized baseball began to look unreasonable.
    This was especially true for young city residents, who had already been deprived of the company of classmates at school for three months and the use of the city swimming pool, as well as, for many older teenagers, summer jobs.    
    The Port Youth Baseball and Softball organization persuaded the city and school district to lift their ban not by arguing that it was unfair, however, but by making a solid case that the games could be played safely.

The group created a list of smart, sensible safety rules to limit risk to players, coaches, umpires and spectators. First among them is the essential social distancing, which can work quite well in baseball with such rules as no more than three players at a time in dugouts. Disinfecting balls and equipment between innings is also part of the safety regimen.

The baseball organization made its point that youth baseball can be a low-risk sport with a comprehensive 50-page information and risk assessment packet that officials could not help but find compelling.

Now, thanks to those committed baseball volunteers and open-minded city officials and school board members, baseball is back on the diamonds at Kolbach Park, the middle school and the high school, and the whole community should be cheering this home run for the kids.