Batesville youth leagues shut down

Submitted Photo

Batesville youth baseball and softball have been one of the rare leagues in the area to offer any summer sports activity but with just a couple weeks of the season left for both, play unfortunately has been halted and will not continue. 

The Batesville Youth Baseball and Softball Board of Directors released an online statement on Monday, cancelling the remainder of the season, citing notification that a player in the leagues had “potentially tested positive” for COVID-19. The board met on Monday night to discuss the matter, putting safety above all else when making the decision.

“We unanimously agreed that the best course of action is to immediately shut the season down,” the board said in its release on batesvilleplex.org. “It is our position that the safety and well-being of all involved parties outweigh the benefits of playing another week of baseball/softball.” 

One of the big reasons for not finishing the season was the strict guidelines that would have been put in place alongside the weather forecast for the next two weeks. Scorching temperatures are continuing to be forecasted, making some guidelines even more difficult in the heat. 

“A major factor in the decision was guidance from the (Ripley County) Health Department that all players, coaches, staff, and spectators would have been required to wear masks and all parties would have had to practice good social distancing. Knowing just how hot it will be this week, we felt the mask mandate would not be an acceptable/enforceable option.” 

All seven fields at the Batesville sports complex are currently closed. Anyone who has been at the fields and feels they might have been exposed or want a COVID-19 test if symptoms start to develop can go to the Ripley County testing center in Osgood Monday thorough Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Any concerns can be directed to the Ripley County Health Department.  

Editor’s note: Masks are mandated in any public place in Franklin County.