Recreational baseball is a go in Westmoreland County

A rainbow appeared over Latrobe’s Legion-Keener baseball field Friday afternoon as a handful of players from the Latrobe American Legion team got together for a workout.

Latrobe coach Jason Bush pointed to the sky and indicated it was a sign of good things to come for baseball and softball players from Westmoreland County and other areas of the state that will be entering the green phase.

Gov. Tom Wolf gave the rest of Western Pennsylvania, except for Beaver County, the news May 29 that it can go green Friday.

That means “Game On” for recreation sports.

Bush, who helped orchestra a summer baseball league plan involving 10 of 11 District 31 teams, said teams can begin full scale practices Friday and start league play on June 13.

“It’s full speed ahead,” Bush said. “We were fortunate to get it. We were hoping and crossing our fingers. We had done so much work in the past two months to try and get to this point. We’re super happy.

“The leagues are organized and ready to go. Insurance is being paid, rosters are being turned in, schedules are being made and we should be ready to go.”

And the enthusiasm among the players could be seen as they took batting practice and fielded ground balls.

“We’ve been waiting for this news all spring,” said Latrobe senior Ben Rafferty, who saw his senior baseball season canceled because of the coronavirus. “It definitely needs to get here.

“I can’t wait to get chance to play and get out on the field and get some work in. I’m ready to play. Everyone is ready to play. That’s why we’re here.”

Teams are permitted to hold small workouts under the yellow phase.

The teams in Westmoreland County that will participate include Hempfield East, West Hempfield, Derry, Murrysville, Bushy Run, Mt. Pleasant, Yough, United and Young Township.

Bush said Westmoreland County and Bedford/Cambria, which has 14 teams, will have seasons that run through the end of July.

He added American Legion baseball in Allegheny and Fayette counties, which were hoping to have a league, indicated to him they were not.

Latrobe is also scheduled to play in a tournament in June in Ohio and in July in Washington. Bush said he is also planning to schedule exhibition games.

“It feels like it’s been forever since we’ve played baseball,” Latrobe junior Drew Clair said. “I’m ready to get back out there and play again.”

Also planning to get started is West Point Little League.

West Point president Tom Rennie said they’re opening registration online and an evaluation day will be June 13. He is hoping to get practice started June 15 and begin the season in late June. West Point hopes to finish its season in early August.

West Point and the Westmoreland County Legion League will be following CDC guidelines, officials said.

“We’re just glad to be getting back,” Rennie said.

Bush, who has been coaching for 28 years, said baseball has become a way of life for a lot of people.

“I’m happy for the players, and I’m happy for the coaching staff and communities involved,” Bush said. “We can’t wait for the Fourth of July game we have with rival Unity.”