The crack of the bat and the pop of the mitt are sounds associated with kids playing baseball or softball during the summer.

Will those sounds be heard in Southwestern Pennsylvania come June or July?

That is unknown, but American Legion Region 7 director, District 31 president and Latrobe manager Jason Bush and more than 40 teams around the Greater Pittsburgh and mountain region hope so.

“Going yellow is a good thing,” Bush said as snow flurries fell over Legion-Keener Field on Saturday in Latrobe. “From my understanding — and we’re still checking — teams may be able to start practicing using social distancing guidelines, not more than 25 people gathering in a group.

“I believe as long as you don’t use the dugouts and stay 6 feet apart, you can practice. We’re waiting for more direction.”

If the coronavirus didn’t close down high schools and sports across the state, the WPIAL would be starting the baseball playoffs, and recreation leagues would be in full swing.

The positive side for this part of the state was Gov. Tom Wolf announcing the area was going to the “yellow” phase May 15.

Since American Legion baseball, along with Little League International and Pony League Baseball, canceled their postseason World Series tournament, including state and regional tournaments, Bush has been working with teams from Region 6 (Allegheny, Beaver, Fayette, Greene and Washington counties) and Region 7 (Westmoreland, Indiana, Armstrong, Cambria, Somerset, Bedford, Fulton and Clair counties) securing insurance for all the teams and a waiver to make sure all coaches, umpires and players are protected legally. Now, they hope they can get on the field.

“Now we’re waiting for a green light,” Bush said. “I know the Latrobe-Derry Teener League wants to still hold a season, and there are still some AAU tournaments still scheduled for June, July and August.

“We want to provide something for the seniors who had their season ripped away from them to no fault of theirs. We just hope to provide a little normalcy to the area. Who wouldn’t want to go to a field, watch baseball and have a hot dog? Catch a game on the Fourth of July?”

Bush said having community teams would give parents who might have lost jobs an option if they are worrying how to pay for travel teams and the corresponding expenses.

With high schools and colleges shut down, finding fields to play on might be a problem. That’s what makes playing on community fields a good option.

“The goal is getting kids an opportunity to play baseball again,” Bush said.

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