High School News: Who Says the 2020 Season is Over? It’s NOT in Western PA Thanks to the Beaver County FastPitch League!

Unless you’ve been out of the country—or, more likely, on another planet—you know that the Coronavirus pandemic that struck in the first quarter of 2020 pretty much cancelled everything in the sports world.

MLB… stopped. NBA… done. March Madness (men’s DI hoops)… cancelled. NCAA softball… over with. High school spring sports… see you next year—unless you’re a very unfortunate 2020 grad

Or so we thought

There is one place in the country where high school softball is not a case of “see you next year”… it’s happening this summer and will feature games played starting this week.

In Western Pennsylvania, north of the Pittsburgh airport, the Beaver County FastPitch League (“BCFPL”) is giving about 200 girls the chance to extend their 2020 high school season in a creative way unlike anywhere in the nation.

“Our league has players competing in travel softball,” explains Commissioner Bill Littler, “from 6U through 14U and has close to 1,200 players overall. We also have a varsity division. This year is a big one for the 200 or so high school players because, in past years, we never have enough interest in that varsity division, but COVID-19 has changed that for us this year.”

As with the rest of the U.S., most of which plays softball in the spring, high school fastpitch in Pennsylvania was cancelled in early April because of COVID-19, but the BCPFL has been working with local high school coaches to bring their teams under this recreational program to allow the high school teams to play games this summer.

If, for nothing else, Littler believes, than to try and give the players something positive to remember, especially the seniors.

“This (loss of a season) doesn’t only effect only the graduates,” Littler continues,” it hurts the underclassman as well.  I do have skin in the game–my daughter plays for one of these teams, which helped me push for this abbreviated season.  She’s a freshman who secured a starting position at shortstop and batting leadoff for her high school team.”

In PA, the state has reopened in phases based on certain criteria.  Beaver County, the lone red county among all the yellow in the graphic below, was held back in the reopening because there was an outbreak at a local senior care center which, unfortunately, significantly increased the death numbers in the area.

“Youth sports were not allowed to start until the Green phase and Beaver County finally turned Green on Friday, June 12^th,” Littler adds. “The varsity teams in the area decided to practice for two weeks and start play on Tuesday, June 24th.”

When the high school ball associations cancelled all prep softball in the county, the Beaver County Fast Pitch League offered the opportunity for the schools in the area to compete.

In total, 10 of 11 school head coaches in Beaver County accepted the invite and the varsity division was formed.

“It was agreed by all coaches to only schedule games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays each week to try and avoid conflict with travel players,” Littler says. “Games will be each week starting this week and we will wrap up the games on July 30th.  There are no playoffs, no championships, just games to give all seniors one last opportunity to represent their school colors and play with their classmates one last time.”

And that means the world to those like Kylie Magnotta, a senior at Central Valley High in Monaca, Pennsylvania, who will play softball at Penn State – Beaver.

“Playing with my team one last time means a lot to me,” Kylie admits. “I get to play with my friends and have a chance to make more memories and friendships and I am very excited to play this summer.  I think we would have won the section title if we had our regular season. I can’t wait to play softball with my friends one last time.”

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The Beaver County FastPitch League Primer

Here are the basic details for the summer “high school” season as provided by Commissioner Littler…

Where:  Beaver County in Western Pennsylvania

When:  First game is Wednesday, June 24 and the last game is scheduled Wednesday, July 29.

League: Beaver County FastPitch League (BCFPL) logo is attached.  A summer league (no affiliation with WPIAL or PIAA) for 6U through 12U, but we have middle school and high school divisions that we typically don’t get enough interest in because of club ball.  COVID-19 changed that this year.

Schools:  Includes teams from Beaver County area (Ambridge, Beaver, Beaver Falls, Blackhawk, Central Valley, Freedom, New Brighton, Riverside, Rochester, and South Side)  These schools include 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A schools in the WPIAL, but everyone agreed to play each other regardless of class.

Season:  Play each team once which makes a 9-game season.  Playoff formats are not planned, but not ruled out.

High Seniors Who Will Play in College:

• Lexi Dawson, Beaver H.S. (Coastal Carolina University)
• Kylie Magnotta, Central Valley H.S. (Penn State Beaver)
• Haylee Holman, Ambridge H.S. (Washington & Jefferson University)
• Shyann Komara, Freedom H.S. (Clarion University)
• Sydney Payne, South Side H.S. (Youngstown State University)
• Lexi Peters, Ambridge H.s. (University of Pitt-Bradford)

Rules:  “Our guidelines were based off the USA Softball Back to the Ballpark guidelines,” says Littler [see below]. “Districts could have additional rules or guidelines based on their parks or fields.”

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BCFPL “Back to the Ball Park Guidelines”

(adapted USA Softball Recommendations)

These guidelines were developed following the USA Softball Back to Ballpark Recommendations to better fit our league.  Attending and playing games are voluntary.  Please respect all participants and spectators’ views on this topic with the virus.

DISCLAIMER: Participants, parents, family, and spectators engaging in softball and activities related to softball do so with knowledge of the risk and potential exposure involved and agree to accept any and all inherent risks to their personal health.  

As to all applicable persons, people should be instructed that if they are exhibiting symptoms or possible exposure to COVID-19, such as fever of 100.4 or higher, should not come to events until such time as the participant has been tested and/or cleared.

SPECTATORS

• Face coverings are recommended.
• Encouraged to follow 6 feet social distancing guidelines.
• Recommended to use hand sanitizer upon entering the facility.
• Encouraged to bring their own sanitizing items for restroom/personal cleanliness.
• Recommended to bring their own chairs and avoid using field bleachers.

UMPIRES

• Allowed to wear gloves and/or masks if they wish.
• Recommended to provide their own hand sanitizer.
• Visual check of equipment before a game.
• Umpires will not handle player equipment before, during, or after play.
• Umpires will not handle balls during the game.
• Umpire to coach and player interaction must be 6 feet apart.
• Umpire deeper behind the plate when calling balls and strikes (don’t hover over catcher).

COACHES

• If a plate meeting prior to the game is necessary, only one coach for each team.
• Free substitution, umpires do not need lineup cards.
• Do not bat out of order and substitutions should be shared with opposing coaches verbally.
• Balls must be kept by each team to use during defense.  Umpires will notify coaches when a new ball is needed.
• Teams must retrieve their own foul balls (defense bench players to retrieve).

PLAYERS

• Try to maintain 6 feet social distance.
• Keep equipment 6 feet apart as much as possible.
• Allow players to hang outside of the dugout.
• Players not allowed to leave the dugout area to congratulate players (Home Runs, run scores, etc.)
• No licking of fingers and wiping them off.
• No seeds or spitting!
• Do not share water bottles.  Use your own water and keep it inside your bat bag.
• Handle your own equipment.
• No sharing of equipment.