West Coast League and Raptors make statements regarding the 2020 season, with the hope of playing ball in June
The West Coast League announced Tuesday that it is still preparing for a 2020 season of baseball, but will comply with any local, state, or federal guidelines and regulations.
“The WCL looks forward to providing a safe, entertaining environment for our fans, players, staff, and host families,” the league posted on its website.
“We encourage everyone to stay safe and healthy, and hope to see you at the ballpark this summer.”
The WCL is scheduled to begin its season June 5.
The Ridgefield Raptors are coming off a successful inaugural season in the WCL, a wood-bat league for players with college eligibility.
“We hope time is on our side, and we can play in the summer, and offer our community some fun and some relief of stress,” said Gus Farah, the team’s general manager.
He added that employees are presently working from home during the coronavirus crisis.
If the WCL season is played, it could bring a surge of talent never before seen in the WCL due to the cancellation of college baseball, Farah noted.
This season’s college seniors will be granted eligibility next spring, the NCAA announced. That means that those players, who would have been ineligible for the WCL, could become eligible.
Also, veteran pitchers who normally would have had a full college season of work and otherwise might not have pitched in the summer, or not pitched as much, might look at a league such as the WCL to compete.
“With the suspension of so many elite spring baseball programs, our thoughts are with all the collegiate players whose seasons have ended so abruptly,” the WCL’s statement reads. “More than ever before, the West Coast League will play an especially important role in showcasing baseball’s top amateur talent.”
The Raptors play their home games at the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex.
