For those clamoring for official word from the Wheeling Recreation Department on the status of Fall Ball 2020, the verdict is in:
Play Ball.
The Wheeling Recreation Department announced that signups for the annual I-470 Fall Softball League from grades three through high school are being accepted.
The start may be a little later than normal, but the important aspect is games are still being played.
From the 5th-and-under to the 9th-and-under divisions, game action consists of seven weeks of games plus playoffs.
Games start the last week of August and end in mid-October.
The high school league consists of six games plus playoffs, while the younger 3rd-grade league will play 12 games total with no playoffs.
Registration is available online by clicking here.
“The summer softball league got a late start, so Fall Ball is starting later too,” Wheeling Recreation Department Director Jesse Mestrovic said. “But we’re just happy to have the kids continue playing ball.
“Everybody is excited.”
Since softball is both an outdoor sport and a low contact sport—save for catchers—it’s fully permissible under the present pandemic restriction guidelines.
Social distancing, proper sanitation, and other precautions continue to be observed. That won’t change.
Neither will the late summer/early fall tradition that area softball players look forward to.
The announcement should also lighten the load on Mestrovic’s phone, at least as it relates to Fall Ball. Questions are always being asked and answered regardless.
“It’s a daily occurrence, with or without the COVID issue,” Mestrovic noted with a laugh. “People are always inquiring about what’s going on.”
Making Full Use of Tech
The recreation department implemented a major upgrade to its website earlier this year.
That upgrade is paying dividends now in terms of scheduling.
Every field that falls under the department’s onus is available for online scheduling and reservation. In theory, it displays a calendar of when the facilities are available for use and when they aren’t.
In practice? It’s lessoned the number of calls as the public learns about and embraces the new system.
“I’d get phone calls from a travel teaming say, wanting to use the 35th street field,” Mestrovic said. “Previously, I’d have to tell them these three entities wanted to use it and make three different phone calls to coordinate.
“Now they can check the site and, if it’s open, they make their request. It will get approved or denied and it’s set up like many park and recreations agencies across the country.”
Online reservations also include the four revamped batting cages at the I-470 complex.
They are on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, if someone wants to lock down a certain time, they can do so for $25 per hour.
Tom “Bear” Bechtel, the former recreation director, still serves as the I-470 coordinator. He and his staff are tasked with keeping the fields ready, handling scheduling for the league and making sure everything runs smoothly.
But even ‘Bear’s’ phone should be ringing less with questions on field availability given the site.
“We have a publicized and digitized record of who is using what field and when,” Mestrovic said. “The online registration system is a huge help.”
The main page for the site can be found here.
What About Baseball?
Fall Ball for softball has been the rec department’s domain for a number of years. But baseball traditionally is handled by private entities.
Mestrovic believes, especially given the new scheduling and registration system, that the rec department could easily handle the addition of the baseball fall ball league.
“Why don’t we do baseball?” Mestrovic asked rhetorically. “Historically, other individuals would run it.”
True, it’s easier to schedule when all the softball fields are at one facility like I-470. Different age groups play on different days, but it’s all centrally located.
But with the advent of online scheduling, the baseball league could just as easily be set up and administered.
Time will tell on the query. Maybe one day all fall ball, both baseball and softball, will fall under the Rec Department’s auspices.
Until then, there’s a large group of young ladies, coaches, parents and fans who are looking forward to another season of Fall Ball.
