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Midway softball to begin play June 22
Midway - Emeline Bell.jpg
Softball action is scheduled to return to Midway on Monday, June 22. Pictured is Emiline Bell making a throw during a game last year.
Midway - Jordan Sandlin.jpg
Sights like Jordan Sandlin making an acrobatic catch will make a welcome return to the Midway field June 22.

There’s a light at the end of the tunnel – or in this case a softball and glove.

The Midway Youth Softball League has announced it is moving forward with its summer softball season with games to begin Monday, June 22.

“Usually we’ve been playing for a month by now,” said Phyllis Boren, a member of the Midway Youth Softball League Committee. “Everybody is anxious to get back to normal and return to playing games.”

Coaches are in the process of being notified about practice schedules and players will then be notified by their coaches. There are currently 380 players registered to participate, but that number may be reduced.

Players who don’t wish to play this season can receive a refund by visiting Midway CIC on Saturday, May 30 from 10 a.m. to noon.

“We’re waiting to see how many players opt out,” said Boren. “I don’t think it will be many.”

Boren says it hasn’t been determined how long the season will last. One possibility is playing until the end of August.

Midway Softball says it will be following social distancing guidelines as set forth by the CDC and state. Players and spectators will be encouraged to wear face covering.

Modifications will be made to dugouts and the concession area to allow for social distancing. An assortment of measures will be considered per the state’s Non-Contact Recreation Guidelines.

“Most of the time when people are on a ballfield, they are a pretty good distance away from each other,” said Terry Bell, a member of the Midway Youth Softball League Committee. He said extending the dugouts to provide more spacing may be one option.

“Everybody seems really in a hurry to get started but we want parents to make that decision if they don’t want their kids to play,” said Bell.

A statement posted to the Midway Softball Facebook page says, in part, “The Midway Youth Softball League’s goal is to ensure the safety and protection of softball players and their families while offering a fun, recreational activity during the summer months. The committee will acknowledge any new executive order or guidelines set forth by the state and may adjust the decision to move forward with play accordingly.”