With NSAA sports suspended further, American Legion baseball activities also put on hold

FAIRBURY - The Nebraska School Activities Association announced Wednesday afternoon that all activity practices and competitions are now suspended through May 1 - an extension of the previous Mar. 30/Apr. 2 suspension.

These suspensions could be extended if the conditions warrant such action.

On top of that, the National American Legion Baseball Committee is strongly recommending that American Legion departments put a hold on all baseball activities until all restrictions have been lifted. The recommendation has the endorsement of the National Americanism Commission.

For Fairbury baseball coach Jesse Bauer, Wednesday's news was a double-whammy. Not only has he coached the Fairbury Landsharks legion teams for a combined 12 years, he and 25 players were geared up to take the field for the Jeffs' first ever season of NSAA-sanctioned baseball this spring.

"I kind of expected it to be coming," Bauer said of Wednesday's news. "I told the boys (before school closed) that we still might have a legion season to worry about. If you have a brother or dad or somebody at home to throw with, throw. Keep the arm loose. Do the things that we do in practice if you can. Kind of had high hopes for our senior legion this year...we had a lot of returning starters."

The Jeffs were set to open the season at Seward on Mar. 21. The Landsharks are scheduled to open against Wilber on May 24.

A memo was sent out to American Legion department commanders and baseball chairmen, stating “The National American Legion Baseball schedule remains in place per dates approved by the National Executive Committee...however, the schedule is subject to the respective state restrictions where the regional and World Series tournaments are scheduled. It remains the goal of the Americanism Commission to hold our Regional and World Series tournaments this summer if possible.”

The National American Legion Baseball Committee continues to monitor COVID-19 developments and recommendations from the CDC. The committee will communicate with American Legion department leadership on a consistent basis to provide additional information as it becomes available.

National Americanism Commission Chairman Richard Anderson requested that all American Legion departments “review the guidelines, restrictions and regulations established by local, state and federal governments to ensure doing whatever is required for the safety and well-being of everyone involved."

Meanwhile, the NSAA is encouraging all member schools to follow CDC, local, state and federal health department recommendations. Many schools across the state are now staying closed until May 1 due to the ongoing spread of COVID-19.

You can follow Tommy on Twitter @Tommy_NCN.