The 2020 Marysburg Royals baseball team. (Submitted Photo/Curtis Streuby)

By Mat Barrett

Home Runs and Hand Sanitizer

Marysburg Royals looking strong in SSBL season with COVID-19 precautions in place

Aug 4, 2020 | 4:00 PM

Baseball season is well underway in Saskatchewan, albeit a bit differently thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Saskatoon Senior Baseball League (SSBL) features teams from Saskatoon, as well as the Marysburg Royals. Curtis Streuby plays for the Royals and said the team was excited once the government gave the go ahead for baseball to begin.

However, provincial championships have been cancelled by Baseball Saskatchewan this year, giving a bit of a different feel to the season.

“It’s not quite as intense I guess, in regards to playing for the provincials, that’s what you play all year for,” Streuby told northeastNOW. “However, we’re still out there and we’re still having fun with it, it’s a bit more relaxed.”

Marysburg was actually set to host the Senior Provincial championships this year fo the first time ever, but Streuby said the team is hoping to get an opportunity to host them next year instead.

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There are also plenty of precautions in place to help every team in the SSBL stay safe during the pandemic. Teams are to use their own baseballs while they’re in the field, players have hand sanitizer readily available, and teams are to manage social distancing as best as possible. Streuby said lots of players sit along the dugout in chairs, which they have set up in Marysburg.

“Once you’re on the field actually playing, there is no difference,” he said. “It’s just the little things.”

Streuby said it was very important for the league to get going this year and for the team to continue putting teams on the field for their 102nd season. He said during their 100th anniversary, they talked about being able to field a team and keep the legacy going for a century.

“This team has survived World Wars and pandemics, and this and that,” Streuby said. “And wouldn’t you know it, a year or two later here we are again. I guess maybe if we can survive this year and this pandemic and provide for some younger guys in the area to play a little ball and have a little bit of fun and get out after being cooped up for a little while. That’s important and it’s important to keep it going.”

The Royals are 8-2 on the SSBL season so far and have six games remaining before playoffs begin. Streuby said they’ve got a very strong team this year and the league is also very competitive. Part of that can be credited to the Western Canadian Baseball League not running this season, leaving some high end ballplayers without places to play. Streuby said they were able to add a few of them, but some of their players will be leaving to university or college soon. He said they’ll do their best to string together a good playoff run.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6