The weather couldn't be better for a home run - and Thorold's young baseball players seem to agree.
After Thorold Minor Baseball announced it would be holding a baseball camp over April break, players rushed to register. President Chris Green told Thoroldnews.com that 41 players in different age groups registered in a span of 24 hours. As of Tuesday night, 11/13U only had a single spot open, and others were filling fast.
"It looks like the kids are ready to go. Our families were tremendous with us last year. They were patient while we walked them through all the safety measures we would take. No one of us in the executive team have any confidence issues that we won't be able to make it safe," said Green, adding that the club has seen a resurgence in membership over the past year-and-a half.
The week-long camp will be held outdoor on Youngs Sportsplex in Welland, with different age categories divided by a tight schedule. Each group will be able to have a maximum of 21 players.
Throughout the summer, the club was able to run three different divisions while working hard on with a system compliant with Baseball Ontario protocols for how to keep everything COVID-19 safe. Green and his team have been learning how to navigate the rapidly changing restrictions, and say the safety and health of its players continues to be top of mind for the team.
But the complicated predicament has also brought about some innovative thinking from Thorold Minor Baseball. Due to being a common touch surface, dugouts could not be used, so every player was instead awarded a ball bucket with a padded lid for their equipment, which also became a seat while idle during games.
Masks, and regular hand sanitation is also something that became norm during the summer practices, before everything was shut down right before Christmas.
Green said the rush to register tells of players eager to get out onto the field. But the excitement isn't only present for them.
"We actually booked a week off work to be able to come there and hold the camp during daytime," Green said, himself normally working with fundraising for Niagara Health.
Excited over the prospect of once again training young players on their chops on the field, Green is well aware that the camp is at the mercy of both weather and potential looming restrictions from the province.
"If it is canceled, we will be disappointed, but we'll understand. We're not going to go against Public Health if they don't think it is safe. We have told everyone they will get a full refund if it's cancelled. The second we hear something we'll move back to the drawing board, because at the end of the day, nothing is going to stop us from playing baseball."
The camps will be held April 12 to 16. More information on Thorold Baseball website
