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Little League games suspension extended to May 11
In this May 2019 file photo, a Talaabwogh Falcons player attempts to tag out the Kagman Little Legals’ Jared Muna during their game in the Major division of the 2019 Saipan Little League Baseball at the Capitol Hill Ballfield. The SLLB 2020 season is still on hold. (Saipan Tribune)
The Little League headquarters in Williamsport, Pennsylvania has extended the suspension/delay of all activities under its sanction until May 11 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As information continues to become available regarding the increasing spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), we wanted to provide you, our leagues, and district administrators, with additional guidance on the implementation of the Little League program in your local communities,” stated in the Little League website.
“Little League International operates more than 6,500 programs in more than 84 countries, and therefore, we recommend that our leagues exercise an abundance of caution and implement a temporary suspension/delay of all league activities until no earlier than May 11,” it added.
The lifting of the suspension will depend on the development of the crisis, while the continued delay will definitely impact the schedule of the regional/district tournaments and the World Series.
The Little League headquarters first suspended tournaments and activities until the first week of April, prompting the Saipan Little League Baseball, Inc. to postpone the opening of its 2020 season. The SLLB was supposed to kick off games in the Minor, Major, Junior, and Senior League divisions last March 14.
With the second announcement, the SLLB opening will be pushed back further, while the entire season is in danger of being shelved if the pandemic continues. Several activities around the world and under Little League sanction have either been canceled or rescheduled due to the COVID-19.
Normally, SLLB completes its season by May to get ready for the district tournament, which is usually held either late May or early June. The CNMI District Tournament winners then compete in the Asia Pacific-Middle East Regional around June for the slots in the World Series, which is scheduled in July and August.
This year’s SLLB has lured 15 teams—five each in the Minor and Major, three in the Junior, and two in the Senior.
