Baseball During a Pandemic
Griffin Hintze
Most parts of everyday life have changed this past year, and high school sports are no different.
Having a spring season, the Garfield baseball team was one of the unfortunate sports to have the entire 2020 season canceled due to COVID. But despite that, the program is looking to rebound in an anomaly of a season.
Like the rest of the Metro League sports, the 2021 baseball season has been delayed. But this has not stopped the program, run by varsity head coach Chris Moedritzer, from working hard to prepare for the upcoming year. The annual fall ball team, called the Seattle Sluggers (which is a separate program run outside of Garfield) ran as normal as they could under the current circumstances. This provided an opportunity for the freshmen to get acclimated to the program and the culture at Garfield, even though they currently are unable to attend in person school.
Of course, the coronavirus has presented challenges to Garfield baseball. Finding ways to keep training while maintaining safety precautions is a difficult task for the coaches. Fall ball provided an insight into what the regular season may look like, that is if it even happens. Some of the measures taken included regularly checking temperatures, maintaining six feet and masks at all times, and separating players into “pods” to prevent large groups.
Last season's team looked poised to make a playoff run, and the varsity squad has similar goals for this upcoming season. Returners such as seniors Nate Korahais and Levi Bauck, junior Malachi Washington, and sophomore Oliver Hogan are hoping to lead Garfield to the top of the Metro League. Although the team will look much different than they did last time they took the field, new players are ready to compete just as hard.
As long as there are no further setbacks, Garfield baseball will continue to practice for the upcoming season. The hope is there will be a complete, safe season, and end the school year on a high note.