Chicago City Wire

Carlton Jones said he is in a holding pattern.

Jones, the District 12 Little League administrator, said it’s still unclear if youngsters will take to the diamonds this summer. He oversees 13 leagues with around 4,000 players for Chicago's North Side, West Side and northern suburbs.

Ordinarily, the season would be under way for softball, baseball and challenger teams. But due to the COVID-19 crisis, parks are locked, gloves and bats are still in storage and the season is in doubt.

Little League administrator Carlton Jones

On Tuesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced a phased-in plan to restore Illinois to regular life. It divides the state into four regions — northeast, north-central, central and southern. Each region must pass through five phases before events can be held.

Most Little League seasons are held mid-April through mid-June. 

Pritzker’s approach guarantees nothing as far as reopening venues for medium-sized crowds at this point. In fact, the June 26 timeline he set for reopening restaurants and bars in some parts of the state has led some to believe the chances of hosting outdoor sporting events are slim. The phase-in plan for Illinois is not specific enough it has parents concerned the little league season will have little choice but to be canceled. 

Until that Phase 4 - which would allow for gatherings of 50 or more - a Little League game could not be played and, even arguably, afterward if social distancing rules are enforced. The start date of Phase 4 is currently unknown. 

Pritzker’s recent comments make the probability of a season unlikelier with every day of the shutdown.

Illinois Little League State Coordinator Phil Rizzo said under the timeline announced Tuesday, teams may be able to begin practice May 29. He said games could perhaps start July 1 but maybe not until August. Games could be played into the fall.

“It’ll be different than any other season we’ve ever had before,” Rizzo said.

Jones has a meeting set with league presidents Wednesday night, but he has been talking with several already, he told Chicago City Wire.

“They want to play if it is safe,” he said. “We’re taking all our guidelines from Little League right now.”

Little League International has canceled the Little League World Series and all other regional and national tournaments. The Little League World Series, which is shown on ESPN and ABC and draws teams from across the globe, has been played every summer since 1947.

“This is a heartbreaking decision for everyone at Little League International, but more so for those millions of Little Leaguers who have dreamt of one day playing in one of our seven World Series events,” said Little League President and CEO Stephen D. Keener in a news release and in a Facebook Live announcement. 

“After exhausting all possible options, we came to the conclusion that because of the significant public health uncertainty that will still exist several months from now, and with direction from Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine, as well as senior public health officials and government leaders from locations where our other six World Series are held, as well as their qualifying regional tournaments, it will not be possible to proceed with our tournaments as we’ve hosted them for nearly 75 years.”

Little League is allowing state and local groups to make their own decisions.

He said he appreciates the support from the national organization. Some youth programs are independent and don’t have that kind of guidance.

Little League has advised leagues to develop a local plan, adhere to restrictions and recommendations made by state and local governments and make sure all safety precautions are taken.

Jones will have conferences with league presidents this week as they decide the best path forward. He said among the issues being weighed are: Is a 2020 season possible? When should it start and end? Should district and state tournaments be played?

“It’s a mess,” he said. “You have to do what you have to do.”

Jones said he is following what Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot are saying and will adhere to whatever guidelines they establish and respect any restrictions.

Jones, 50, played youth baseball and later coached. He joined Little League in 2001. He became a league president, then an assistant district administrator and finally a district administrator, a post he has held for about a decade.

Jones wants teams take the field this summer as long as it is safe but is waiting to see what develops.