A group of Fort Mill coaches is looking to put together a team to play in a new summer league created this season after the cancellation of American Legion baseball due to the coronavirus.

FORT MILL – With the cancelation of American Legion baseball nationwide due to COVID-19, a group of coaches in Fort Mill are still planning on playing baseball this summer.

                The coaches that make up Fort Mill Post 43 American Legion baseball team still have plans to put together a team to participate in the newly formed South Carolina American League baseball.

                “We were all hopeful as a state that we would be able to play American Legion Baseball this summer,” said Tom Skula, Post 43 Legion baseball coach. “This new league will resemble as close to Legion Baseball as possible with a few rule tweaks.”

                This league is created by Legion baseball coaches and administrators from across the state and will be played by American Legion rules for the most part.

“I have to give a lot of credit to (Florence Post 1) Derick Urquhart, (Lexington Post 7) Michael Reifsynder, and the rest of the independent baseball committee on spearheading this venture,” Skula said. “I have been in constant contact and know they have put in countless hours behind the scenes for the last several months. Without their effort this wouldn’t have even been an option.”

While Fort Mill is hopeful for a team, there are still hurdles they need to jump that is out of their control such as a place to play. The Post 43 Legion baseball team usually plays at one of the high schools within the Fort Mill School District. This summer league team is hoping to do the same. The team also needing a break from the South Carolina state government, which is of upmost importance if there was to be a summer league for any team across the state.

“We still need some restrictions to be lifted in the state of South Carolina for this to be possible,” Skula said. “I am just hopeful we can be playing under the lights again this summer safely.”

One reason Fort Mill is pushing forward with this is because of the lack of spring sports that were canceled because COVID-19. Schools buildings across the state were closed in mid-March, with learning being forced to go online for students. In turn the state High School League postponed all spring sports while school was technically “out.” That eventually led to them canceling spring sports following the recommendation of S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster after he stated that students wouldn’t be returning to the actual school buildings.

“Most importantly, I want to give these high school seniors a chance to play baseball and get a resemblance of a season this summer,” Skula said. “For some, this summer could be the last time they ever play organized baseball again.”

As of right now, the earliest that the league across the state may be able to start playing games is early July, again that depends a large part on McMaster continuing to lift restrictions.

Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep