Lethbridge Bulls Summer Plans
Despite high hopes that the 2020 Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) season would forage ahead, the Lethbridge Bulls will not be hitting the diamond this summer, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The WCBL Board of Governers unanimously voted to cancel the season in late May, citing the safety of everyone involved as the driving force behind the cancellation.
Bulls pitcher Benjamin Erwin said the cancellation did not come as a shock to him and his teammates. “I think everyone pretty much expected all sports to be cancelled or delayed once all of the colleges and universities were moved online. When that happens you just have to make the most of what you have to stay in shape and stay game ready.”
After a heartbreaking loss to the Okotoks Dawgs in game three of the West Division Finals to end the 2019 season, the Bulls were looking to make another push deep into the postseason in 2020. “Anytime you make a deep playoff push and lose to your rival it’s really tough. But oftentimes losing is what fuels the fire within a champion,” said Erwin, recalling his experience in 2019. “I think for us personally it made everyone have the urge to come back this summer and give it another shot. Everyone was confident that we had the talent to get the job done.”
The League explored many options in an attempt to find a way for the season to take place, such as mandatory mask wearing, temperature checks and reduced stadium capacity. The financial constraints of limiting attendance were ultimately too great, as teams rely heavily on park generated revenue to fund operations. Erwin says the atmosphere at Spitz Stadium is one of the things he’ll miss the most this summer.
“It’s always a lot of fun when you are getting ready to play and you see hundreds of people starting to pile into the stadium. It can give you a little extra motivation when you might need it. Lethbridge is a great place to play for that reason exactly.”
Staying connected to fans in these unusual times has been a challenge faced by many teams, one the Bulls are tackling with enthusiasm and creativity. A fan favourite logo challenge was wildly successful on social media, pitting past logos against each other and allowing fans to vote online. Rewind games streamed online are giving fans a chance to relive their favourite moments from past seasons at home. The 2020 season is also being simulated using Out of the Park 21, a popular baseball strategy video game. The simulations began June 4th and will continue throughout the summer, using the 2019 Bulls roster.
The uncertainty of the future has been difficult, Erwin says. “In summer ball you never know who will come back the next year, or who the new guys will be the upcoming year. I think next season will have even more ambiguity going into April and May because some people may not know if they can come back or if they even want to. We will have to wait and see how it all plays out next year.”
