Due to COVID-19, the 2020 baseball season for most Little League and select baseball organizations has been completely erased thanks to Governor Abbott's decision to not allow competitions to begin until June 15th. 

Most select baseball teams typically run March through early July. July typically spells the end of the season for most teams due to the loss of players going on vacations and preparing for football in the fall. Little League organizations are usually wrapped up with baseball before Memorial Day weekend, with all stars running in June, thus making this decision a crippling blow to all baseball organizations for this year. 

Unlike many other sports, baseball requires constant play and refinement in skills such as hitting, fielding, and pitching. Taking a full competitive season off could be a crippling blow for many 8th grade players entering into high school this fall. Additionally, this takes away many of the showcase tournaments for those looking to play beyond high school.

The largest organizations in baseball have already preemptively submitted waivers for parents/players to sign for return to play, as well as implemented the necessary safety precautions for the fans, players, coaches and officials. Baseball has natural distancing in place already, much more so than almost all of the activities that were allowed to begin beforehand this week: bars, bingo halls, massage, YMCA

With this petition, and considering Louisiana and Oklahoma are already allowing competitions, we respectfully ask that Governor Abbott adjust his decision and allow the return of youth baseball in its entirety immediately.

#bringbackTexasbaseball