The Alaska Legion Baseball officially cancelled its summer baseball season in mid-May.
Now, a new management group will take over operation of summer baseball for Alaska teenagers in 2020 with a revised schedule and changes to player districts for the 2020 summer baseball season.
It will not be American Legion baseball; but it will be baseball!
According to Van Williams, Alaska Legion Baseball Media Director, the Alliance for ALB in Alaska has thrown players a life preserver.
“We do not want this to be another thing that has been taken away from them,” said Alaska Legion Department Chair Russ Baker. Baker stated that the American Legion National Organization staff and volunteers are not authorized to address or help with any situations. “At this time, we (Alaska Legion) have suspended any official American Legion activities, training and background checks.” said Baker.
The Alaska nonprofit led by Steve Nerland and Don Winchester has created a league and will manage daily operations of an unofficial season that will closely resemble a traditional Legion experience for players ages 13 to 19. The Alliance has long been involved with youth baseball, whether it was securing funding to build turf fields, providing media coverage with live broadcasts or helping the league expand to a record, 17 Legion programs.
Coaches in the new Alliance league will be required to meet the same state standards of Legion coaches to participate, such as Protect Youth Sports background checks and abuse training.
New Look For Post 20 Twins
First, the combined team for 2020 will be referred to as Alaska 20 and will allow players age 13-19 from multiple communities. Alaska Legion has in recent years expanded the league and pushed for each community with a Legion post to field its own team. Those restrictions will be lifted, meaning the Alaska 20 team will be able to draw from the Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak for its roster. New boundaries will be established throughout the state to allow for fewer total teams and a condensed schedule.
American Legion Cancels Baseball Summer of 2020 (reprinted from May 11 .2020)
Good afternoon Coaches,
This morning I was notified the National American Legion has cancelled all Regional Tournaments and the Legion World Series for 2020.
At this time there has not been a final determination regarding games played within Alaska. We will continue with our ban on any official Alaska American Legion activities.
This means no practices, no gathering in groups, no organized workouts of any type are allowed. As an organization we will abide by all City, State and Federal Government regulations and recommendations in an effort to keep our players safe.
Thanks for following these stringent rules, our hope it to play Alaska Legion Baseball in 2020. As additional information becomes available, I will pass it on.
Thank you,
Russ Baker
Alaska Chairman
American Legion Baseball
