In response to Denver Parks & Recreation’s decision to not issue youth sports permits until at least August 9th, thus dramatically restricting our field supply, the Southeast Denver Baseball League will be immediately moving to a Saturday/Sunday (vs. Sunday-only) schedule for the first six weeks of the season for all recreational divisions up through the 11/12 Ripken division.  Schedules have just been released/posted for the following weekend/dates (including this upcoming weekend):

• July 11th/12th
• July 18th/19th
• July 25th/26th
• August 1st/2nd
• August 8th/9th
• August 15th/16th

Schedules for the balance of the regular season (August 22nd-October 18th) for these divisions will be released by the week of August 10th.

Commencement of games in the Babe Ruth (13-15 year-old) division will be delayed until at least July 19th, as we currently don’t have access to appropriately-sized fields for this age division.  Rest assured that we will schedule games for the Babe Ruth division as soon as we have access to fields.  Our plan is to have those older teams still play a full 12-game schedule,  and also complete their league play by the final weekend in October.

Thanks in advance for your patience and understanding as we do our best to navigate a vastly-restricted field supply in the current COVID environment.  Rest assured that we are doing our best to provide a safe and enjoyable baseball experience for all members of the SEDBL family.  We appreciate your understanding, support, and flexibility during this challenging period.  

Rule Changes

• No Catcher in Recreational Divisions: In our recreational divisions, up through the 11/12 Ripken division, the catching position has been eliminated and a “pitcher’s pocket” will be used in place of the catcher.  This piece of equipment shall be positioned behind the batters’ boxes at the umpires’ discretion, to serve as a pitching target and also aid in the calling of balls and strikes.  All pitched balls are dead balls, and players will not be permitted to leave the bases until the ball is batted into play and becomes a live ball.  Live ball plays at the plate can be covered by another position player, such as the pitcher.  In the 11/12 Ripken division the dropped 3rd strike rule shall no longer be in effect.
• Maximum Defensive Players in Recreational Divisions: In our recreational divisions, up through the 11/12 Ripken division, we will continue to allow the same number of total defensive players on the field.  This includes a maximum of 12 defensive players on the field in the 5/6 Instructional division, a maximum of 10 defensive players on the field in the 7 Instructional and 8 Instructional divisions, and a maximum of 9 defensive players on the field in the 9 Rookie, 10 Rookie and 11/12 Ripken divisions.  In all cases there will be a maximum of 5 infielders (no catcher) in all of the above recreational divisions.
• No Leading-Off: Leading-off is prohibited in all divisions.  In our tournament and Babe Ruth (13-15 year-old) divisions, steals will only be allowed after the ball crosses home plate.  Steals are prohibited in all other divisions.
• Time Limits: New innings will not be started after 1:30 (1 hour, 30 minutes) beyond scheduled start time in our 5/6 Instructional division, and 1:45 (1 hour, 45 minutes) beyond scheduled start time in all other divisions (including all tournament and 13-15 Babe Ruth divisions).  All games will have a “hard stop” at 2:15 (2 hours, 15 minutes) beyond scheduled start time.  A “hard stop” means that the game ends immediately and becomes an official game, no matter the current game situation, as soon as the umpire’s clock shows 2:15 (2 hours, 15 minutes) beyond scheduled start time.

On-Field Protocols

• Player Arrival Time: Players shall take to the player seating areas and field no earlier than 15 minutes prior to the start of each game.
• Social Distancing for Coaches & Players: Coaches and players shall make every effort to stay at least 6 feet away from each other at all times, and coaches are encouraged to reinforce/remind this behavior during all team gatherings.  If possible, one coach per team shall make social distancing their primary/sole responsibility throughout the course of all team games/practices/gatherings.
• Dugouts/Player Seating: Players shall not occupy the dugouts, but rather sit on the ground or on portable folding chairs spaced at least 6 feet apart, starting 20 feet beyond first and third bases and extending down each foul line.
• Equipment: Players shall be encouraged, whenever reasonably possible, to use their own equipment.
• No Shared Food/Beverages: Players shall be prohibited from sharing food or beverage items.  Sunflower seeds are entirely prohibited.
• Mound Visits: Coaches must wear a mask (PPE) for all “mound visits” (i.e. on-field meetings with the pitcher).
• High-Fives/Handshakes/Post-Game Protocols: All “high-fives”/handshakes are prohibited, including postgame handshakes.  At the conclusion of each game, players and coaches will be encouraged to line-up (6 feet apart) along their respective team’s foul line and engage in a “tip of the cap” toward their opponents.
• Post-Game Meetings/Exiting: Post-game meetings are prohibited and all players shall exit the field within 15 minutes of the conclusion of each game.

Off-Field Protocols

• Masks Required for Those Seated in Infield Viewing Areas: All legal adults (18 years or older) occupying the viewing areas adjacent to the infield (i.e. within 50 feet of the infield area of play) must wear a face mask (PPE).
• Fan Arrival Time: Family members and others in attendance shall begin populating the surrounding viewing areas no earlier than 15 minutes prior to the start of each game.
• Fan Seating: Family members and others in attendance shall not occupy any available stands and are encouraged to bring their own seating.
• Social Distancing for Fans: Persons not living in the same household must make every effort to stay at least 6 feet apart from one another at all times, whether seated or standing, and then will completely exit the facility within 15 minutes of the conclusion of the game.
• Fans Prohibited From Field: All fans and non-coaches/players/umpires are strictly prohibited from entering the field area before, during, or following the game.

Disclaimer/Disclosure/Quarantine

• By choosing to participate in Southeast Denver Baseball League (SEDBL) activities, all participants (coaches, players, umpires and fans) assume any/all health risks associated with voluntary athletic activities in the current COVID environment.  All participants exhibiting symptoms commonly associated with COVID such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, and nausea are hereby required to stay away from all Southeast Denver Baseball League activities/facilities until such time that they are cleared by a medical doctor.  All participants testing positive for COVID are asked to self-report their test results to the league’s president (sedenverpresident@gmail.com) and stay away from SEDBL activities until such time that they receive negative test results on two consecutive COVID tests, with a minimum self-quarantine period of 14 days from all SEDBL activities.

COVID Update: Dear Families of the Southeast Denver Baseball & Softball League (SEDBSL), 

June 12, 2020

The Southeast Denver Baseball & Softball League (SEDBL) is excited to announce that its 2020 regular season for all rec baseball divisions will commence, as planned, on July 12th.  Games will be held each Sunday through October 18th, with a break for Labor Day Weekend.  Division directors will be contacting coaches over the next two weeks to confirm rosters and make preparations for the coming season.

The SEDBSL is committed to player safety.  In order to create a safer playing environment in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the SEDBSL has developed a series of on-field protocols.  To provide some examples, we’ll be doing-away with conventional dugout arrangements and asking teams to extend their player seating down each foul line, spacing players out at a minimum of 6 feet apart.  The home plate umpire will be moved to an area behind the pitcher and the catching position will be eliminated.  A “pitcher’s pocket” (small strike-zone sized screen) will serve as the virtual catcher, meaning that batters will essentially have the home plate area to themselves.  For our older divisions, lead-offs won’t be allowed until after the ball crosses home plate.  This rule change will result in first basemen not needing to hold runners on in close proximity, creating a safer environment on the base paths.  Furthermore, the league has placed an order for a huge quantity of masks (PPE) so that coaches will have them on-hand at all times for players and family members requesting such (wearing of masks during games won’t be required, but certainly encouraged).  Coaches will also be asked to monitor and enforce on-field social distancing, encourage safe practices such as regular hand sanitization, and be in ongoing communication with families around player health concerns.  Players or family members that show any symptoms potentially associated with COVID-19 will be asked to voluntarily stay home in keeping with current guidelines from local health officials.  A full list of safety protocols will be provided to coaches in the coming weeks for communication to their players and families, and rest-assured that our guidelines will evolve throughout the season in keeping with local safety regulations and recommendations.

We look forward to seeing your children on the baseball field soon, bringing a degree of joy and normalcy to each of your lives through the beautiful game of baseball.  Stay tuned for more information, coming via your respective coaches, over the next two weeks.  Thanks to all of you for being a part of the SEDBSL family.

If you have any questions regarding this email or other related issues, please contact the league Registrar at registrarsedenver@live.com

Jason Hirsh

President

Southeast Denver Baseball League

“Babe Ruth League Headquarters has advised all local leagues to follow the guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), our state’s public health department, and other county and/or local authorities including area school districts and government agencies."

Baseball Spring 2020 Registration is CLOSED

To Register for Softball...please use the following link:

www.sedenversoftball.com

2841 S Locust St, Denver, CO 80222

Marvin Freeman Field

4998 E Thrill Pl, Denver CO 80207

12yo Cal Ripken World Series Appearances by SEDBSL

2014 - Team Dinges/Monroe/Thompsen

2016 - Team Brady/McHugh

2017 - Team Palmer/Swigris/Pavelko

2018 - Team Padalino/Evans

2019 - Team Prentiss/Stork

Our mission is to assist youth in developing qualities of citizenship, discipline, teamwork and physical well-being, with proper guidance and exemplary leadership!

Photos by T5photography...click on photo or link below for free access to download moments captured at the SEDBSL 50th Anniversary Celebration

https://t5photodenver.shootproof.com/gallery/SEDBL/