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Johnston Realty and Cumming Motors -- two local AAABA baseball programs that compete each year in the area -- will most likely have a season this summer, they just won't have a national tournament to shoot for when the season ends.
On Friday, organizers of the 2020 National AAABA Tournament in Johnstown made the announcement that the event was canceled over uncertainty and concern involving the coronavirus pandemic.
John Austin, president of the local AAABA league, knew in the back of his mind that this announcement was coming.
"The financial aspect and also the safety of the players, the coaches, the managers and the volunteers who help with it, and the social distancing that would have been involved … it would have been pretty hard to do," he said. "It can't be like pro sports where you play without fans. We need to put 5,000 fans in Point Stadium for three nights in a row to make this a financial success."
Austin will meet with Greater City League President Dale Snyder on Saturday to discuss when the GCL can start. The two AAABA teams will compete along with other teams in the league like they've always done.
"We just don't know when and if we can play," he said. "We are looking at the end of May or the beginning of June."
The City League schedule is already put together, but it may have to be abbreviated, according to Austin.
The national tourney in Johnstown would have welcomed 16 teams from around the country, including the Altoona entry. The Johnstown Oldtimers raise funds to pay for all rooms, meals and other expenses.
"We feed and house the players -- and you're talking about over 300 people -- and that would be a problem with housing and restaurants and social distancing," Austin added.
With high schools and colleges closed, the national organizers were worried there would not be enough fields to use for the tourney. According to a press release from the Oldtimers organization, plans for the 2021 tournament are already being discussed.