Mitchell Charles Harrington #19

February 19 1993 - July 11 2020

 

On July 11th 2020 the Coquitlam Cardinals were upended with devastating news that Mitch Harrington passed away suddenly. Our heart goes out to Mitch's family, friends, teammates and anyone else who's trying to deal with this tragic news.

 

Mitch grew up playing competitive baseball in his youth at all levels before joining the Coquitlam Cardinals in 2012. Mitch immediately proved to be a valuable teammate not only on the field but in the dugout with his competitiveness, tenacity and overwhelming support for all his teammates. Mitch will be remembered for his work on the mound as he currently holds many team records, but it's his friendship that will be the greatest loss. Mitch was the type of person everyone loved to be around and always made everyone feel welcome. He could light up the room with his smile, sense of humour, his giant heart and had a positive effect on anyone he came across. He was the type of person who always cared for others, before caring for himself. He is truly irreplaceable. 

 

As the community tries to grasp with this unfortunate news, the Coquitlam Cardinals are heart warmed by all the support that we've received from across the league. We as a team would like to thank everyone who has reached out to us, and wish his family and friends continued strength and healing during this difficult time of grieving. Our love for you is everlasting, Mitch. 

 

 It was an honour having Mitch as a member of the LMBA - he made the game and all of us better.  He was an engaging and sincere young man.  He was a tremendous ball player and a great team mate.  He was a determined competitor but accorded the game and his opponents great respect.  Our organization and all who knew him pass along our sincerest sympathies to his family, friends and team mates.  When the game resumes he will continue to be a source of inspiration to the Cardinals and all who had the honour of sharing the field with him.

Dan Taylor, Commissioner - Lower Mainland Baseball Association.

2020 LMBA Registration

(July 1, 2020)

A number of LMBA teams are planning to resume limited baseball activities.  The LMBA Executive expects all teams, players, and officials to comply with several sets of guidelines as published by viaSport, Baseball BC, LMBA Return to Play Plan, and local parks departments.  Teams will be responsible for obtaining their own park allocations, ensuring their players re-register with the LMBA, and for ensuring that EVERYONE follows the guidelines.  Players will receive a set of guidelines from the LMBA and full compliance is expected.

The LMBA Executive considers the health and safety of all its members to be of the highest priority – individuals need to assess their own risk and realize that they are participating voluntarily and they are responsible for their own actions.

Players should not register until instructed by their team managers.  At the present time, limited practices are the only permitted activity – there are lots of guidelines to be observed before, during, and after sessions.  Games in any format are not allowed.  Teams are expected to keep a record of attendance and contact the LMBA Executive if any issues or questions arise.  Post game gatherings are not allowed – this is a stated policy of both the LMBA Executive and all local parks departments.

Thanks to everyone for your cooperation in making a return to baseball safe for everyone.

LMBA RETURN TO PLAY DOCUMENT

The LMBA has published its Return to Play document.  The plan is a combination of guidelines contained in Return to Play documents released by viaSport and Baseball BC.  All players planning to return to baseball activities in 2020 should take some time to review this important document.  Use the MENU button in the left hand column or go to the following link:

RETURN OF B.C. SPORTS – PHASE TWO

viaSport Guidelines

British Columbia is starting to re-open with the announcement of Phase Two in the full recovery process.  Along with the re-opening of many businesses recreational sports are also in Phase Two of the Return to Play format.  Most team sports including baseball will begin with sessions devoted to skills development and small group practices.  A return to game format is some time in the future once the province proceeds to Phase Three – date TBD.

Team sports will return in a step-by-step process with the emphasis on the participants’ health and personal safety.  viaSport, a non-profit organization, is government's lead delivery agency for sport programs.  Together with the Provincial Health Agency and WorkSafeBC, viaSport developed a set of general guidelines (Return to Sport) for all provincial sports groups.  The guidelines are not sport specific – they are centred around physical distancing and observing good personal health hygiene.  To view the Return to Sport Guidelines please check the link below.

https://www.viasport.ca/sites/default/files/ReturntoSportGuidelines.pdf

Return to Play

Upon receiving viaSport’s guidelines, Baseball BC added specific baseball guidelines to develop an overall plan for the return of baseball.  While there have not been any major game modifications, the bulk of the guidelines concentrate on the procedures which teams and individual players must take before, during, and after practices/games.  This will be the “new normal” and it will take some time for everyone to adjust.

Baseball activities in Phase Two are limited to small groups (maximum of 10 players and 2 coaches) and skills development is the theme – no games.  Participants are expected to observe physical distancing and good personal health hygiene.  The time frame for Phase Two is June – September although if the province enters Phase Three the dates will change.

To view the guidelines for Return to Play by Baseball BC please check the link below.

https://www.baseball.bc.ca/uploads/files/news/Baseball%20BC%20RTP%20Guidelines%20-%20FINAL.pdf

Parks departments will be opening facilities slowly and they will be expecting user groups to comply with all provincial and sport guidelines. 

The LMBA Executive will also be developing a Return to Play document but it must include guidelines from both viaSport and Baseball B.C.  LMBA players and team managers should review both sets of provincial guidelines and our guidelines will be placed on the website and distributed to teams when complete.

IN THE MEANTIME EVERYONE, STAY SAFE AND STAY PATIENT!!!!

March 17, 2020 - Updated Statement from LMBA Executive - May 28, 2020

Below is the statement received from Baseball BC on March 17, 2020.  It clearly suspends all organized baseball activities including practices.  Until LMBA teams receive permission from Baseball BC and local parks departments to resume practices the Executive expects all teams to observe the order.  Any organized groups holding unsanctioned practices are not insured - parks departments may permanently rescind allotments.  The LMBA Executive will not sanction any organized activities until permission has been granted by the British Columbia Health Authority, Baseball BC, and municipal parks departments.  

Attention: Baseball BC Membership (and affiliated clubs)

From: BC Amateur Baseball Association

Re: COVID – 19 UPDATES

Effective immediately Baseball BC has extended the suspension of all sanctioned in person baseball activity indefinitely.

Baseball BC sanctioned activities include but are not limited to, all tournaments,

practices, games, coach and umpire education and team building activities. The intent of this

suspension is to limit situations of close physical interactions.

Baseball in 2020 Return to Play Update

(May 20, 2020)

Provincial Sports Organizations (PSO) including Baseball BC are currently awaiting Return to Play guidelines from a committee comprised of Provincial Health Authority, WorkSafeBC, and ViaSport.  These guidelines are expected to be quite general in nature rather than specific to each individual spring/summer sport. 

Provincial Sports Organizations will then ensure that the guidelines are included in Return to Plan policies that will be forwarded to associations, leagues, and teams.  Most policies will be health related – physical distancing, number of participants, individual and team responsibilities, and expectations prior to games, during the practices/games, and following events.  There may be modifications made to games.

Lower Mainland parks departments will soon be instituting a phased opening of parks.  Games will not be part of the opening phases.  Most PSO organizations are starting with skill development programs involving small numbers of participants.  Some sports will not advance beyond this concept.  Sports organizations will need to renew allotments and applicants (including LMBA teams) will need to include PSO guidelines as part of their requests.  Applicants will also need to meet municipal expectations as well so any return to “baseball” will be in steps over time. 

All PSO organizations have received a letter of Covid 19 exclusion so liability is being downloaded and all groups returning to play will require their members to re-register and acknowledge a waiver.  No matter the scope of each organization – skills/practices/modified games/actual games organized groups will need to ensure that participants (whether individuals or teams) are adhering to all guidelines.

Once LMBA receives the Return to Play guidelines from Baseball BC the Executive will meet (virtually) to assess the viability of moving forward.  We will also need to consider that minor baseball groups may extend their seasons to offer some type of program and our umpires will likely be receiving instructions from BCBUA. 

We are asking our teams to contact their players for input/reaction to our current situation.  We already have a few teams that will not be playing in 2020 and some teams report individual players have indicated they will not be returning. 

In the meantime, everyone should stay safe.  British Columbia has done a great job and re-opening and return to play is being done in a responsible manner.

COVID – 19 UPDATE – MAY 1^st

Friday, May 1^st marked the 100^th day since BC residents received formal government notification about the Covid – 19 pandemic.  We trust that all LMBA members, their families, and friends have stayed safe and it appears that it will be some time before restrictions are lifted to the point where recreational sports may resume.  In the meantime, we encourage everyone to maintain precautions to ensure that the number of cases continues to diminish.

Life has changed and there have been significant economic and social impacts.  While our season has been delayed we are concerned that many youth baseball players have missed the start of their season also, something that we did not encounter when growing up.  In the event youth baseball is played we have offered our assistance to work in a cooperative manner.

Many of our members continue to perform essential services during the pandemic shutdown – first responders, Canada Post workers, educators, food services, medical personnel, transportation and retail workers, and many more.  Thank you for your dedication and service – please stay safe.

The LMBA Executive has been in contact with municipal parks departments, minor baseball organizations, Baseball BC, and our umpires.  Baseball BC has submitted a proposal for playing baseball in 2020 to Sport BC and viaSport and we will pass along any updated information or decisions.  Meanwhile, we encourage our team managers to stay in touch with their players and remain in contact with the Executive.  We are hopeful that youth, senior, and oldtimers will all get a chance to play ball in 2020.

LMBA 2020 Season Update (March 23)

The LMBA Executive will continue to update everyone on a regular basis but we are encouraging our players, their families, and friends to remain safe.

We have been receiving notifications from Baseball Canada, Baseball BC, municipal health authorities, municipal parks departments, and minor baseball associations.  Basically, all parks, community centers, fitness centers, swimming pools, ice rinks, and most/all recreational facilities have been closed and the closures and cessation of programs, including all adult recreational sports will likely extend for some time.

Please note the following LMBA organizational instructions.

March 28 Meeting - Cancelled

Registration – Our online registration system is open – players, coaches, managers, and Executive members should register for the 2020 season – this will enable us to communicate directly with each member rather than using the 2019 registration list.

League Fees – Some teams have submitted full fees to Tim Everson (LMBA Treasurer).  Teams which have not should WAIT until we are closer to opening weekend – in the meantime, teams should collect from their players but hold until you receive instructions from LMBA.  If we only get the opportunity for a shortened season league fees will be adjusted.

Schedule – 2020 schedule has been posted – it is unlikely that we will open on the weekend of April 17/18/19 – whenever we receive permission to use sports fields, the schedule will begin at that point in the schedule.

Baseballs – We currently have 120 dozen baseballs – when we resume we will issue 3 dozen baseballs per team along with scorebooks and lineup books – if we are unable to arrange a meeting facility, we may have a central distribution point such as Central Park parking lot.  We are awaiting delivery of another 80 dozen baseballs but issues regarding shipments from China have delayed indefinitely.

Insurance – we have renewed our Accident and Liability policy with Baseball BC.  We have also received notifications from parks departments that individuals and teams using parks are NOT covered for the duration of closures.

Practices – LMBA is instructing all teams not to practice until parks have been re-opened – per instructions from Baseball BC and all Lower Mainland municipalities.

We are optimistic that we will get in some baseball time in 2020 and will keep everyone updated. 

Stay safe everyone.

LMBA Executive

COVID - 19 - DIRECTIVES - BASEBALL CANADA AND BASEBALL BC

THE LMBA EXECUTIVE HAS BEEN MONITORING THE COVID - 19 SITUATION AND HAS RECEIVED NOTIFICATIONS FROM BASEBALL BC AND SEVERAL MINOR BASEBALL GROUPS WHICH SHARE OUR PLAYING FACILITIES.  THE OVERALL SITUATION IS VERY FLUID AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE OUR TEAMS AND OUR WEBSITE.  THE PRE-SEASON MEETING SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 28TH HAS BEEN CANCELLED AND WILL BE RE-SCHEDULED.  

March 17, 2020

Attention: Baseball BC Membership (and affiliated clubs)

From: BC Amateur Baseball Association

Re: COVID – 19 UPDATES

Effective immediately Baseball BC has extended the suspension of all sanctioned in person baseball activity indefinitely.

Baseball BC sanctioned activities include but are not limited to, all tournaments,

practices, games, coach and umpire education and team building activities. The intent of this

suspension is to limit situations of close physical interactions.

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic is rapidly changing the way that we, as global citizens, think, act, gather, learn, and live our daily lives. That includes how we play baseball.

With the most recent announcements from the public heath officials and the government, Baseball B.C. is suspending all sanctioned in person baseball activity indefinitely.

This decision is difficult, but it is our duty to help society follow social distancing protocols (keeping at least 6 feet apart and avoiding congregate settings). It is our hope that by doing this, we will all play a small, but important part in flattening the curve in the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. We will continue to monitor the situation and take our guidance from public health officials, the government, and Baseball Canada.

Baseball B.C. is committed to doing the best we can for the safety and well-being of our players, families, volunteers, and fans.

We urge all member organizations and affiliates to enforce and support the suspension of in person baseball activities in their respective associations as well.

MEETING CANCELLED - COVID - 19 PRECAUTION - TO BE RESCHEDULED WHEN APPROPRIATE

2020 LMBA Pre-Season Meeting

Saturday, March 28^th 1:30PM to 3:00PM

Edmonds Centre – 7433 Edmonds Street, Burnaby

All teams need to attend the LMBA’s 2020 pre-season meeting on Saturday, March 28^th at the Edmonds Centre in Burnaby (7433 Edmonds Street) from 1:30PM to 3:00PM.  A short agenda containing issues covered at 2020 Executive meetings will preclude the distribution of baseballs, scorebooks, and line up books.  League fees are due and you may complete payment at the meeting (cheques, e-transfers only – no cash) or contact LMBA Treasurer Tim Everson (tim@ballparksports.ca ) prior to the meeting.

2020 Registration

The LMBA registration site is now open.  All players, managers, coaches, and Executive members must register for the 2020 season.   

Registration – The LMBA website is now accepting 2020 player registrations so please pass along these instructions to your players. (Dan Sitar – LMBA Registrar – dsitar@gmail.com )

            MAKE SURE you register for the 2020 season (GROUP/SEASON)  AND make sure to include your team as well (TEAM – find your team on the scroll down function)

IF YOU ARE REGISTERING FOR MORE THAN ONE TEAM OR IN MORE THAN ONE DIVISION you need to register for the first team, then log out, then register again for the second team. If you stay signed in the system won’t let you register the second time.

NEW PLAYERS – If you are new to the LMBA and not part of a league team, do not register as an individual player – if you are looking for a team, please use the CONTACTS menu button to contact the coordinator for the appropriate age division.

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