Swamp Bats preparing for a full season next summer
by Michael Moore / Keene Sentinel
The Keene Swamp Bats, whose 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, are planning to defend their 2019 New England Collegiate Baseball League championship starting June 4, 2021, team President Kevin Watterson said.
“What I will assure you is … we fully are 100 percent focused on playing the 2021 season,” Watterson said. “I think we and summer collegiate baseball learned a lot this past season in terms of how we can all manage COVID and still play a season.”
Watterson said he’s talked with multiple NCAA coaches who all are on track to have a collegiate season, even if they have to start a bit later than usual.
“Knowing that our partners, the NCAA, are highly likely to play a season — to me that’s our cue that we are also highly likely to play,” Watterson said.
Missing an entire season has financial effects on teams and leagues, but Watterson said the team is in “good shape.”
As a matter of fact, there are planned improvements for Alumni Field, including a new pavilion, more batting cages and an upgraded Internet system, which means more capacity and faster connection.
