By John Pullano, Associate Editor
Senior pitcher Donovan Moffat has three goals for the 2021 St. Bonaventure University men’s baseball season opener: Have no active cases of COVID-19 among his teammates, have the full roster traveling to the game and to win.
In March, Moffat’s goals could become a reality thanks to some creative scheduling from assistant men’s baseball coach and head of programming B.J. Salerno.
On March 13, the men’s baseball team is set to play in their season-opening doubleheader at Alumni Field in Baltimore, Maryland against the University of Maryland, Baltimore County baseball team.
To avoid violating the New York state COVID-19 travel advisory guidelines, the team has planned to leave Bonaventure’s campus at 6 a.m., drive to Baltimore, play in a pair of games and drive back, all within 24 hours.
“We had to get creative with the schedule to keep all of our guys safe,” said Salerno. “We want to try and play as many games as possible for our guys and we found that UMBC was available at that date, so we thought that if we could drive down real early in the morning, play a doubleheader and then come back we would be within all the rules that we have to follow.”
According to the stateissued guidelines, if the team leaves the state and returns in less than 24 hours, the travelers will not be required to quarantine upon their return. If the team is outside of the state for more than 24 hours, travelers will need to quarantine for three days and register a negative COVID-19 test upon their return home.
“It is about a 5-hour trip and we hope to be there by at least noon, two hours before game time so that we can do pregame batting practice and infield practice to get ready,” said Salerno.
During a normal season, the team would travel to Maryland, stay several days and often play more than two games.
“Normally we will get into a hotel Thursday night for a weekend series, get a full night’s sleep and we play anywhere from noon-4 starts on those Fridays, and possibly a doubleheader Saturday weather dependent more than anything,” said senior second baseman Kevin Higgins. “But I think given it being the first series everyone is going to be ready to fire on all cylinders as soon as we get off the bus at UMBC.”
Despite traveling the day of the games, Salerno and head men’s baseball coach Larry Sudbrook do not plan to restrict any player’s normal playtime.
Moffat agreed with the coaches touting this trip as nothing the team cannot handle.
“To be honest, I am really not concerned with fatigue,” said Moffat. “By the time we get there, our whole team and myself will be pretty fired up to play again and get back on a field and I honestly do not see fatigue being a factor and honestly we just want to win.”
By returning home and avoiding a three-day quarantine, travelers will be allowed to attend their classes in-person the week following the games.
“I honestly like the idea of the trip,” said Moffat. “Because I would much rather be able to come back and go to class in person and go to work than do it from home because for me personally, I get more out of being in-person than I do on zoom. As long as we can play the games, that is what I am really most worried about.”
As the season continues there is a potential for Salerno to schedule more trips like this one in the event of a COVID-19 related cancelation.
“In a normal year we probably change the schedule, maybe, once,” said Salerno. “There might be a cancelation here or there but usually [the schedule] is approved, you are able to go out and play in those games. This year we did the schedule six or seven times because everything is so fluid in changing.”
Ultimately, Moffat hopes the trip will set an example for other college sports teams on how to play without contracting COVID-19 and result in him potentially achieving his goals along the way.
“I don’t want another senior season to be cut again,” said Moffat. “But we need to continue to obey protocols and not do things that will potentially ruin our season while leading by example and trying to win.”
pullanjj18@bonaventure.edu
