Hays PostPlayers and coaches
for the Hays Larks summer-collegiate baseball team are scheduled to be tested
Tuesday for COVID-19, the novel coronavirus that has created a global
pandemic, after a player tested positive over the weekend.Monday’s season opener and
Tuesday’s game were canceled after results confirmed a Larks player tested
positive for the virus. He had been feeling ill and took the test Saturday,
with results coming back Sunday.Frank Leo, who would have been
starting his 38th season as Larks manager with Monday’s non-league
game against the Colorado Springs Outlaws, said the decision on whether to play
this summer rests with the results of Tuesday’s tests. Hays’ next scheduled
game is 7 p.m. Friday at Larks Park against the Colorado Pirates in their Rocky
Mountain Baseball League opener.“If everyone comes up negative, we’ll
be able to proceed with the season Friday night,” Leo said, adding that if
anybody tests positive “the season is basically done. Everybody’s got to be
negative.”Ellis County Health Services
Director Jason Kennedy sought guidance from the state on how to proceed, Leo
said. If the season is not canceled, players will be checked regularly for
signs of illness.“The team will be closely
monitoring temperatures, how the players are feeling, encouraging if you’re not
feeling well don’t come to the ballpark,” Leo said. “We will be diligently
monitoring players on a daily basis.”Leo said he would be anxiously
awaiting Wednesday’s test results.“There is no contingency,” he
said. “We’ve got to be negative or we’re done.”Larks Release

Leo on Larks season: 'We’ve got to be negative or we’re done'