Kids and Kubs open 91st Season Under COVID-19 Guidance

Opening Day Ceremonies mark season’s start November 5.

After Ninety seasons of opening day activities, you would think that it would be no big deal in gearing up for the next season. However, the path to the 20-21 season opener was not easy. An order issued on March 12, 2020, by the St Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department halted Kids and Kubs eight games short of completing the 19-20 season.

Kids and Kubs, historically, have started every season since 1930 in November with the certainty of day becoming night and night becoming day, known as the Renown Kids and Kubs, and with the reputation of year around senior softball activity for senior citizens 74 years of age. It is hard to imagine the Kids and Kubs not being about the business of senior softball at North Shore Park in St Petersburg.

The Three-Quarter Century Softball Club’s (a.k.a Kids and Kubs) four-team inter-club competition began on November 3 and expected to end on March 30, 2021. After working through several COVID 19 directives phases, the Club began its new season Tuesday, November 3.

It has been a struggle to restore normalcy to the lives of the Club and its members. Opening the Club’s 91st season is the first step in moving forward.

Beginning with the March 12 order, the Kids and Kubs experienced a complete shutdown of all Club activities until May 19 when the City Administration modified restrictions allowing no more than ten players on the field at North Shore Park at one time. This requirement made it necessary to establish two shifts to resume the summertime play of the Club and limited action to several rounds of batting practice each session. Access to the field was allowed at 10:00, and 11:30 am. Each session allowed ten players access to the playing field on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Inside the fenced ball diamond enclosure, no more than three players in the dugout required chairs to sit 6 ft apart. Players have temperatures taken before entering the field and are required to wear a mask while following social distancing rules and not getting close to each other. A skeleton crew of 10 or twelve players came to the ballfield for batting practice most of the summer. At age 74 and above, many Club members felt that sheltering at home was the safest.

The Club’s 91st season will continue using the guidelines to advance through the interclub competitive season. All spectators attending games are advised to follow the COVID-19 mask and social distancing guidelines while attending games.