Ridge Baseball Tries To Salvage 2020 Season

BASKING RIDGE, NJ—Calling the canceled 2020 season a "huge disappointment" for hundreds of children, Ridge Baseball Club, Inc. petitioned the town committee this week to allow a fall season at the complex on Valley Road.

"In order to fully reopen this Fall and offer the boys and girls in our community the baseball

program we think they deserve and very much need as an outlet during these times," the letter said, "we require use of the lights at the Complex into the evenings this Fall."

The complex is owned by the township and the lease specifies that light usage begin no earlier than April 24 stop by Aug. 8 every summer. But, as this was no ordinary season, the club requested an exception.

Asking for a one-time authorization to use the lights at the complex from September 1, 2020– November 15, 2020, the letter said "time is of the essence." The club also cautioned that it didn't have other options.

"If we are unable to use the lights this Fall," the club's letter said, "due to the limited number of lighted fields available in town and how early it gets dark in the evenings, we almost certainly will not be able to offer the type of baseball program the community wants and deserves as it adjusts to COVID-19."

Per the letter, the lights would be turned off at the Valley Road complex at following days/times this fall:

Sundays – no later than 9:00 pm
Fridays and Saturdays – no later than 10:00 pm
Mondays through Thursdays when school is in session – no later than 9:00 pm
Mondays through Thursdays when school is not in session – no later than 10:00 pm