By Mike Zummo
What started as a dream come true has been relegated to a dream deferred or even a dream dashed.
The COVID-19 pandemic has canceled the Highland Wolfpack 12-and-younger baseball team’s trip to the Cooperstown Dreams Park and American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame baseball tournament.
The Wolfpack was scheduled to play in Cooperstown from July 31 until Aug. 7.
“It was disappointing for them because they put so much hard work and fundraising and preparing for the event,” said George Salinovich, one of team’s four coaches. “It’s really tough for the 12-year-old kids.”
About half the team is made up of 12-year-old players, who will graduate to the next level next year.
After they age up, they will play on Major-League-sized fields.
The teams would have spent six nights at the Cooperstown Dreams Park, a 22-field baseball complex, and would have played at least seven games and would have had an opportunity to earn a seed to play in the single-elimination championship tournament.
Players would have received a Cooperstown Dreams Park home and away jersey, socks, hat, and the prestigious American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame ring. All teams and players would have had a photo session and received personalized Cooperstown Dreams Park baseball cards.
According to a news release, Cooperstown Dreams Park was hoping to avoid this outcome, but it is the only responsible course of action.
All teams will receive a 100 percent refund or the option of future participation.
Salinovich said the Wolfpack program is still weighing its options for the future. The program started making installments last summer and the final payment was due in March. The Wolfpack hosted multiple fundraisers to pay for the trip.
The final payment, which the organization made, was due in March.
“Once this is over, we will decide which direction to move forward in,” Salinovich said.
The option of future participation would mean that the players who are 12 will have aged out before the park reopens for the 2021 season.
“They know the seriousness of what’s going on,” Salinovich said. “You really have to put into perspective and make sure everyone is safe and secure. They understand the facility is going to be used to treat other patients or they’re going to use it as a food pantry for those in that area.”
Now the focus is taking care of themselves and their families and getting back to baseball when it is safe to do so.
The coronavirus outbreak put a pause on what had been an early season for the Wolfpack.
They had their first outdoor practice on Feb. 24 and scrimmaged the Kingston Tigers on March 9 for nine innings to give all the pitchers at least one inning.
Now with the state on pause, the Wolfpack is waiting for the OK to get back out on the field.
“We’re staying positive,” Salinovich said.
“This is something that really puts things in perspective, things we take for granted like baseball. When we get on the field, I think we’re really going to be grateful to get out on the field as a group.”