Everybody loves summer.

And everybody loves summer baseball.

The Futures Collegiate League and New Hampshire American Leagion programs hope circumstances with the pandemic allow that baseball to be played.

Their hopes hinge on different things. Legion ball is clearly dependent on the decision of New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu and his staff. Hudson’s Rick Harvey, the state Legion Baseball Committee chairman, did a great job in outlining a safety plan, the generalities of which we told you on Monday and the specifics of which we’ve posted today.

The Futures League, though, is an entirely different deal. Yes, the FCBL will depend on state and municipal approval for field and facility use. It will have to come up with some time of safety plan to satisfy all.

It’s not going to be easy, and FCBL owners are likely resigned to the fact that their for-profit model for now is out the window if they want a season. Silver Knights owner John Creedon, Jr. more or less hinted at that last week. He said this whole pandemic and trying to come up with a plan to have a season through it reaffirmed that the FCBL’s top priority is to the college players.

If they want to give those players a season, there is just a ton that has to fall into place. There won’t be business as usual, with four figure crowds, promotions, etc. The FCBL will be having a season for the players. And to at least remain relevant with the fans, but it really won’t be for them.

FCBL Commissioner Joe Paolucci didn’t want to come out with any detailed announcement other than Wednesday’s statement noting a delay in the start of the season. Other leagues that didn’t cancel set target dates; that’s not feasible right now, Paolucci said, because there are just too many unknowns. And that’s also a reason why the league didn’t want to cancel, either. Smart.

But Paolucci also admitted that having the premiere summer college league, the Cape Cod League, cancel its season was a jolt to everyone’s hopes. But the Cape had so many travel issues, jobs for players, host families, etc., it had to make a decision now. The FCBL, other than risking profit margins, can wait like many of the other leagues.

With that in mind, one wonders, too, what the New England Collegiate Baseball League will do. The NECBL has issued a statement on its web site that basically carries the same things Creedon and Paolucci relayed to yours truly last week for the FCBL: Monitor the situation, plan for safety, and hope that a season can be held especially since college players were denied their regular spring seasons.

If the NECBL, which has more players from around the country than the more locally based FCBL shuts down, would that push the FCBL to do the same, or would it push league owners and officials to try to be the proverbial only game in town? If, of course, everything could be done safely.

The Futures League is playing it right. There will be financial losses whether the league plays or not; there will be fewer if any fans, etc.

But boy, would it be great to see baseball at Holman Stadium at some time this summer.

We’ll take what we can get at this point.

Tom King may be reached at 594-1251,tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or@Telegraph _TomK.

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