Telegraph photo by TOM KING The Nashua Silver Knights were masked and socially distant as they listened to city health officials give them a COVID-19 talk on Monday at Holman Stadium.

NASHUA – Two months ago, Nashua Director For the Division of Public Health and Community Services Bobbie D. Bagley never thought there’d be baseball this summer at Holman Stadium.

But there was Bagley on Monday afternoon at Holman, standing behind home plate with two other city health personnel, all masked, addressing the full Nashua Silver Knights squad seated apart in the stands, all masked. The topic: The dos and don’ts of COVID-19.

“No, oh no, no,” she said. “But see Nashua has done some really good things and you’ve seen a trending of downward infection and exposure.

“So if we keep doing what we’ve been doing, keep these masks on and we maintain the social distancing, we can continue to do this.”

And “this” includes a Silver Knights 10th season that is slated to begin at Holman Thursday at 6 p.m. vs. North Shore. With that in mind, the players were given a COVID lesson, not only by Bagley but also by city epedimeologist Angela Consentino and public health nurse Flavia Martin.

The players were told about the dangers of asymptomatic spreading of the virus, and also how one infected person can lead to three more, etc.

The main message: If you don’t feel well, don’t report to the team that day and let team officials know why you’re not there. And then get tested.

“You guys are lucky baseball is a low-contact sport,” Consentino said. “But when you’re dealing with other players from other teams, try to keep your social distance and not engage in close contact with them.”

Players can elbow celebrate, but no high-fives or fist pumps.

“It’s practice,” Bagley told The Telegraph after the talk. “We’re talking about behavioral change, right? With baseball, there’s certain behaviors that go along with it. Like spitting. That’s all you see on the side, spit, spit, spit.

“So there’s got to be a re-education. There’s got to be a re-enforcement by their managers and by them holding each other accountable. We’ve made changes, we’ve gotten used to wearing these masks, when we come together in areas where we’re gathered together.”

But she knows that habits will be tough to break, and if there are a couple of missteps, the team should have plenty of hand sanitizer in the dugout to mitigate things. The one thing Bagley & Co. told the players was shouting should be discouraged, because it can transmit droplets.

Also while they’re used to body and muscle aches and fatigue, if there’s anything they feel is abnormal or unusual, they should also give an alert.

“All it takes is one,” she said, “who says, ‘I’m just going to push through.’ A lot of people in health care and work do this. They say ‘I’m going to go to work’ and they go to work and all day long they’re around their co-workers, and guess what – they’re positive.”

And then contact tracing must begin, and quarantines, which would last 14 days, or over a third of the team’s 39-game season.

The players say they appreciated every word.

“Anything to play baseball,” pitcher Jackson Walker, who comes from Franklin Pierce, said. “I think it’s not easy, but everyone’s on board. We’ll do what we have to do.”

Brady Day, the recent Pinkerton Academy grad from Hampstead who is headed to Kansas State, agreed. “I thought it was informational,” he said. “I didn’t know if this was going to happen, it was good we were able to do this. If we have to abide by some rules, then I guess we’ll have to do it to play.”

Infielder Luke Beckstein out of Tyngsborough, Mass., also headed to Kansas State,was thankful for the information as well.

“We’re lucky to be out here and have them come here and allowing us to play,” he said. “We’re going to have to do what we have to do in order to play baseball and keep everybody safe.”

Silver Knights general manager Cam Cook said he and manager Kyle Jackson also addressed the team on Sunday.

“It’s definitely knew, they’ve got to get into a routine,” Cook said, as players are required to wear a mask when entering the park and also get temperature checks. “But it’s been a week now, it’s getting more and more like clockwork. They know what they’re doing now.”

Bagley reminded the players it was important to avoid group settings, especially avoiding bars, parties,etc. But Cook said the schedule is so intense they won’t have time for any of that.

“Luckily we have such a busy schedule for the next month and a half,” he said, “they won’t have the opportunity to go out and do much.”

Remember, no athletes are more creatures of habit than baseball players.

“It’s going to take re-education, it’s going to take practice,” Bagley said. “Just like they’re doing right now. But they’ve got to hear people reminding them. … We’re getting into a new norm. As Flavia said these guys are going to be examples. So if there are other kids who come and see them play, they’ll see how these guys behave and maybe they’ll change some of their behaviors and play like this.”

Bagley told the players city health officials are on their side.

“We want you to have your season,” Bagley said. “We want it in a way that’s safe and fun … because so many other things have been shut down. …

“I want to be able to come to the games.”

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The Knights are slated to have a controlled scrimmage at Holman with Worcester today around 10:30 a.m. But before that, players from both teams will be tested…

Nashua has Wednesday off, Jackson said, prior to Thursday’s opener.

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