With not enough players, Brookfield Central School’s successful varsity baseball program will not field a team this year.
At last week’s BCS Board of Education meeting, Athletic Director Sarah Abrams explained that only eight boys has committed to playing.
She said a minimum of nine players was needed when practice for spring sports began last week.
Abrams and BCS Superintendent Ron Pavlus said efforts were made to get other boys to sign up.
Some said they would think about it, but Abrams said the first day of practice yielded just the eight boys already signed up.
In the past 14 years the Beavers baseball team has always had a winning season.
Coach Jamie Reilly, who took over in 2010, guided the Beavers to almost 200 wins in that time and the post-season every year.
The Beavers reached the state’s semifinals after winning the Section Three
Class D title early in Reilly’s coaching years.
Brookfield has won the Central Counties League title seven years in a row.
Abrams said Brookfield has good numbers for varsity softball and will have a modified softball team for the first time in several years.
BCS will also have modified baseball.
Two of the eight boys will play on the modified team.
Abrams said she reached out to neighboring districts Waterville, Hamilton and Madison about finding a place for the other six boys.
Hamilton and Madison said they would do so.
Abrams said Madison was chosen because of the past partnerships between the two districts, including this week’s musical.
She thanked Hamilton and Madison for assisting her in helping the students.
“We tried,’’ Abrams said, about getting enough players.
“I have high hopes varsity baseball will come back.’’
Abrams said the CCL has other schools struggling or combining for both varsity baseball and softball.
She pointed out that Brookfield - while also not having varsity boys or girls basketball this year - had full modified teams in every sport. “If those kids stick with it we’ll have varsity teams back,’’ she said.
Pavlus said the pressure to play was causing strain among the boys.
“It was becoming an issue with their emotions and among friends,’’ he said.
Also at the 40-minute meeting Pavlus and Business Manager Tiffany Lopesz outlined the District’s next Capital Project.
Pavlus said due to the ongoing high cost of materials and labor the list contains just items deemed as necessary.
Among the projects:
Replace the clock system
Replace the telephone system
Repoint the chimney
Replace the outside doors in the courtyard leading to the gym ...