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Homewood youth baseball team member tests positive for COVID-19

A Ripken-B team has been asked to self-quarantine for 14 days after a member of the team tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, according to a statement issued the same day by Homewood Baseball and Softball League officials.

“Members of the team, and those who have been in close contact with them, should quarantine at home, monitor for symptoms and get tested if symptoms appear,” league officials said. Close contact is defined in state health recommendations as being within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes of an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19. “Homewood Baseball and Softball League established rules and guidelines at the beginning of the season to allow for single team quarantine in situations like this.”

HBSL launched its youth baseball and softball season two months late this year, beginning play on July 18 after state guidelines for slowing the spread of the virus were loosened to allow recreational outdoor sports. 

HBSL spokesman Nick Quirke said when the season started that the board and parents had developed a plan to make play as safe as possible and with consideration for how to respond in case of an infection.

“It was something we had prepared carefully for,” he said on Sunday.  

The safety measures included keeping teams separated, and that will allow other teams to continue playing. 

“We are dealing with these situations on a case by case basis, but as of now, the rest of the league will continue on as normal,” Quirke said. “Some of the younger teams are done this week, as they don’t have playoffs. All of the older teams will be done within two weeks time.”

The league board will continue to monitor the situation closely, according to the statement. 

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