To the membership of the Oshawa Slo-Pitch League, your League Executive hopes that all of you are safe and well during this pandemic we have all been a part of these past six months. These are trying times, times that we, or our elders, have never experienced before. With this pandemic came many new "normals" and wiped out some of our old "normals" for everyday life.

The COVID-19 pandemic has played a major role in everything from people's work lives, family lives, everyday life routines, to everyday life pleasures and it does not seem to want to let society get back to what we all call normal. We, the OSPL Executive, have been waiting for the green light to be able to proceed with the 2020 season, a shortened season at best. We have not received any notice on our season permit from the City of Oshawa and likely will not until the state of emergency is lifted by Premier Ford. As of now, that is on July 22. As we approach the latter end of July, the reality of us being able to play ball this season as the Oshawa Slopitch League is coming to an end.

The reality is, COVID-19 has put a lot of extra attention on how leagues and organizations need to operate and function - a new normal. For instance, we, the OSPL Executive, have to obtain a COVID-19 insurance for the League and for membership. With the precautions that the League would have to draft up and impose onto our membership, the Executive would not be able to draft policies and procedures in time and we would not be in a position to enforce said policies and procedures at every diamond in every time slot. We, the Executive, have to take on the responsibility and look after the social distancing on the diamonds and group numbers that are allowed per the Provincial regulation set out by Premier Ford and, as stated, we are not in a position to accommodate this.

With that said, it saddens us, but we have no choice at this time but to cancel the 2020 season for the Oshawa Slopitch League. We had hoped to play some type of a shortened season. But with all the restrictions, policies and procedures that were needed and need to be enforced and followed once permits had been given (if permits are even granted by the City of Oshawa), it has led us to this decision.

This is the first year since our League started in the summer of 1977, that the Oshawa Slopitch League has not played ball. It truly does sadden us that we have to make this call, but in reality, with what is happening in the world today, it is the correct decision for everyone’s health and safety.

We will work on a plan for going forward into 2021 and we will set up some dates for AGMs starting at the end of January. This of coarse, is as long as everything is lifted with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic by then. Keep checking the website for updates on the League and meeting dates, times and locations. We will also work on a plan for teams that would want their deposit back for the 2020 season and how we can get that done and completed in a timely fashion.

Please be safe, take care and stay healthy.

On behalf of your 2020 Executive,