In this unusual, yet memorable year of sports, we run the gamut from Major League Baseball to Aurora Boys Baseball to no exhibition games for the Chicago Bears this season to questionable schedules for college football. Items which roll to the forefront, and by no means exclusive, could be worthy of notation:
• Chicago Major League Baseball fans know that both teams are on their way to playoff berths. Each has provided excellent pitching and good hitting, the latter especially by the White Sox. The Cubs were in first place in the National League Central, 18-10 through Monday, three games in front of St. Louis. The Sox were 17-12 and tied for second place in the American League Central with Cleveland, each 2.5 games behind Minnesota. The slugging by the Sox truly has been memorable. The team hit 27 home runs in seven games through Saturday, which became 28 home runs in eight games when veteran first baseman Jose Abreu, 33 years old, hit his fourth consecutive home run his first time at bat against the Cubs Sunday. Even without fans, there should be more excitement ahead for both teams.
• It is remarkable that the Boys Baseball of Aurora leagues have found a way to play their games. Through Monday, Aurora Metals led the Pony League, Teamsters led the Major League, Luxemburger Club led the Minor League, and Platinum Service led the Rookie League in the venerable organization.
• College football fans may be starved for games in The Big Ten Conference and the Pac 12 in the Power Five conferences. Weaving their way through the COVID-19 pandemic will be the charge for the Southeastern Conference. The leagues without football may be more than half across the country. For a chuckle on college football, see page 13 for Charlie Brown and Lucy. Will she pull the ball away, again, this year?
• The Illinois High School Association decided Monday not to hold Fall sports State meet championships. It is not surprising, considering the huge throng of runners jostling into positions at the start of cross country runs at the State meet, annually at Detweiler Park in Peoria. There is little movement on high school football in the Spring, even though the chart on page 8 shows the dates for practices and games as February 15-May 1. Adjacent states, Indiana and Iowa, have Fall football games planned.
• The Bears? We hear professional teams deal with COVID-19 frequently. No preseason games this year will be played. The 16-game schedule will begin Sunday, Sept. 13 for the Bears. See below.
• It must be duly noted that the Chicago Sky’s women’s basketball team, through Monday, led the Eastern Division by four games. Nice to see first place teams. The Blackhawks returned to the playoffs.