Softball playoffs on hold

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9: It’s lights out for softball after gale force winds brought down a pole at the Michael Preece Softball Diamond over the weekend.

The pole, located next to the first base dugout, broke at the base crashed along a gate and was hanging over into the parking lot.

The wind also ripped down the netting protecting the bleachers along the first base side.

It calls into question whether when the Summer Softball League playoffs can continue.

Monday’s games were postponed because of the light issue and Tuesday’s would have been as well if it had not rained.

Tracey Bean president of the SSL, said it would be unlikely that tonight’s contests would be staged meaning the earliest games would be resumed would be on Monday.

Bean told the Bermuda Sun on Tuesday: “Cal Simons, from Youth and Sport, spoke with Works and Engineering, at 9am on Monday morning. Works & Engineering have yet to have their electrical department go assess the situation.

“So we’re basically waiting on them.

Bean added the league is seeing “day-to-day” the availability of the field.

P & M Electric have volunteered to help assess the situation.

Bean said P & M can’t do anything though until the Department of Public Works states they can’t fix the pole.

“Cal has to exhaust his options with Works & Engineering first before he can call in P & M Electric.”

Bean said the chance of tonight’s games being played “are zero to none”.

“At the earliest we’ll be able to play is Monday.”

With the pole sheared off at the base, it is unlikely that it will be fixed in the near future.

Two years ago a light pole fell in the outfield and games were still played.

One possible suggestion is to mount temporary lights so there is enough illumination for the first baseman to see the ball well enough to pose a danger.

A second possibility would be to move all the playoff games to Saturdays and Sundays when light would not be needed.