Submitted photo Austintown resident Brian Ladner umpires a youth baseball game in 2019. Ladner also officiates high school baseball games. Current baseball and softball officials are not working due to the suspension of the spring sports season.

Rob Luklan looked at his schedule. He was supposed to officiate an early high school softball game between Lakeview and Poland.

He would’ve gotten there early and surveyed the situation. He would have experienced the ping sound of the ball off the bats, the smack of the hard-cased softball connecting with a leather glove and his first strike call of the young season behind the plate.

Luklan sufficed with a replay of a 1989 MLB game between the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres, the closest thing sports fans can get to live contests.

Luklan, a 56-year-old Boardman resident, could only imagine what might have been in front of his eyes.

“Man, that would’ve been a nice ballgame,” he said. “It’s just so many good teams in our area. It’s sad to see these girls put all this time in and they’re put on hold.”

Luklan, like other baseball and softball officials, are waiting like spring sports athletes to see if their seasons will be played. The Ohio High School Athletic Association has taken its cue from Gov. Mike DeWine for its next step. For now, schools are closed through the end of April due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spring sports usually begin in late March, but there’s a possibility it could begin in May. So far, baseball, softball, track and field, boys tennis and lacrosse are delayed at least through the end of April.

John Mang, the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference commissioner, who also is an area baseball and softball officials assigner, said he’s canceled countless games.

Factoring in unpredictable weather, even if spring sports resume in May, will there be ample opportunity to get in league games?

Mang said the focus would be to play league games before tournaments.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said older adults and people with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for COVID-19.

A good portion of OHSAA officials are older adults.

Beau Rugg, Senior Director of Officiating and Sport Management for the OHSAA, said he has suggestions for these officials if spring sports return.

“The first general comment would be that we would take guidance from the CDC,” Rugg said. “There are certain ‘mechanics’ that we would change like shaking hands with coaches and captains. The safety of the environment is controlled by the schools in regular season play and by the OHSAA in tournament play. We would encourage schools to have similar amenities and actions that we will have in tournament play. We would have hand sanitizers available for officials and communicate with them to make sure they do not report to a site if they are not feeling well.

“Of course, the CDC may have other specific actions for us. I am sure there will be some parameters from the Health Department when we return.”

Keeping more than 6 feet apart is hard to do in spring sports.

“If they would, I have an older workforce in that category where they can pick up something,” Mang said. “We’re outdoors and we could spread it even if you’re 6 feet apart. You have a plate umpire. You’re still making contact with people.

“It’s been mentioned, but I haven’t had anybody say point blank I’m not umpiring. If they go back, I don’t think I’d have every umpire back. I don’t think so.”

Marty Kanetsky, an official from Hubbard, said he and his golfing friends have practiced social distancing for about a month — getting separate carts at Pine Lakes.

Kanetsky officiates football, baseball, basketball and softball and coached at Girard, Hubbard and Champion.

He usually golfs in the morning and officiates in the late afternoon, but added this stoppage “puts a real damper in my style of life.”

“This is the time I really enjoy,” he said. “I’m 69, going on 70. I love getting out with the kids. Kept myself in shape so I could do that. This is a bummer.”

Tony Montana, a 69-year-old umpire from Howland, said he was doing yard work to get that feeling of being in the open air.

He has a gym in his basement, staying active if he does get to officiate softball again this spring.

“I can only hope that we go back,” he said. “The chances are it doesn’t look real good right now. If they do go back, I’d be happy to go back. I can only hope we do that.

“You have to play the cards you’re dealt.”

These officials are not getting live action to practice their craft.

Brian Ladner, a 22-year-old official from Austintown, has been through youth leagues and is a newbie to OHSAA baseball.

He’s part of a Facebook group with fellow officials, as people are posting different scenarios with plays from the case book. It’s been almost a year since he’s been on a field.

“That helps me visualize a little bit more,” Ladner said. “It helps me stay on top of it. I don’t spend too much time on the rule book. I probably do a lot more now, to be honest with you.

“The rules come, but it’s more of the cadence we struggle with.”

Montana said he feels for the current spring sports athletes, wishing they could play again.

“We all have a timeline,” Montana said. “At this part of my life I’m going to go as long as I can, but a kid that’s in high school can only play for four years. I’ve been blessed with the fact that I’ve been doing this for close to 50 years. I’ve had my day.

“I feel bad for the kids who could be state champions. You have basketball teams that there are no state champions. You have track and field runners. Champion softball, it could repeat as a champion. I feel for the kids.”