Some parents concerned about kids playing baseball in the heat

Despite hot temperatures in mid-Missouri this week, a little league baseball organization said the games must continue.

A concerned parent with a child playing in the Daniel Boone Little League reached out to ABC 17 News frustrated the league wouldn’t change the date or time of the games this week.

Tony Redlinger, the league’s president, said they have never canceled a game due to heat.

Dave Roberts, a coach in the league, said he did receive some emails from concerned parents about whether their children should play in the scheduled 5:45 p.m. softball game Thursday.

“If they’re worried about it being too hot, then don’t bring them,” he said. “It’s just for fun we’re out here having a good time. So I think it’s always good to think about your kids’ safety first.”

Redlinger said the players’ safety is the league’s top priority, but added whether to cancel a game due to the heat is ultimately up to the parents and the coaches.

The league sent out an email Thursday advising parents the games would still be played as scheduled.

The email read, “Players and spectators need to be smart about hydration. Bring plenty of water and drink often. There is not a lot of shade around some of fields, so spectators might want to bring an umbrella or something to provide shade.”

“Coaches, please be careful about how long players are wearing catchers gear.”

While some parents did question when the league decides to cancel games due to the heat, other parents said they weren’t as concerned about the children playing out in the hot weather.

“As long as the kids drink plenty of water and as long as the coaches and parents pay attention, like they seem like they’re getting exhausted – just watch out for that and I don’t really have any concern,” said Chris Kennel.

Another parent said they think the league is doing a good job of monitoring the players and coaches out in the heat.

“The kids were playing yesterday, it was 96 degrees and they were really sweaty,” said David Strumpf. “They ended the game a little early, but they were definitely needing a lot of fluids.”

ABC 17 News also reached out to the Douglass Park Baseball League. A league coordinator said no games have been cancelled due to heat this year.