P-15's open up practice amid restrictions preparing for independent league season

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This is normally the time of year when young baseball players have completed the transition from the high school season to the start of the American Legion season.
This spring obviously hasn't been a normal one. The fact that the Sumter P-15's had their first practice of the season on Tuesday, but not for an American Legion season, attests to that.
That, however, did not deter from the anticipation of the players. In fact, it may have increased it.
"I was excited to get back with the boys, get ready for the season and make a run at it," Brennan Jones said.
"It felt good just to get back out, communicate and talk to people, just to be back out on the field practicing," Cody Windham said.
And that is a big step forward from where the sports world has been due to the coronavirus pandemic. The first practice at Riley Park on Tuesday was actually split into two 1-hour sessions with 10 players participating in each session.
"All we did was hit in the cage a little bit and throw a little bit, not knowing how much people have been throwing for the last six weeks," said P-15's assistant coach Chad Hoshour. "We just wanted to get the arms up a little bit.
"They were just happy to be out here. We had them run a little bit today, move around some, be around the guys a little bit and not be as isolated as they have been."
Hoshour pointed out the nature of baseball itself makes practicing under the unusual circumstances brought about by the pandemic much easier as opposed to football, basketball and hockey.
"There was nothing out of the ordinary apart from the social distancing, and baseball is perfect for the social distancing," he added. "We did nothing around the plate or at first base that would limit the social distancing."
"It's different because you're not with the whole team," Jones said. "But I mean we're all working toward the same goal so it's OK right now."
Of course, the high school spring sports seasons were shut down in the middle of March at the outset of the virus. On the baseball front, that was followed by the national American Legion canceling its season.
That means the P-15's will be playing in an independent league - the South Carolina American League - that is being put together by Florence Post 1 head coach Derick Urquhart.
Jones and Windham are just happy to be preparing for a season after having their high school seasons shut down.
"It hurt, missing the high school season," said Windham, who played at Lakewood High School. "But I knew they were going to end up doing something so we could play again."
"It's been a lot different. I had to get used to it at first," Jones said of missing the Sumter High season. "I've been working, trying to stay in shape at my house, trying to get ready for it. It was different not knowing when you're starting back or if you're starting back. It was hard to stay encouraged getting toward the goal."
Hoshour said he, head coach Robby Coker and fellow assistant Jason Stanley will have to go about preparing the players - the pitchers in particular - in a different fashion than normal for the summer season.
"We'll probably start live bullpens next week, but it's kind of like the start of the high school season, trying to get the arms in shape, instead of them coming out from high school to Legion, where their arms are already ready," Hoshour said.
Hoshour said he isn't surprised to have a full roster of players available despite there not being an American Legion season. He thinks what the independent league is doing is playing a part in that.
"They want to play, and something in this league that we chose to do is they put a playoff into it at the end," Hoshour said in regards to determining a state champion. "People want to play for something and putting in that playoff, playing for a title, is something that motivates people."
"It's really exciting," Jones said. "I can't wait to get back on the field with the guys and compete."