Baseball will return to Minot this summer. The COVID-19 pandemic created some uncertainty for the Minot Vistas, but the team announced its 2020 schedule on Thursday. The team will play under the Babe Ruth league system after the North Dakota American Legion organizers decided to cancel its season.

The Vistas’ season will begin with a 5:30 p.m. counter contest at Williston on June 5. The home opener is set for June 6 at 5 p.m. against West Fargo.

The team will participate in the Dakota Classic from June 12-14 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Additionally, the Vistas will play in the annual Heilman’s Performance Invitational from June 26-28 in Minot.

The state tournament is scheduled for Aug. 4-8 in Bismarck.

“The energy has been good,” Vistas head coach Pat Arntson said. “Even in our open workouts, our guys have shown up excited to be allowed to be on the baseball field again.”

According to Arntson, tryouts will begin on Thursday, May 28. The unique situation at hand has caused the Vistas to alter their tryout process.

“We’re going to give them a couple days,” Arntson said. “A lot of guys haven’t been able to do as much as they normally do. Normally in tryouts, we go one day because everybody is in school ball and they’re ready to roll. We’re going to go three different days to kind of let them run around and knock the rust off. We’ll give them more opportunities to show who they are and what they can do.”

After playing the waiting game, Arntson and the Vistas eye a fruitful return to the diamond.

“I’m just excited to see some kids play baseball again,” Arntson said.

North Dakota Babe Ruth and Cal Ripken will follow the leadership and advice of the Governor’s Office, the N.D. Department of Health and local health units in regard to safety and COVID-19.

American Legion Class A and Class B teams will also play under the Babe Ruth system this summer.

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