Who knew just 4 four months after the Royals wrapped up their most successful season in franchise history someone would tell the world there’s a virus quickly spreading in the city of Wuhan, China that has so far killed 27 people? Not many people paid much attention to the news because China is so far away, that it would never be bad enough to affect us over here. Most of us have read about past pandemics in Europe and in North America but that was a century ago. It could never repeat itself....or could it? History does have a way of repeating itself, by May of 2020 239,000 people had died of the virus which was five times more than April’s totals.

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In any other year, the Royals would be working out preparing for the season opener in the first week of May. That obviously didn’t happen. Most of the team chose to stay home taking the season off, in hopes of returning next year to improve on their franchise-best 19-win season of 2019. I am sure it was a very difficult decision to make. The players who chose to play had to prove to the team and league that they were virus-free and promised to abide by the new COBA COVID restrictions. 

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In order to fill the team coach, Dave Flannagan reached out to the Brampton Juniors for help as they didn’t have a place to play because their season was put on hold for the year. The 2020 season started on August 10 that went on for 16 games including the four playoff games. Dave’s scouting prowess was put to the test as two-thirds of his team were Juniors, led by pitching sensation Matt Stoddart who pitched 21 innings with a .857 ERA and .952 WHIP allowing only 2 ER. The Royals finished the shortened season with a 10-4-2 record winning the (unofficial) Championship.

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As we fast forward to the spring of 2021, we once again find the team unable to practice because of the government-imposed lockdown. Again, many on the team indicated they wouldn’t be playing again this year which forced Dave the magician to create a team from next to nothing. Six Royal regulars decided to play again believing they were safe from the virus.

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My biggest fear is that after sitting out two years, will those players rejoin the club for the 2022 season. Have they replaced baseball with family activities? Have they realized baseball isn’t as important as it once was? One thing for sure is that any decision won’t come lightly, it will be well thought out. What’s the future of the Brampton Royals Senior Baseball Club? If those who sat out the past 2 seasons don't come back, would coach Flannagan invest another 4-5 years to make this new Royals team competitive? Has the pandemic altered the natural evolution of the team? Will the players who opted out the past two seasons be able to get their timing back? Will their participation be dependent on who else comes back? The answers to these questions will be answered in the 2022 season.

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It would be such a shame if the team takes a step backwards, because they all worked their butts off to get to where they were in 2019. Ever since Dave Flannagan took the reins, he has been guiding the team to becoming one of the most respected teams in COBA and around the province. I’m not saying Dave couldn’t get the team back to respectability, it would take more time to get there because when he came on board, he inherited a pretty good team that just needed some direction, which he provided. A somewhat new team might take a little more time.

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As a fan I would love to see the 2019 team come back for at least one more season, giving them the chance to end their great careers on their terms, and not because of the pandemic. Whatever direction the team wants to take, I need to say thank you for the countless memories. Thank you to Dave Flannagan for giving us a glimpse of his managing brilliance. The 2019 team stood on the shoulders of all those that came before them, teams that had to play twice as hard to get half the results. They knew that, and accepted the challenge head on. As I have said many times, the team managers led by Blake Frost and Ron Lutz had to try to get the most out of an ever-changing lineup with a huge turnover. In their inaugural season of 2004 only seven players came back for season two, which became a pattern over time. With so many players coming and going it was impossible for the managers to gain any kind of momentum and stability.

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All I am saying is that it took so many years of blood and sweat for the Brampton Royals Senior Baseball Club to get to where it is now, it would be a shame to stop here. The team has spent the past few seasons setting new standards, there’s still time to set a few more. I am sorry for being so selfish, but this is all from a fans point of view. As fans, we are allowed to wish for anything. Don’t let the pandemic win.

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Again, if you decide not to come back, I say thank you, thank you for allowing me to create this website not only honouring Blake Frost and Ron Lutz and the team staff over the years but also those who wore the Brampton royal blue between the lines. I hope I told your story well.

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I will continue to chronicle the teams progress in whatever direction it takes.