Play ball! Florence Y’alls open season with fans in stands, new pandemic rules

The Florence Y’alls opened their regular season Friday night against the Lexington Legends with fewer fans in seats than years past -- and that’s by design.

"AND WITH THAT HOME OPENER...COMES OUR FIRST LOOK ATKEEPING BASEBALL FANS IN THESTANDS SAFE DURING APANDEMIC."WCPO 9 NEWS REPORTERJAKE RYLE HAS A LOOK AT THEPROTOCOLS THE TEAM IS USING TOHELP KEEP YOU SAFE."There were many empty seatsinside the Florence Yallsstadium, but that's notnecessarily a bad thing.

Mostfolks inside were takingprecautions put forward by theteam."BEFORE PLAYERS CAN STEPTO THE PLATE..FANS..

AN HOURAHEAD OF SCHEDULE..

STEPPINGUP TO THEGATE.., "As soon as we knew the datewe're like.

We have to get thegear.

Let's get decked out.We're ready."TRISTON ANDSOPHIA CORNETT..

SEASON TICKETHOLDERS..

WELCOME TO BASEBALLIN 2020..

COMPLETE WITH ATICKET..

AND A TEMPERATURECHECK."I don't want them to cancelthe season.

Whatever they haveto do to keep baseball going."FOR FANS LIKE JASON WREN.., "Been a long wait.

Very longwait, but it's nice thatthey're back open now."HISFAMILY WILL FIND THEIR SEAT ONTHE THIRD BASE SIDE.., "You come in, and have towear a mask until you sit downin your socially distancedseat.

Once you're sittingdown, you can take off yourmask, enjoy your hot dog,enjoy your beer."AND YOU MAYNOTICE NOT AS MANY FANS AROUNDYOU..TOO., "So you have basically awhole bubble.

You'recompletely safe and sociallydistanced."IF YOU HAVE TO GETUP FOR CONCESSIONS..

STICKERSMARK WHERE YOU'LL STAND..NOMORE PUMPING KETCHUP ORMUSTARD..

YOU'LL GRABINDIVIDUAL PACKETS..

FANSWANTING TO SIP A BREW ON THECONCOURSE LEVEL..

WILL HAVE TOGO DOWN TO THEIR SEAT..

OR APICNIC TABLE ON THE RIGHTFIELDLINE., "We have 50% capacityability, but we'll probably beat 30-35% at the end of theday to make sure everyone issafe and socially distanced,"BUT AT LEAST..

THERE'S THIS.(NAT POP BAT,CLAPPING)Here you can chit-chat withplayers.

You come to games,they get to know you.

It'snice and cool to have thatone-on-one interaction,"BASEBALL IS BACK..

AND WITHTHAT..

EVERYONEWINS."To sit down and watch 9innings of baseball.

We'vemissed it so much to not haveany sports."IN FLORENCE..

JAKERYLE, WCPO 9 NEWS.