It's wait 'til next year for RPI, Valleycats

COVID-19 hit Troy with a double whammy in the last 24 hours.

First, RPI announced that they were cancelling their fall 2020 sports schedule, which includes the annual Dutchman's Shoes football game vs. Union, which takes place either in late October or early November. The game has been cancelled for the first time in 75 years.

RPI is erring on the side of caution, of course, due to the unpredictability of the coronavirus. While UAlbany, Siena, Hudson Valley, etc., are still hoping to play, one has the feeling the dominoes will soon fall in line.

Speaking of Hudson Valley Community College, their summer sports tenant, the Tri-City Valleycats, will not play this season at all. Two weeks after the start of the 2020 NY-Penn League season was delayed, Major League Baseball announced that the minor league season across the board, from full season Class A all the way down to Rookie Leagues, would be cancelled. With the majors about to start in three weeks or so, there might not have been enough time for the 'Cats or any other short season leagues, so cancellation was virtually inevitable.

With the Northeastern Football Conference having already cancelled their regular season, the 'Cats' cancellation leaves hometown residents without live sports until possibly the start of high school season in September, if that, since fans will not be admitted to Saratoga Race Course when it begins its season in two weeks.