FOND DU LAC, Wis. (NBC 26) -- Northwoods League baseball will return to Northeast Wisconsin on July 1, but two states over the league is already in action.
A three-team pod began play in Bismarck, N.D. on Monday - with players playing in front of limited crowds and getting their temperatures checked prior to each game.
As the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders get ready for their season, team president Rob Zerjav said he is monitoring what's happening in the Peace Garden State.
"We'll be keeping tabs to make sure what works for them, what's not working for them and how's it going," Zerjav said. "It's nice that they had a 15-day head start. We can kind of use those 15 days to see and take their advice and do what we can to implement some of that here."
--Booyah, Dock Spiders to open Northwoods League schedule on July 1
Zerjav said players will be arriving in the Fond du Lac area starting next week. He said they will be tested when they arrive and their health will be monitored throughout the season.
"We're going to try to keep everybody as safe as possible," he said.
Zerjav said players will not use locker rooms and will dress for games at home. They will be encouraged to keep their distance on the field, both from other players and from fans.
"We're going to limit contact with fans as much as we can," he said. "At least from a proximity standpoint but hopefully there's still some sort of interaction and feeling like you're close to the players."
The Dock Spiders will limit their crowds throughout the summer. Zerjav said their stadium will operate at about a quarter capacity.
Zerjav is also the president of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. He reiterated Wednesday that he does not anticipate minor league baseball teams playing this summer, but he is optimistic that things will be worked out at the major league level.
