ADDISON COUNTY — For the second straight summer, there will be no Addison County American Legion baseball.

Bristol American Legion Post 19 officer Ron LaRose confirmed last week that not enough candidates showed up at two recent tryouts to allow Addison County to field a team.

In his role in 2020 as Vermont American Legion Department Commander, LaRose had to make the decision that April to call off American Legion baseball statewide. Then LaRose cited both safety concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic and statewide restrictions on clubs and restaurants that limited Legion posts’ ability to raise funds to support summer baseball.

A number of county players last summer chose to play in a fledging league started in its place or in Senior Babe Ruth leagues. A Bristol Senior Babe Ruth team led by Mount Abraham Union High School Coach Jeff Stetson won a state title in 2020. Stetson said he is not coaching this year, but 15-and-under and 18-and-under Babe Ruth teams are based at Mount Abe this summer.

LaRose also said players eligible for the Addison County Legion team may hook on with other Legion programs this season now that it is official AC is not fielding a team in 2021.