Austin Hemmingson

ESCANABA — Good things come to those who wait.

It’s an old saying, and I really don’t know how much truth there normally is to it.

But in the sports world, it’s true right now.

Yes, sports are on their way back. Slowly but surely, but they’re on their way back — at all levels.

Locally, the Upper Peninsula formed an Under-19 baseball league to replace the American Legion Baseball season that was canceled in early April. The season began Wednesday night in Iron Mountain, but it really gets rolling next weekend with a round-robin tournament being played Friday through Sunday at Escanaba, Wells, and Gladstone. There will be eight teams in the tournament, including three from Delta County — Escanaba, Gladstone and Bark River.

Their season is expected to last about a month, with a league tournament to crown a champion scheduled for July 23-26 at Iron Mountain.

In local golf, the senior UPGA men’s tournament is currently scheduled for July 13 and 14 at Terrace Bluff in Gladstone.

Additionally, the Michigan High School Athletic Association is now allowing U.P. athletes to work out in groups of up to 250 outdoors and groups of up to 50 indoors. That’s a big step in the right direction as we head toward fall sports. The outlook among almost everyone I have talked to is positive, so let’s keep our fingers crossed. The MHSAA is sure to keep providing updates in the weeks to come.

Nationally, NASCAR and IndyCar are back in full swing, with NASCAR even beginning to allow fans in certain states. The PGA Tour also resumed play Thursday, and the NBA is set to return July 31 with 22 teams playing at Walt Disney World in Orlando. There will be eight more regular season games for each team, followed by a possible play-in tournament for the eighth seed before the playoffs begin.

Major League Baseball continues to embarrass itself as it can’t get its owners and players to come to any type of agreement to begin the season, but I do believe it will happen. Eventually.

The NHL has transitioned into Phase 2 of its return-to-play plan, which now allows players to return for voluntary workouts. The league is expected to enter Phase 3 on July 10, but no return date has been set yet. The only thing we do know is that whenever play resumes, the league will be diving straight into the playoffs.

Sorry Red Wings fans.

As for football, there is growing optimism that both the NFL and NCAA will have seasons this fall. At the end of the day, football is this country’s No. 1 sport, and those in charge are going to do everything in their power to make sure the season happens. It remains to be seen how many fans, if any, will be allowed in attendance at these games.

But let’s not be pessimistic here.

We’ve all spent the past three months craving any type of sports, and now they’re finally set to return. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel that is getting brighter.

We’ve made it — almost.