Four years ago, the Muskoka Hornets took over day-to-day management of the Huntsville Minor Baseball Association – and will do the same with the Gravenhurst House League Baseball program this year – and they haven’t looked backed. Thanks to solid interest and dedicated volunteers, registrations have increased fourfold, from about 100 in 2013 to 400 this year.
The Hornets House League program allows kids to come out and experience baseball like the ‘Blue Jays’, says Hornets president Peter Haynes. They play ball once a week, get instruction on how to play and learn the skills of the game while having fun in competition.
The Huntsville House League comprises five age groups:
Bee Ball T-Ball (YOB 2010/2011/2012) with seven teams for the 2017 season – the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #302 Reds, the Festing Toyota Angels, the M & M Meats Orioles, the Your Independent Grocer Astros, the Rolston Home Building Braves, the Shaw Direct Satelite TV Giants, and the Dr. Richard Cook Nationals.
Rookie (YOB 2008/2009) with six teams for the 2017 season – the Shaw Direct Satelite TV Rays, the Will Davidson LLP Cubs, the Liz Coombs Jays, the Coldwell Banker Pirates, the M.A.P. Stingers, and the Dr. Schickler Twins. Rookie teams play with a pitching machine.
Mosquito (YOB 2006/2007) with six teams for the 2017 season – the Hidden Valley Resort Dodgers, the Ward Edmonds Marlins, the Clement Aluminum Athletics, the Little Caesars Pizza Tigers, the KJS/LIV Muskoka Red Sox, and the WaterLady Mariners.
Pee Wee (YOB 2004/2005) and Bantam (YOB 2002/2003) with four teams for the 2017 season – the Belly Ice Cream Company Royals, the Noveltymann Rockies, the Thermo Seal Rangers, and the Little Caesers Pizza Giants.
Games are played Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the Huntsville Ball Diamonds.
On July 12, Doppler caught up with two of the rookie teams – the M.A.P. Stingers and the Dr. Stickler Twins:
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- The M.A.P. Stingers in a pre-game warm up
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- The Dr. Schickler Twins take to the field for a warm-up
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- A Dr. Schickler Twin warms up while waiting for a turn at the plate
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- A close one!
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- A Stinger takes his turn at bat
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- Two young umpires from the Hornets’ Pee Wee Select team called the game (from left) Aiden Courville, age 12, and Nolan Quesnelle, age 11
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- This young catcher is focused on the game
The Hornets are operated by an 11-person volunteer Board of Directors. Hornets president Peter Haynes is pleased with the increasing numbers of baseball players in Muskoka – he believes that it is crucial to build the grassroots of a team with vibrant players, coaches and volunteers, which allows the kids to participate in the older travel teams for more competitive leagues. In 2017, the Hornets are fielding four competitive travel teams: Mosquito, Peewee, Bantam and U17 Elite.
The Mosquito Select will host the ninth annual Muskoka Cup tournament this weekend (July 21-23) in Bracebridge while the Bantam Select hosts teams in Huntsville. Thirty-seven teams will participate in three different divisions.
More information and schedules can be found on the Muskoka Hornets website at hornetsbaseball.ca.
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