The Muskoka Hornets remain committed to bring house league baseball back to Huntsville in the summer of 2021.  While we are in a holding pattern until we come out of lock down, the Board of the Hornets is hard at work planning our house league season with some limitations likely as a result of COVID protocols.

Last summer, we learned a lot about how to bring baseball back for kids in safe and socially distanced manner.   We do not know when our season will start, but will aim to have up to 12 weeks in our program, with a realistic start in Mid to late June and a season that can run into September if necessary. 

Registration remains open and we expect and are prepared for lots of last minute sign ups when families can see a clear path back to the diamond.  Please click on this link to be transferred to the registration site.  

If you have any questions on our house league program, then please contact Bill Coombs at wcoombs0@gmail.com.  

As a result of the decision by the Ontario Government to enter a lock down stage, as of April 3, 2021, all Muskoka Hornets in person activities are cancelled until further notice.  We remain hopeful that our travel and house league programs will still be able to start up in May.   

House league registration remains open.

Please click on the link below to register your son or daughter for the 2021 house league and travel ball season.

In the event that a family needs financial assistance with the cost of minor sports including baseball, there are local funding opportunities available.  Historically, Children's Foundation of Muskoka was an avenue available in our community.  However, the Foundation asked us to direct funding requests directly to Jumpstart and to connect with them only in the event an applicant is not successful or is in need of top up funds.  

To apply, please contact Jumpstart at https://jumpstart.canadiantire.ca/pages/apply

Unfortunately, we are forced today to cancel all 2021 Muskoka Cups following Baseball Ontario's decision on April 18 to cancel all tournies for summer 2021.

Please contact Jen Novak if you need to arrange for a refund - jennynovak2977@gmail.com

2021 Tourney Dates - Cancelled

9U - July 16-18 - Select

11U - July 23-25 - all levels of play rep and select - FULL

13U - July 30 - Aug 1 - A and below - FULL

15U - July 2 - July 4 - A and below - one spot

18U - July 16-18 - AA and below - FULL

The Muskoka Hornets are pleased to announce head coaches for 2021:

9U - Tyler Fields - tyler.everett.fields@gmail.com

11U - David Gemmell - david_gemmell10@hotmail.com

11U 2 - Cam Boyd -  muskokabaseball@live.ca 

13U - Corey Boyd -  coreyboyd30@gmail.com

15U - Graham Leishman   - graham@leishmanlandscaping.com

18U - Joe Hickes - Joehickes@imaginetherapeuticservices.ca

Please contact head coach if you have any questions.  We are looking for additional players for our 9U (2012-2014 birth years) and 11U (2010-2011) travel teams.

Released July 2, 2020

In this very difficult time, thank goodness for small victories.  After an incredible amount of preparation, The Muskoka Hornets five travel teams are ready to get back on the diamond to train starting today and hope that later this summer there will be game play.  The Hornets Board recently adopted Baseball Ontario's protocol for return to training, a requirement for all associations to ensure the necessary safety measures are in place to protect players, coaches and family members from COVID 19.  In addition to maintaining attendance records for all in person gatherings, team officials are required to ensure all participants sanitize hands every 30 minutes and keep all equipment clean. 

"It is very impressive the work done by Baseball Ontario to ensure a safe and healthy environment for minor baseball to return in this province.  My hat is off to the volunteers that put the protocols in place, and we are committed to ensuring compliance with the additional rules," commented Peter Haynes, President of the Muskoka Hornets. 

The Muskoka Hornets will field five travel baseball teams in 2020 with players aged 8-18 years old. Training for the season was halted in February and the entire season was in doubt with the pandemic spreading like wildfire.  Thankfully, as the situation normalized in Ontario, officials began to prepare for a return to the diamond including the potential for game play later in the summer.

"I am very pleased that our season was not lost completely and we have a chance to play some games if all goes well and the trend in COVID infections continue to improve in Ontario.  I have 7 players graduating out of minor baseball this year and the thought of them not having a chance to return to the playing field after losing high school graduation and prom was motivation enough to do anything to keep the hope alive for a return to baseball this summer," stated Joe Hickes, Head Coach of the Hornets 18U AA team. "For the health of all children, it is important that minor sports return as long as it is safe to do so," added Hickes.

Each of the five Muskoka Hornets travel teams will start with training in groups of up to 10 on two separate areas of the diamond.  Eventual return to game play is dependent on gathering sizes increasing in Ontario.  Other provinces in Canada have already moved to larger gathering sizes and games have started.  If this occurs in Ontario, then the Hornets plan to organize exhibition games with other association teams.  There will not be any tournament play this summer and no provincial championships.

Meanwhile, the Hornets still hope to be able to offer a modified house league program focused on skill development later this summer in Huntsville, as well as to host our annual summer baseball camp, a staple for many local baseball enthusiasts. Stay tuned for additional updates.

For information on the Muskoka Hornets, please visit our website at www.hornetsbaseball.ca.   

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The Muskoka Hornets Board is pleased to announce the addition of Jen Novak to our Board of Management.  Jen will be taking on the role of treasurer and will assist Joe Hickes on some fundraising ideas.    Carrie Delongchamp will remain on the Board and help out on other special projects.  Please join us in welcoming Jen to the Board and thank you Jen and Carrie for your volunteer service.

Peter Haynes, President

At the 2020 Muskoka Hornet AGM held on Tuesday, January 12, 2021, two new members were elected to the Board for 2021:  

Carrie Delongchamp - Treasurer

Bill Coombs - House League Convener

With the completion of the AGM, it is important to recognize three Board members that retired:  Vicky Holm, Kate Mcnaughton and Greg Reuvekamp.  Thank you to all three retiring Board members for your contribution to the Muskoka Hornets and to minor baseball in Muskoka.

Congratulations to our 2020 Muskoka Cup Festival Winners:

9U - Barrie AA Baycats

11U - Collingwood Jays

13U - Valley East Jr. Voyageurs

15U - Muskoka Hornets

Hello baseball families.  If you are a first timer on the Hornets baseball site or just want a refresher on our house league program, then please click on this link  or go to the House League drop down menu for our house league page of FAQs.

If your question is NOT answered on this page, then please do not hesitate to contact our head of house league Kate McNaughton at k.mcnuaghton19@icloud.com.

On Monday August 26th, 16 year old Zack Boese of the Muskoka Hornets 18u AA Team will depart for Oyen, Alberta to play for the Badlands Badgers.

Zack will be attending South Central High School in Oyen for Grade 11 and will play for the Badgers throughout the fall and spring seasons.

This is an exciting opportunity for Zack as the program has an impressive track record in placing players in college programs throughout the USA and Canada.

A heavy fall and spring game schedule (50+ games) will allow Zack the opportunity to compete against some of the best high school aged players that the States and Canada have to offer.

“We are excited to see another Muskoka Hornets player pursuing baseball at a higher level.  After graduating several players to US and Canadian colleges in the past two years, Zack is the first player from our program to play for a high school academy," commented Peter Haynes, President of the  Muskoka Hornets.  "We are very proud of Zack and wish him the best in his school year," Haynes added.

It is no easy feat for a 16 year old kid to move thousands of km’s from home to pursue this incredible opportunity. The Muskoka Hornets wish Zack the best of luck, and are excited to see him back in a Hornets jersey in July of 2020.

By Helen Payne, Muskoka Hornets Executive and UIC