For many years I tried to fit in a hitting contest to one of the Muskoka Cups but it never seemed to work out, with trying to schedule so many games in a short window and tournament schedules often complicated by time delays due to weather etc.

This year, at our first ever Fall Season Wrap Up Awards Dinner and BBQ at beautiful Kerr Park in Bracebridge,  we finally were able to see who was the best group of hitters - the Hornets umps or the coaches.

The chart attached to this article reflects the cumulative distances hit by Umpires and Coaches and also the longest single hits. 

In front of as many as 100 spectators, Chris Wilson won the award for the single longest hit after I begged him to take part as an “other category” participant despite the fact the coaches felt that Chris belonged on their team as a past coach in our program.  Coaches Corey and Dave tied for the 2nd longest hit and Doug Holland the Umpire came in third for longest hit… Mark Legault and Mark Holm tied for 4th longest hit.

I’d be remiss if I did not mention that the top two cumulative hitters were Mark and Lucas Holm … two great ambassadors for the Hornets program as both ball players and umpires…

Local baseball legend Stan “Ziggy” Rimmington was our only "Senior Participant", and he got a bat on every pitch…  congrats Stan !

It was so much fun to watch umpires and coaches take their swings.  While I am not biased at all - lol, I would have to conclude that the Umpires won the first ever hitting challenge.  We look forward to making this an annual must see event.

Thanks to all for participating and it really was fun !  For the record I don’t think we broke any windows of the house to our left but did lose a few balls in the rough there.

Go Hornets !

Helen

UIC and MC

Travel Team Contacts - Muskoka Hornets Travel Baseball 2020

Rookies – U9 (2011-2013)

coach contact:  Andrew Cox - love_of_the_game2432@hotmail.com

Mosquitos – U11 (2009-2010)

Coach Contact:  Cam Boyd - muskokabaseball@live.ca

Peewees – U13 (2007-2008)

Coach Contact: David Gemmell - david_gemmell10@hotmail.com

Bantams – U15 (2005-2006) - Two Teams - Rep and Select

Coach Contact: Gunnar Muller - gunnar@lynnvalleymfg.com

Midgets – U18 (2002-2004)

Coach Contact: Joe Hickes - josephhickes@gmail.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

For the first time in the three year history of the Twinkletoes  Cup, Huntsville is bringing home the hardware.  The Twinkletoes Cup, named after New York Yankee All Star and Huntsville native George Selkirk,  is an annual end of year competition pitting an all star team of house leaguers from Huntsville against Gravenhurst.  This year  it was the  rookie U9s that squared off, and game 1 on Wednesday ended in a 4-4 tie.  In the exciting return match on Thursday in Huntsville, the game ended 13-12 in favor of the locals and was won in dramatic  fashion, on a walk off.  Most important for everyone was the grace and dignity shown by all participants, as is evidenced by the joint photo of both teams in front of the trophy.  Cant wait for 2020.

2020 Head Coaches - Muskoka Hornets

Rookie - Select - U9 - 2011-2012 Birth year - Andrew Cox - love_of_the_game2432@hotmail.com - 2013 birth year players welcome to try out as under-agers

Mosquito - Rep - U11 - 2009-2010 - Cam Boyd - muskokabaseball@live.ca 

Peewee - Rep U13 - 2007-2008 - David Gemmell - david_gemmell10@hotmail.com

Bantam - Rep - U15 - 2005-2006 - Gunnar Muller - gunnar@lynnvalleymfg.com

Midget - Rep AA - U18 - 2002-2004 - Joe Hickes -josephhickes@gmail.com 

Try out dates and additional information will be made available shortly - try outs will likely take place in September.  Please feel free to connect with the coaches should you have any questions.

Note:  the Hornets Board will consider multiple teams at age groups should number of participants warrant and as long as there is a qualified coaching staff for each team.  Players may not be rostered above age group without Board approval (with the exception of rookie U9).   

Congratulations to our house league champions in Gravenhurst and Huntsville

Gravenhurst U9 - Rookie Minds Alive Dodgers 8-7 over Kubota North Cubs

Huntsville U9 Rookie - Liz Coombs Astros 15-14 over Lakecrest Mariners

Huntsville U11 Mosquito Arrowhead Athletics 4-3 over Coldwell Banker White Sox

Huntsville U13-15 Peewee-Bantam Thermo Seal Rangers 4-3 over Hidden Valley Pirates

Thank you for a great house league season and to our conveners Cam Boyd in Gravenhurst and Kate McNaughton in Huntsville and all the other untold volunteers for their tireless efforts to make our House League Program a success and enjoyable for all involved.

Rookie - U9 

Champions - Innisfil -   B Champions - Royal York

Mosquito - U11

Champions - Kanata - B Champions - Muskoka

Peewee - U13

Champions - Uxbridge - B Champions - Orangeville

Bantam - U15

Champions - Valley East - B Champions - Richmond Hill

Midget - U18 AA

Champions  - Ottawa Patriots - Finalists - Leaside

We want to wish the Muskoka Hornets Midget AA squad best of luck on its trip to Halifax this week.  The team boarded its flight on Wednesday and will participate in a local tournament in Dartmouth from Friday until Sunday and play a couple exhibition games along the way.  The team will pitch a tent on some local landmarks, dip its toes into the ocean and return on Tuesday of next week.

Good luck and do us proud Hornets.

The Muskoka Hornets handed out hardware at  is recent annual awards banquet.  Congratulations to all the award winners listed below:

Team Awards

9U MVP - Clarke Natoli, MIP - Hayden Banks

11U MVP - Justine McNaughton, MIP - Corbin DuQuesnay, Rookie of the Year - Drew Bloor

13U - MVP - Ethan Nixon, MIP - Jacob Chilton

15U - Co MVPs - Zach Boese and Jacob White, Co-MIPs - Winston Young and Brad Adams 

18U - MVP - Logan McKnight, MIP - Scott Adams

Program  Awards

Most Dedicated Hornet - Justine McNaughton

Coach of the Year - Graham Leishman

Volunteer of the Year - Greg Reuvekamp

Umpire of the Year - Three Way Tie to the organizations that support our Muskoka Cups each and every year - Innisfil, Barrie and Orillia 

Thank you for your support

The Muskoka Hornets will field 5 travel teams in 2019. 

Contact Info - 2019 Coaches

Rookie - (2010-2011) - Coach - David Gemmell - david_gemmell10@hotmail.com 

Mosquito (2008-2009) - Coach - Cam Boyd - muskokabaseball@live.ca

Peewee (2006-2007) - Coach - Graham Leishman - graham@leishmanlandscaping.com

Bantam (2004-2005) - Coach - Gunnar Muller - gunnar@lynnvalleymfg.com

Midget (2001-2003) - Coach - Joe Hickes - josephhickes@gmail.com

Please contact Peter Haynes at muskokahornets@rogers.com if you have any program oriented questions.

I am pleased to announce that David Gemmell is joining the Board of the Muskoka Hornets.  David is currently the head coach of our rookie (U9) team and is an assistant coach on our Peewee (U13) team.  It is great to add another board member that has on-field experience and can assist in the organisation and planning of coaching and player development.  David's specific responsibilities at the Board level will evolve over time.

For a complete list of Muskoka Hornets executives, please see the corresponding page on this website.

Yours in Baseball

Peter Haynes

At the Muskoka Hornets AGM on Friday, December 28, membership voted on some changes to the composition of the Muskoka Hornets Board of Directors.    At this meeting, two new directors were confirmed and one additional Board member added post meeting.

On behalf of the Muskoka Hornets program, please welcome Kate Mcnaughton, Jackie Nikiforuk and Laura Zipay to the Board.  Kate will be convening Huntsville's House League program, Jackie will be Secretary/Registrar and Laura will take on Social Media as well as be involved with the Gravenhurst House League.

Also at this meeting it was announced that Andy Howse would be leaving the Hornets Board at the end of 2018.  I would like to thank Andy for his contribution to the program and years of dedication to make the Hornets program better.

Without volunteers, there would be no Muskoka Hornets program. Please take a moment the next time you attend a Hornets event to thank the coaches, managers and other volunteers for the never ending support of minor baseball in Muskoka.

Thank you to all 60 teams that competed in this year's four Muskoka Cup tournaments.

Here are the list of champions:

Rookie

A Champs - Sudbury  B Champs - Beamsville

Mosquito

A Champs - Beamsville  B Champs - Creemore

Peewee (July 1st Weekend)

A Champs - Sudbury  B Champs - Muskoka

Bantam 

A Champs - Muskoka  B Champs - Markham

We will send out notice of next year's dates and early registration opportunity to all of this year's participants in the fall.

For more news click here

Please join us Sunday, September 29 to celebrate a great year of baseball in the Muskoka Hornets program. All  players should bring baseball gear if they wish to participate in baseball activities and competitions.

Location

Kerr Park, 130 Beaumont Drive, Bracebridge, ON

Cost

There will be no charge for food or drink – however, donations accepted

Schedule

• Doors Open – 12pm
• BBQ Opens – 1pm
• Home Run Derby: Coaches vs Umpires – 1:30pm
• Speed Competition – 2pm
• Awards Ceremony: House League and Team Awards – 3pm
• Muskoka Hornets Travel Team: Exhibition Game – 4pm

Please contact Vicky Holm at marklucas99@sympatico.ca if you have any questions.

The Muskoka Hornets Bantam Select team sponsored by Thermo Seal made it through a long and gruelling weekend of baseball before running into a strong team from Brampton in the finals of the Richmond Hill Select Tournament.   

The local Hornets were 2-0-1 in round robin play, allowing the team to qualify first in its division and setting up for a quarter final match up with the Pickering Red Sox on Sunday morning.  The Hornets won this game by a 20-6 margin and then proved victorious in the semis 9-7 over league rival Newmarket Hawks.

In the final, the Brampton Royals team proved too strong and plated 10 runs before the Hornets could reply leading to a 10-0 finish.

Congratulations to coach Gunnar Mullar and the rest of the Bantam Hornets on a great weekend of baseball.

I began umpiring almost 30 years ago and started with Men’s Fastball then did Slo Pitch, Fastball, 2 Pitch tournaments and amassed literally thousands of games over the years.

In 2010 or so I joined the Muskoka Hornets and turned my attention to only umpiring Hardball and I’ve enjoyed this more than any of the other games and more than any of the many years and countless games.

To say I learn something every game is simply a fact … but unfortunately much of what I learn is often about family dynamics and often adult/child scenarios.

I wish some of the parents who like to yell and scream non stop at their child and the others on the team (and often the children on the opposite team) could hear what I hear on the field.  I cannot count how many times I have heard these types of things from players anywhere from 5 to 17 years old during a game …

"I wish mom would quit yelling … I hate it when she yells …  it’s embarrassing …"

"How come dad won’t say he’s proud of me … all I hear about is what I do wrong…"

"Can you make my mom/Dad/grandpa/grandma sit in the parking lot?"

"Please don’t listen to my (insert name) … they don’t mean it"

"Can you throw me out of the game so I don’t have to play anymore … "

"I’m sorry my dad is being such a jerk …"

"I hate when he/she comes to my games"

"I hate baseball… I never wanted to play but (insert name) said I had to cause they didn’t get to play when they were my age"

"Do you think I’m a good player? "

"Can you come to all my games you are so nice???"

"Do some people have fun when they play ball?"

I cannot express to you how it tears me up inside when I hear these things ?  I wish that I would never hear them again but sadly; I know that I will.

The reality is that the kids are taught at practise the skills of the game… and when it’s game time they are “excited” and often “nervous”.  It is overwhelming for me to hear all the instructions coming from the benches and I know that by about the 10 minute mark of the first inning almost without exception the kids are no longer ‘hearing’ you… 

Do you really think any player doesn’t know when they make a mistake or miss a ball?  Kids are hard on themselves and when others yell at them .. it HURTS them… it really does.  I am tired of hearing kids mutter under their breath that they want to “quit” and they “hate ball”.  The fact is … they don’t hate the game or want to quit… but they do want the negativity to stop.

Do you not remember growing up and looking up to your coaches and teachers…  that’s a hard thing to achieve if on the way to and from the diamond each time the coaches/managers/ umpires are eaten alive verbally by whoever ?  THINK about it please ??

I always applaud and verbally speak to the positive parents/ coaches and teams that I encounter.  Believe me you can feel the difference on the field when everyone is positive and just having fun… isn’t that what baseball is supposed to be … “Fun?”

It’s a game mom and dad…. Coach, manager… it’s a game.  It’s a wonderful game … and I love it more than most.  But what I don’t love is trying to block out the negativity and if you watch me umpire (especially the younger players) you’ll notice I speak to them a lot…  99% of what I say is encouraging them and trying to help them enjoy their day .. and often in spite of the one/s who brought them to the game.

Baseball teaches us many things about life…  how to be part of a team; how to get better at something, how to have fun in the sun and the rain.  It should not teach us that “on the way home we are going to hear about everything that everyone including the umpires did wrong.”

Think about it folks…  and let’s have fun at the Diamonds.   I promise if you are more positive with your child … your team.. your manager… coach/s  … it will just be better all the way around.

Helen

Hornets UIC

Flipgive is a new way that you can support the Muskoka Hornets while you shop on-line!  It's easy to use! Go to Flipgive.com and go to Find a Team.

Join Existing Team - Muskoka Hornets

Invite code:  ZVNMKN

and start shopping!

There are several stores and restaurants to choose from on Flipgive. Whenever you do your online shopping go through the Flipgive site, click on the store or restaurant and you will be taken directly to their site for online shopping.

A percentage of all purchases made will go directly into the Muskoka Hornets account.  It does not cost you extra to use.

Gift cards and e-Gift cards can also be purchased.

Thanks for supporting the Muskoka Hornets

The Muskoka Hornets will be offering age-specific winter training for our travel teams.  These practice sessions are open to other members  of the Hornets or players interested in joining the program, as long as the coaches are notified of this interest.

All practices will take place at Gravenhurst Public School each Sunday from February 3rd to April 28th.

Our Schedule is as Follows:

9 am - Rookie - 2010- 2012

10 am - Midget - 2001-2003 (starting March 17)

12 pm - Bantam - 2004-2005

2 pm - Peewee - 2006-2007

4 pm - Mosquito - 2008-2009

For further information, please contact the coaches listed on our home page or Peter Haynes at muskokahornets@rogers.com.