I hope this note to our Muskoka Hornets membership finds you all in good health and making the best of the incredibly difficult COVID crisis. 

I am writing today to provide an update on the status of the 2020 minor baseball season in Muskoka.  Baseball Ontario recently announced an extension of the ban on all in person baseball activities until the end of May and will update this position as new information comes from Health officials and communities.  The Board of the Muskoka Hornets is following guidance from Baseball Ontario, but it seems unlikely ANY baseball will be played before July 1st.

Despite the uncertain outlook, The Board continues to plan for a July start to the season.  For our house league program, this may mean that we run the season until September and thus end a little later than is custom for house league programs in our region.  For YSBA travel baseball, it is also possible that seasons are extended until Thanksgiving, even if this causes some conflicts with fall sports. 

As for on field changes to the game that help to foster a safe play environment, there have been many suggestions made across minor baseball organizations in North America.  Should we be able to get back on field, then we plan to use a best practices combination of player and spectator distancing as well as enlisting the help of some of our parents to keep player areas clean and disinfected.  Naturally, hand shakes and high fives will be forbidden, but perhaps replaced with new socially-distanced forms of celebration. 

All that said, as the medical professionals are quick to point out, the virus sets the timetable, so all we can do is plan accordingly.  If we do move ahead with a season and yet some Hornets families are unable to or uncomfortable with risk, then we totally understand should you wish to pull out of baseball this year and will provide refunds in accordance with Board directives.  Also, season fees will be adjusted to reflect any reduction to normal operations. 

Finally, when COVID hit in February, our registrations stopped dead in its tracks.  Should we move forward with a season, we understand that we will receive many late registrants and are totally cool with this outcome as we want to be as flexible as possible given the fluidity of the situation.

Please let me know should you have any questions.  For now, we hope our players are keeping busy and safe and hope to see you on the diamond at some point this summer.

Yours in baseball,

Peter Haynes

President

Muskoka Hornets

muskokahornets@rogers.com

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.

Muskoka Hornet Player Registration is now open for the 2020 season.

Please click here for link to site

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Peter Haynes

President

Muskoka Hornets

On line registration is now available - please click here - for teams that have previously reserved a spot.  Please note that teams that do not reserve a spot by contacting us in advance will not be accepted. 

Unfortunately, in some instances, divisions are full and we are adding teams to a wait list.  Our experience is that several teams will fall down when it comes  time to reserve formally on  line and pay so please  be sure to  check in each division and get added to the wait list as there remains a chance a spot will  come open.

For teams that have reserved spots and are thinking about lodging, the summer season is busy in Muskoka as it is a beautiful vacation destination.  As such, we encourage teams to be open minded about splitting up to Airbnb cottages, motels  and camp grounds.

Please note - we have 26 9U teams and counting and will take as many teams as we can get as this tourney has unlimited space.  We are trying to make it a 9U festival that teams will come to early in the season to play against teams of like ability and to participate in skill competitions and coaching seminars.  This tourney takes place June 5-7 and we hope you all can make it.

Please let me know if you have any questions by calling 416-818-3036 or emailing me at muskokahornets@rogers.com

Yours in Baseball

Peter Haynes

Tournament Coordinator

Muskoka Cup

Reserve Your Spot Now!!!

Please join us June 5-7, 2020 for the first ever Muskoka Cup 9U baseball festival, open to teams of any calibre. Following on the success of our Annual Muskoka Cup baseball tournament now in year 12, the Muskoka Hornets hope to make this rookie tournament a festival for teams from all over North America and to promote the Muskoka region and our beautiful baseball facilities - in Bracebridge at Peake Field and in Huntsville at the newly renovated McCulley – Robertson diamond facility. Rookie teams will be placed in groups based on level of play (we will send a survey to each coach in advance to classify teams accordingly).

Tournament package includes:

• Guaranteed four games and all teams play Sunday
• Skills competitions at all levels
• Game MVPs for each team
• Coaching seminars
• Souvenir T-shirts for players and coaches. 
• Cost $500 per team

Please send email directly to Peter Haynes, Tournament Chair, at with contact information including team name and 9U level of play to reserve your spot. We will then ask you to register and pay online when this registration application is added to our website at in early 2020. Unpaid reservations will be held until February 29, 2020.  Preferred hotel accommodations will be provided.

For any questions, please call (416) 818-3036.

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 more news click here

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 2nd to April 26th.

Our Schedule is as Follows:

8 am - 9U -Rookie - 2011- 2013

10 am - 11U -Mosquito - 2009-2010

12 pm - 13U - Peewee - 2007-2008

2  pm - 18U -Midget - 2002-2004 (starting March 22)

4 pm - 15U -Bantam - 2005-2006

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

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

Please join the Board of the Muskoka Hornets at our 2019 Annual General Meeting to be held at the Gravenhurst Recreation Centre - upstairs meeting rooms - on Friday December 20th at 7 pm.  All members and general public welcome  to attend.