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.   

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.