Registration Dates for 2013 Baseball Season

When :             Saturday April 13^th                              11:00am to 1:00pm

Where: Hammonds Plains Fire Hall – Hammonds Plains Road – next to the Eisenhauer ball field – entrance to Glen Arbor Subdivision (across from the HP fire station)

On-line registration is coming this year – I will communicate when that is available.

I require volunteers for registration – please let me know when you can help. (Junior Executive as well)

Your child’s division placement goes by calendar year (Jan 1^st to Dec 31^st) – not by school year. However – if you feel your child is ready/not ready to move to the next division – please feel free to discuss with me during registration.

Divisions                                                                              Cost -   Home fields

6U – (T-Ball) – ages 4, 5 & 6                        $100 – play on random nights – Patterson field in Maplewood

9U –(Rookie) – ages 7, 8 & 9                    $140 – play on random nights – Tantallon Woods, Uplands and Highland

11U – (Mosquito) – ages 10 & 11              $175 – play on random nights – Uplands, Eisenhauer, Greenwood Hts, Allen Hts,                                                                 Highland, TCAC, Fall River

13U – (Peewee) – ages 12 & 13               $175 – play on random nights - Uplands, Eisenhauer, Greenwood Hts, Allen Hts,                                                                 Highland, TCAC, Fall River

15U – (Bantam) – ages 14 & 15                $225 – play random nights – Allen Heights, Highland, TCAC, Lenihan

18U – (Midget) – ages 16, 17 & 18            $250 – play random nights – Lenihan, Weir

Intermediate - 19 and over                     $350 – play random nights – Weir, Mainland, Beazley

Unfortunately I have had to increase registration fees. Last year HRM doubled most rental fees for all the fields.  This year all umpire fees are increasing – so unfortunately I cannot maintain a balanced budget without the extra revenue. As always I will gladly assist with any payment arrangements families need so their kids can play.

All fields listed above for the various teams are subject to change – playing schedules are not ready till mid to late May. 

Family of three or more children receives $15 per child discount.

Please bring a separate postdated check for uniform deposit as well.  There is no uniform deposit required for T-Ball players.

Please make every effort to register during these dates.  The later you are registering, the more work it creates for myself and those of us who have to build teams, create schedules and organize equipment.   

If you are not returning to baseball this year – please let me know so I may remove you from the email distribution. I wish you and your family good health.

Thanks and as always – please let me know if you have any questions.

Holly

ATTENTION ALL COACHES!!  We now have an indoor baseball facility at our disposal!!

Located at the old fire station in Hubley (which has since been decommissioned) we have rented the space from now till the end of August.

Address is 4406 St. Margaret's Bay Road (Lewis Lake) - Hubley Community Centre.  Entrance is the red door just off the parking lot with the concrete stairs.  

• Batting Cage
• Wheeled Pitching Machine
• L-Screen
• Pitching machine balls
• Golf Whiffle balls with hitting stick
• Baseball Whiffle Balls
• Plastic Bats
• Tennis rackets
• Three indoor bow flex nets for soft toss or hitting off the batting tees
• Weighted batting balls for T’s
• Re-directional rubber balls – for ground balls
• Pitching mound – tape marks the stationary placement for mound – only one measurement
• Plates  - four separate measurements for mosquito, peewee, bantam and midget (plate gets moved – mound stays put)
• Bean bag toss for entertainment

This facility costs $30 for two hours.

Please check the site and email Barb if you are interested in booking.  Most of our rep teams are already spending one night a week here.

When using the facility, please note that there are offices and a board room upstairs that we do not have access to so it is imporant that players do not go upstairs.  There is a washroom on the lower level through the door at the front of the facility.

When leaving the facility, please remember to pick up all whiffle balls, place them in their respective bins and return the bins to the allotted space to the right of the entrance door.  Pick up all dimple balls and return them to their crate; unplug pitching machine; pick up all garbage; turn off all lights (including the washrooms) and on your way out, lock both locks (you must push button on door handle to lock - you can't lock it with the key) and use your key to lock the deadbolt.

Please ensure that you do not accidently leave with items from the facility (balls, hitting stick, batting tees, etc.) - it is important that they are left for the next group to use.  If you do happen to take something with you, please make arrangements to return it asap and not wait until your next visit to the site.

I hope you all start to take advantage of the only indoor batting cage currently in the HRM – and it is all ours.

With the arrival of baseball (and rainy) season, there is also the big question:

"What do I do in the event of rain??"

If you are scheduled to play a game or have a practice on a day it is raining (or has rained), it is your responsibility to call the HRM field line 490-7100 - we are in the Western Region - DIRT INFIELDS.

You can also check the HRM Field Conditions website - they usually update their site around 3pm on weekdays and 7am on weekends:

http://www.halifax.ca/rec/field_conditions.asp. 

If the fields are closed, there is NO baseball - period.

Any use of HRM facilities when fields are closed will result in fines and possible loss of future scheduling privileges.

For those playing at The Les Mayo (Payzant's) or Windsor Junction (LWF-WJCC) fields, they are privately owned and operated. Call the Sackville Rain Line at 865-5586 after 4:00 PM to find out whether these fields are opened or closed. These fields may still be open even if HRM Fields are closed.  You can also check the LWF website at www.leaguelineup.com/LWF - or the Sackville Minor Baseball website at www.eteamz.com/SMB - they both post whether their fields are open or closed.

Weir Field is operated by Springfield Lake Recreation. Check their website www.springfieldlakerec.com for conditions at Weir.

ATTENTION ALL COACHES

Prior to the start of the upcoming baseball season as well as throughout the season, please check to make sure the HPBA-issued baseball equipment in your gear bags is in good working order and that all of the pieces are accounted for (i.e. catcher's gear from Sr. Rookie level and up, bats, balls, etc.)

If you have any problems with your baseball equipment, please contact our Equipment Manager, Kevin Borgel at 835-9818 or 981-4944 or email him at kevinborgel@eastlink.ca as soon as you discover a problem.

2013 Field Booking Schedule coming soon!!   Practice times are limited to 2-hour timeslots. 

Please note that if you book a field time and aren't able to use it, contact Barb Brophy so she can free up that field for others to use that timeslot. 

<-------------- Click on link in main menu for more information..

The following divisions are to submit game scores to HPBAScores@live.ca

~ Senior Rookie ~

~ Mosquito House ~

~  Mosquito Girls ~

~ PeeWee House ~

  ~ PeeWee Girls ~

~ Bantam/Midget Girls ~

Please specify the date of the game, your opponent and your division (i.e. Mosquito, PeeWee, etc.)  along with the results ASAP upon completion of the game.

PLEASE NOTE:  BOTH TEAMS (home and visitor) ARE TO SUBMIT SCORES

NOT JUST THE WINNING TEAM.

HPBA LEAGUES 

T-BALL LEAGUE

Baseball skills for players who will be age 5 or 6 during the calendar year.

The emphasis here is FUN! The fundamentals of baseball are introduced. The proper way to throw a baseball, holding and swinging a bat, running bases plus many more skills your child will use for a lifetime are introduced to the kids in a fun and informative manner.  During the season, parents will play a big part in assisting the coaches with the development of their child's skills. Want to have your young baseball player learn the fundamentals of baseball? Sign them up in our T-Ball program, participate and, watch them go!  T-Ball games are played at Patterson Field in the Maplewood Subdivision.

Jr. ROOKIE LEAGUE

Recreational baseball for players who will be age 7, 8 or 9 during the calendar year.

Utilizing all the skills and rules learned from T-Ball, Jr. Rookie level baseball introduces league play.  Coaches pitch and provide adult catchers for all games.  Great start for players who are new to baseball.  Also for players who have played before but haven’t quite mastered some of the basics (infrequently catches a ball when thrown to them; infrequently catches a fly ball when thrown or hit to them; doesn’t make consistent contact when a ball is thrown to him at bat; throwing is a bit erratic).  Teams in this division will play against themselves.  Field location(s) for this division are Tantallon Woods Field (Upper Tantallon) and Greenwood Heights (Timberlea).

Sr. ROOKIE LEAGUE

Recreational baseball for players who will be age 7, 8 or 9 during the calendar year.

Sr. Rookie is designed for those players who have played at least one year of Jr. Rookie or two years of T-Ball.  Players can stop most ground balls hit at them; can catch most balls when thrown at them; can catch most fly balls when thrown or hit to them; can throw a ball with reasonable accuracy and speed; can hit a baseball when a good pitch is thrown to him at bat; has a basic understanding of baseball (scoring, outs, positions, etc.).  Pitching machines are used during game play (fed by umpire) and each team provides their own catcher (a player who wears full catching gear).  Teams in this division will play against themselves, and may decide to compete in a couple tournaments during the baseball season.  Field location for this division is Highland Park in Hammonds Plains. 

MOSQUITO LEAGUE (Competitive & Recreational - See bottom of page for explanation)

Baseball for players who will be age 10 or 11 during the calendar year.

The concept of base stealing with no "leading off" is introduced at Mosquito level and players do all the pitching. Modified house rules are now in place for Mosquito House, for example no-walk rule is in effect and all games are pitched by players / coaches.  Once there is a full count on the batter by the player pitcher, the coach comes in and finishes the at bat – 5-pitch maximum.  Mosquito Rep teams (see note at bottom) compete in the Baseball Nova Scotia Bluenose League and generally participate in 3-4 tournaments during the baseball season. Mosquito house regular season games are played at Uplands Park (Hammonds Plains), Allen Heights (St. Margaret’s Bay) and TCAC (Tantallon) fields. Mosquito house teams may decide to enter a couple tournaments during the baseball season.  All tournaments are at the expense of the individual team.  All Mosquito Rep home games are played at Eisenhauer Field in Hammonds Plains.

GIRLS’ MOSQUITO LEAGUE 

Recreational baseball for girls who will be age 10, 11 during the calendar year.

The concept of base stealing with no leading off is implemented at this level.  Modified house rules are in place, for example no-walk rule is in effect and all games are pitched by players / coaches.  Once there is a full count on the batter by the player pitcher, the coach comes in and finishes the at bat – 5-pitch maximum.  Fields location(s) for this division are Uplands, Highland Park (Hammonds Plains) and LWF (Fall River). 

PEEWEE LEAGUE (Competitive & Recreational - See bottom of page for explanation)

Baseball for players who will be age 12 or 13 during the calendar year.

The concept of stealing bases is in full force at this level by allowing base runners to "lead off".  Rep teams compete in the Baseball Nova Scotia Bluenose League and generally participate in 3-4 tournaments during the baseball season. All Rep team regular season home games are played at the Phil Eisenhauer field in Hammonds Plains. PeeWee house teams play in the HPBA House League. PeeWee house league games are played at the Allen Heights field in St. Margaret’s Bay and TCAC in Tantallon.

GIRLS’ PEEWEE/BANTAMLEAGUE

Recreational baseball for girls who will be age 12 to 15 during the calendar year.

The concept of stealing bases is in full force at this level by allowing base runners to "lead off".  Field location(s) for this division are Highland Park, Phil Eisenhauer (Hammonds Plains) and LWF (Fall River).

BANTAM LEAGUE (Competitive & Recreational - See bottom of page for explanation)

Baseball for players who will be age 14 or 15 during the calendar year.

All the rules of baseball are in full effect. Rep teams compete in the Baseball Nova Scotia Bluenose League. Bantam house teams generally play in the HPBA House League. Both generally participate in 3-4 tournaments during the baseball season. All regular season home games for both house league and rep are played at Range Park in Bedford.

Competitive Baseball for players who will be age 16, 17, or 18 during the calendar year.

There are generally no "house league" teams at this level. Midget baseball is competitive with the entry level being ranked as an A team (See Competitive "Rep" Baseball below). This team competes in the Baseball Nova Scotia Bluenose League and generally participates in 3-4 tournaments during the baseball season. Midget AAA teams are in their own separate league.

Competitive Baseball:

These teams Represent (hence the term "Rep") Hammonds Plains in all major tournaments in the province, Atlantic Region, and Canada (if successful in the National Play downs for our area). This is generally very competitive baseball requiring cooperation and commitment from both the players and the parents (guardians). Rep teams are ranked as Triple A (AAA), Double A (AA), or A with AAA being the most competitive for the age group.

Rep teams are selected by the coaching staff from a list of players in each division who registered to tryout for competitive baseball. The coaches’ selections are generally based on several factors including, but not limited to, desire, attitude and various skills and abilities depending on the requirements of the team. Players who are not selected for the AAA team are given the opportunity to tryout for the AA team, and so on until all rep teams are selected. Any remaining players, after tryouts are completed, are assigned to house league teams. The number of Rep teams in each division depends on the skill level and number of players registered to try out in each season.  There is generally team fundraising at the rep levels to offset the costs of tournaments. HPBA's Fair Play policy is in effect for all "regular season" games in competitive baseball, but coaches are free to play "as required" for National play downs, Nationals,  Provincial tournaments and playoffs.

All tournaments are at the expense of the individual teams. 

Recreational (House League) Baseball:

House league teams are comprised of players who did not register for competitive tryouts, as well as players who did tryout but were not selected for a rep team. House teams are formed after a skill rating process is conducted in an attempt to make all house league teams in each division somewhat equal in strength. There may be some team fundraising if teams decide to compete in tournaments. Teams may compete in district play downs and Provincial tournaments (at their own expense) but it is not required or expected, as these types of tournaments are typically very competitive by nature. HPBA house league teams generally avoid those events as we consider house leagues to be purely recreational baseball. However, teams may enter if players, coaches and parents are willing to do so. HPBA's Fair Play policy is in effect for all games including tournaments and playoffs (as well as districts and Provincials if entering) for recreational baseball. 

Hammonds Plains A's Wearables and Accessories are now available!!

  Click on the image below to visit our online store.

Kevin Harvey - owner of Kevin Harvey Team Sales has created a hoodie for individual purchase. 

Kevin supplies the majority of my uniforms for the Association. His son Ethan is currently playing on our Mosquito AAA team and Kevin is assisting coaching. 

If you are interested in purchasing this item – please order directly thru Kevin at KevinHarvey@eastlink.ca.  I am just the messenger :)  

Please see the flyer below so you can see the image as well as the price points.