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Subscribe to our NewsletterGreen Hornets Launch Baseball, Softball Seasons with Opening Day Parade
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Led by the Annapolis High School Junior ROTC Navy Color Guard, 75 teams in colorful uniforms marched through the park, where they were welcomed by Louie the Bowie Baysox mascot before taking to the fields in front of thousands of cheering fans.
This year, Green Hornets Baseball has a record number of registrations with about 800 players.
The Green Hornets will also hold its 3rd annual Bull and Oyster Roast May 16 at the Earleigh Heights Fire House. Funds generated by the Bull Roast are used for player equipment, field improvements, uniforms and instructional clinics for both the players and coaches.
E-mail ticket requests to carol_avery@comcast.net no later than 14 days prior to the date of the game(s).
County Rec Leagues Start New Season
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The Yankees Little League team first baseman Cameron Jones, 11, of Severna Park, runs with the team flag across the field before the start of the parade.
For the Severna Park Green Hornets baseball teams, the annual parade was held at Kinder Park, where 75 teams walked in a procession to be welcomed by Louie, the Bowie Baysox mascot, before taking to the fields.
"We started this festival three years ago, and the purpose of the parade is to create a memory for the kids," said Todd Frady, commissioner of Green Hornets baseball. "We do that by having hundreds of people - parents, coaches and sponsors - cheering for them."
The county has seen an influx of young players in all recreational sports this year, including baseball and softball, which have 100 teams and 40 teams, respectively, officials said.
"The numbers in our programs as a whole have gone up," said Franklin Chaney, recreation administrator for the county Department of Recreation and Parks. "We've increased in boys lacrosse, and we're anticipating an increase of about 30 teams in girls lacrosse.
With a limited number of fields in the area, the county has taken steps to accommodate the large number of teams by using high school fields for many organized youth sports.
"A good portion of our youth lacrosse games are going to be played on the turf fields at the high school stadiums," Chaney said.
The county has seven high schools with fully developed turf fields to make it possible, including Annapolis, Arundel, North County, Broadneck, Severna Park, Meade and Glen Burnie.
Another benefit of the high school turf fields is the county will have fewer game cancellations due to inclement weather. The turf fields include rubber pellets that have maximum grip for running, rain or shine. Also, the perfectly flat surfaces of the turf fields make for fewer injuries.
"We're not going to have many rainouts, which will enable us to stick to the tight schedule," Chaney said.
Chaney also mentioned that his department has been working with youth sports organizations throughout the county to better them overall.
In return, the county leagues have used funds raised to make numerous improvements in their programs.
The Green Hornets, for example, have put money toward coaching clinics and field maintenance.
"We're affiliated with Ripken Baseball, and we're working to get all of our coaches Ripken-certified," Frady said.
In addition, the Hornets have installed new dugouts and batting cages at Kinder Park, and purchased a tractor designed for grooming baseball diamonds.
"We have many fantastic recreation councils throughout the county, and the key to success is to work with these volunteers to make our programs run smoothly," Chaney said.
Navy Coaches Stress The Basics at Fall Clinic
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Fall Baseball Friday Clinic Recap- 2009
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Also on Friday, two lucky players were winners of the Athletic Performance Inc. raffle draw. Matthew Heuer and Mark Sanders each won 12 free, spring-training sessions at API, one of the organizations providing instruction at the clinics.
This year the fall program was fortunate to have an outstanding group of guest instructors work with the players. They included the Naval Academy coaches and midshipmen; BATT Academy; API; Frozen Ropes; the Severna Park American Legion coaches and players; retired Orioles players Al Bumbry, Scotty McGregor and Larry Sheets, along with current major league pitcher Eric Milton.
Severna Park High School pitching coach Joe Mayer and numerous high school players also assisted. Louie, the Baysox mascot, attended one clinic in September to entertain the younger players.
"We had our best fall season since the program began as an official Green Hornets fall sport," said baseball Commissioner Todd Frady. "More teams and players participated than ever before. It was exciting seeing the kids improve during the fall season and have fun in the process."
Naval Academy Baseball Coaches, Players Instruct at Clinic
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The midshipmen worked with the players on fielding, hitting and throwing techniques. After each session, the midshipmen discussed their experiences at the academy and answered questions from parents and players.
Other guest instructors this fall have been retired Orioles all-stars Scotty McGregor and Al Bumbry, along with ex-major league slugger Larry Sheets. Athletic Performance, Inc., and the BATT Academy have also run stations at several clinics.
Record Crowds at Hornets' Baseball Opening Day
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"We are really trying to make sure the kids in our program have fun in addition to playing baseball" said Assistant Commissioner Ron Schuh. "The expanded Opening Day Ceremony is part of that effort."
Saturday's activities started off with a parade of teams led by the Annapolis High School Junior ROTC color guard. After the parade, teams lined up on the Kinder Pony field for the national anthem sung by Bobby Minter. During the ceremony, the Hornets honored long time coach and volunteer Joe Powers. Afterwards, each league went to it's assigned field for team and player introductions.
Follow-on festivities consisted of carnival games, moon bounces and face painting for the younger children. API offered laser speed drills and vertical leap competitions while Frozen Ropes conducted pitching speed contests. Team pictures were taken throughout the day at Kinder.
The season started with the first games on Saturday afternoon.
2008 Ripken Coaches' Clinic
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Twenty-five Green Hornets' baseball coaches attended last weekend's Cal Ripken Coaches' Clinic in Burke, Va. Cal Ripken, Billy Ripken, and ex-major league pitcher John Habyan conducted the day-long clinic.
More than 500 coaches from throughout the Mid-Atlantic region attended.
"The clinic was superb," said clinic league Director Wes Adams. "I thought all three instructors really communicated well and were right on with the drills they presented and their analysis of how coaches should approach teaching their players."
Mark Muckelbauer felt Billy Ripken put on a great show. "I was very impressed with the quality of the instruction," he added.
Major areas of instruction were pitching, hitting and defensive fielding fundamentals. The Ripkens demonstrated youth-oriented drills for the coaches that have proven to be successful in teaching the basic skills that the players need on the field.
The Ripken Way was developed from the teachings of the Ripkens' father, the late Cal Ripken Sr,. and the playing experiences of both Cal Jr. and Billy.
"It focuses on four basic principles that we want to emphasize in our program," said Hornet baseball commissioner Todd Frady. "Keep it simple, explain why, celebrate the individual and, most importantly, make it fun."
"Our affiliation with Ripken will help standardize our coaching techniques for the players," said Ron Schuh. "All our coaches will eventually go through a Ripken certification process."
Attending the clinic were Wes Adams, Pete Blohm, Brian Caporlette, Mike Caruso, Art Ditzel, Brad Ehnat, B.B. Flynn, Todd Frady, Pat Green, Mark Key, Joe LaMore, Jo LaRocque, Dave Lewis, Brian McCormick, Steve Meany, Steve Monseu, Mark Muckelbauer, Mitchell Naimark, Ron Schuh, Greg Sears, Mike Shallue, Roger Simonds, Tim Stevenson, Bill Wareham and Ned Dwyer.
Starting this spring, the Hornets baseball tournament teams for ages 8-and-under through 12-and-under will be eligible to compete in the annual Ripken Tournament Trail. Depending upon the age group, the trail can lead to the Ripken World Series.
Tryouts for both the select and tournaments teams will be held around the first of March depending upon weather and field conditions.
Bumbry Helps Wrap Up Fall Clinics
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Fall Baseball A Home Run
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"Where Nobody Loses"- Baltimore Sun
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