All,

A friendly reminder that there are no games scheduled for this weekend.

Our normal stat guy is away; I'm aiming to get them updated tonight. A's and Tigers won. 

Reminder that the website will be updated by 7:30AM Sunday if the game is cancelled due to weather or poor field conditions. 

Gents,

It's time for playoffs!! Schedule has been posted - Please alert your team reps of any errors. With 5 teams we'll continue with a round robin format for playoffs. The top 2 teams at the conclusion of the RR will compete for the 2024 Championship. We will get the tiebreaker rules done and posted before week 1 starts.

Week 1 - The city has requested a permit change for August 11th. We are negotiating the best possible outcome for us. We'll update your reps and the site by Wednesday at the latest, however, please prepare to potentially play at one of:

• Glanbrook Sports Complex: 4300 Binbrook Rd, Binbrook, ON L0R 1C0

• Mahoney Park: 1655 Barton St E, Hamilton, ON L8H 3C3

Good luck to all as we head in to the best part of the season!!

In what many are calling the game of the century, the Hobo American League All-Stars went toe-to-toe with the National League All-Stars Sunday before a sold-out crowd (8 fans, 1 dog). With the threat of rain, heavy winds, and a slightly delayed start, Hobo's finest still managed to put on a clinic.

Thanks to all who showed up and made it a fun afternoon. Shout out to Andrew Schrumm who went yard (early reports say 457ft, edging teammate Matt Taylor's effort from last week - 456 ft).

There was no shortage of brilliant plays in the windy outfield (James G, Chris M), but none more thrilling than Phil Kraynick's dazzling adventure, known henceforth as the "oh shit!". (Apologies to any plays I may have missed)

If you haven't, please communicate your long-weekend attendance to your team reps asap so we can sort the rest of the season schedule.

We have umpires & diamonds 4/5 at 4PM tomorrow.

Based on responses from all 5 teams, these will be exhibition games with mixed players and, depending on how many show, it may be one game only.

Weather is looking sketchy earlier in the day which could impact field conditions. Please check the site for updates before heading to the field. 

I've put a poll up  (--->) primarily to test how they work on the site, but if you plan on coming please submit the yes response. (Thanks!)

Hope to see you there! If you have any questions, please contact your team reps. 

Reminder to share your long weekend attendance with your team reps ASAP to help us plan for gaps in attendance. 

We now have permits for Sunday June 23rd - NOTE: Game times are 4PM - This was the best we could do. If you see an empty hardball diamond in Hamilton Sunday morning, we tried to get it and were denied.

With the short-notice time change, there are some things to sort out:

• Umpires
• If these are league games or exhibition (depends on player availability)

Stay tuned to the website for updates. Your team reps are aware of the situation and we're working together to find the best outcome.

With byes and a rainout, the league wanted to get us playing in any way possible. The alternative was another week off. Thanks for understanding!

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Moving forward, and except for Aug 4th (no games), we have MSP at 9AM until September 29th. 

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July Long weekend - we have permits and umps, however, this is when we start to see attendance drop. Please communicate your plans with your team reps so we can work together to solve any challenges as early as possible. 

Reminder: Teams on bye have the first crack at filling vacancies for the other teams. If you're available during a bye, let your rep know.

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After this week shakes out and we know general attendance for the June 30th game, the rest of the schedule will be completed and released, including a playoff format.

Thanks all!

Friendly reminder to check the website before games, in the event of unexpected issues, particularly weather-related.

We will do our best to announce cancellations by 7:30AM, however, our goal is to play baseball, meaning some decisions will be last-minute by nature.

We're looking into solutions for leage-wide announcements by email and/or text for future seasons.

League News:

Edit: Players have now been added to rosters on the website, and the first 5 weeks of the schedule have been released, with more to come next week. If there are any errors, be it player placement, spelling etc, let your team rep know and they can let me know. Thanks all!

Due to lower than anticipated full-time registrations, the difficult but necessary decision was made to operate with 5 teams this season. The goal is to be back to 6 next year. This means a bye for 1 team each week, however, the team on bye will serve as subs for the remaining teams. Please help your team reps with attendance so they can let the league know when subs are needed. The league will manage sub distribution. Players on bye are always welcome. For those not subbing, there may be opportunities to serve as base umps, scorekeepers or comic relief between the benches.

We have permits for the July & September long weekends (not August). We are currently discussing how to manage those dates. Whether they are regular season games or, if attendance is expected to be poor, we may coordinate pick-up games or something fun. The league's goal is to provide as much baseball as possible.

If your team rep has not contacted you, we're hoping to have the teams and first few games uploaded later tonight or early tomorrow. Thanks for your patience; a lot has to come together between the second Spring Training Sunday & Opening Day.  If you're scheduled to play this Sunday and your team rep doesn't contact you, please just show up and we'll get you to the right spot. 

Always double check the site but, as of now, the Royals are on bye week 1 - we don't expect that to change.

Please arrive no later than 8:30am week 1, earlier is preferred. HOBO President Dave St Martin will address the group, and you'll need to get your jersey & hat, put bags in and get warmed up.

IMPORTANT: THE LINC IS CLOSED THIS WEEKEND. PLAN YOUR TRAVEL ACCORDINGLY. 

Reminder of some house rules:

Equipment: You are responsible to supply your own:

• Wood bat (no composite or aluminum bats)
• Batting helmet (with at least 1 flap).  Helmets may also be fitted with an approved jaw guard.
• Rubber cleats, baseball pants & glove - metal cleats may be worn by pitchers while they are pitching
• 1 set of catcher's gear is avaialble for each team. Welcome to bring your own
• You will be given a hat (to keep) and a jersey for the seaon. Jerseys are returned at the end of year

Ground Rules:

• No new inning can start after 12 PM (diamonds 4, 5 & 6). We have the permits on these diamonds until 12:30
• Be kind to umpires and each other. Umpires will make mistakes, as we all do, and we need to treat them fairly.
• Base umpires are provided by the hitting team as the default.  With team rep agreement alternate arrangements are allowed.
• Players who abuse the umpires or other players are subject to discipline.
• Collisions are to be avoided on all bases.  Runners will be called out at the discretion of the umpires for intentional collisions.  Play hard, but let's all go home without injury!
• Both teams to share the same bench to encourage socialization. On D4 use the 3rd base dugout, on D5 use the 1st base. Let the friendly banter fly between games!
• Pitchers may pitch a maximum of 3 continuous innings (9 outs). To go beyond this during extenuating circumstances, both team reps must discuss and agree beforehand. (ideally at the start of the game)
• 5 runs maximum per inning. Last inning is open, be sure to declare it if time is tight, though we always ask that reason prevail between team reps
• No stealing for any team while up by 3 or more runs, however, you may run on a passed ball or wild pitch.
• Pinch runners are available for batters once they have reached base, due to health or injury reasons.  The pinch runner should be the last out (or agreeable to the opposing team) and not simply the fastest runner available.
• Pinch runners are not eligible to steal, however, they may advance at their peril, on a passed ball or wild pitch.  These pinch runners are at risk of being thrown out if they are careless with their lead off.
• Runners for catchers and two outs are considered a normal runner and may advance anytime at their peril.

• If I've missed anything, we'll get it updated asap, but the rule of thumb is that we work together to find a reasonable solution

Thanks all, we look forward to seeing you. If you have any questions, please contact us or your team rep.