Growth has become a fact of life in Simcoe County with new residents coming for the lifestyle and benefits that our communities have to offer.

One of those lifestyle benefits is having opportunities for children to play in local sports groups and the Innisfil Minor Baseball Association (IMBA) is seeing the effects of that in abundance.           

Its registration has nearly doubled over last year, increasing from 74 to a total of 128 athletes for this season.

“It’s increased very nicely,” said Jackie Brown, Fundraising & Sponsorship co-ordinator for the Association.

She also cites the young families as a main source of growth but includes returning players who may have taken a year off to try other sports plus the small, but steady stream of Barrie youth who come to the club.

The Association began a decade ago and while attendance numbers has fluctuated, its numbers are back up. At least part of the increase, according to Brown, can be attributed to their first year of using on-line registration.

“It’s really helped us out,” she said, “The website is more user friendly and it’s easier to get communication out to the players.”

The six Innisfil teams the club had last year have turned into 10 for this season, which along with more organization requires more equipment that includes everything from pitching machines, to equipment bags, bases, bat bags, chalk machines to mark the lines, batting helmets, and catcher’s equipment.

“The kids come with a glove and shoes, but there’s lots of other stuff,” said Brown.

To help raise funds for the needed equipment the IMBA held a barbecue last Saturday in the Sobey’s parking lot on Innisfil Beach Road. The club is also adding something new this year.

They’ve hooked up with KidSport Ontario, an organization that raises funds that go directly to help underserviced children and youth participate in organized sport. They’ll be collecting gently used sports equipment to distribute to kids in need.

“We’re encouraging people to clear out their closets and bring in their extra equipment,” said Brown.  Equipment from all sports is being collected, not just baseball.

The increase in players also means an increase in work but also the potential for new volunteers.

“With all the new players, we’re hoping for new volunteers this year,” said Brown.

Currently seven people sit on the committee with the two positions of equipment manager and full time media rep still to be filled.

“It’s promising,” said Brown, “There’s quite a few team mom’s who are interested in getting involved. When they see that we’re organized they want to get involved.”

The league is governed by the South Simcoe Minor Baseball Association with games played against teams from Thornton, Angus and Ivy and as the division go up, they travel farther afield to Everett, Beaver Valley, Barrie and Orillia.

“We try to keep the traveling to a minimum,” said Brown. The main fields for the association are Innisfil Beach Park, Fennel, Stroud and Knock but they have their eye on the new diamonds at the Rec Centre in Barclay.

“We’re looking forward to the new fields at the town,” said Brown, adding it will allow them to host some tournaments next year.

“But we’re fortunate that we have the fields that we do. Not all communities have that.”

What is also appreciated is the support they’ve had from local businesses.
“I don’t know if they realize how much we appreciate their support,” she said, “We really couldn’t do it without them.”