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Welcome to Hamel Baseball

Who
Hamel Athletic Club (Hamel Baseball) is a Non-Profit 501(c)3 organization affiliated with Little League International whose purpose is to provide youth in the city of Medina and the Wayzata School District a quality baseball program that promotes teamwork, self-esteem, and increase skill knowledge in a safe, non-threatening environment. Our program stresses the following:
  • Fun – we want kids to enjoy coming to baseball practices, games and to develop a lifelong love for the game.
  • Age appropriate baseball skills – Learning how to play the game the right way (which includes fundamentals as well as strategy).
  • Respect – for the game, coaches, teammates, umpires, opponents and spectators (parents).
  • Teamwork and Self-esteem - every player contributing to a team’s success
  • Sportsmanship – knowing how to be good winners and losers.
 
What
We provide baseball programs for kid’s ages 4-16 in the following divisions:
  • Tee Ball – Ages 4-5
  • Coach Pitch – Ages 6-7
  • Rookie League Ages 7-8 (must be in second grade as 7 year old and must request)
  • Minor AA League – Ages 9-10
  • Minor AAA League – Ages 9-11
  • Major League – Ages 11-12
  • Junior League – Ages 13-14
  • Senior League – Ages 15-16
 
Where
Hamel Baseball’s boundaries as set by Little League District 1 and consist of the Wayzata School District and the city of Medina.   Players living outside of these boundaries are required to obtain a waiver from their local little league organization prior to participating in the Hamel Baseball program. Additinally, new players living outside the boundaries will immediately be put on a waiting list and will only be allowed into the program if space exists. Additoinally, new players to the program in 2012 that live outside our boundaries will not be eligible for All-Star teams per Little League Rules

Our primary field locations are at the Hamel Legion Park where we rent 6 baseball fields and a grass field (used for tee ball and coach pitch leagues) and Hamel Lions Park, which we rent from the City of Medina.   We pay the City an annual fee for the use of the fields which includes mowing as well as a fee to support and maintain the concession stand.   We are responsible for the maintenance of the fields (grooming, chalking) as well as funding other improvements made to the fields, such as covering dugouts, purchasing scoreboards, etc.

 
When

Historically Hamel Baseball has been a family / cabin friendly league, with no weekend play up to the Minor leagues, and limited weekend play for the Minor through Senior Leagues. Due to field space requirements in the 2012 season we will begin limited play on Friday and Sunday Late Afternoon / Nights during the school year for the Minor AAA divisions and above. Please note that we will make every effort not to have both a Friday and Sunday practice and game for any team.

Many constraints are placed on the length of our season, such as weather conditions and end of season tournament timing.   As such, to allow kids to more fully develop their skills we are planning to offer more pre-season training for those that choose to participate indoors in the months of January – March. The following outlines the typical season dates.

 
League
 
Evaluations

Team Formation

Practices / Regular Season

End of Season Tournament

All-Star Tournament
Tee Ball
N/A
End April
Early May – Mid July
N/A
N/A
Coach Pitch
N/A
End April
Early May – Mid July
N/A
N/A
Rookie
N/A
Mid April
Early May – Mid July
N/A
N/A
Minor AA
End Feb – Early March
End March
Early April – Mid June
End June
Early July
Minor AAA
End Feb – Early March
Mid March
Late March – Mid June
End June
Early July
Majors
End Feb – Early March
Early March
Mid March – Mid June
End June
Early July*
Juniors
Mid April
End of April
May – Mid July
Mid July
End July*
Seniors
Mid April
End of April
May – Mid July
Mid July
End July*

*Seasons could be extended to August depending on success in state, regional or national / world

 

Why
Hamel Athletic Club was founded in 1926 and has been an active part of the community since then.   We have grown from 300 kids in 2008 to more than 600. While we have tried to accommodate all the kids that want to play in our program, we had to turn away kids in 2011 for the first time in our history.   We strive to provide a quality program while at the same time balancing the small town baseball feel that people have grown accustom to
How

Leadership
Hamel Baseball is run by a Board of Directors all of which are volunteers.   Additionally, several other director positions are in place to oversee various aspects of the operations of the organization.   With the rapid growth of our program and the changes were trying to make to enhance our program and facilities there are additional spots available for others to participate in the leadership of the organization. 

Funding
Hamel Athletic Club was granted 501(c)3 status in 2010 by the IRS and is a tax exempt organization. The program is funded by player registration fees, proceeds from the Hamel Rodeo for which Hamel Athletic Club is a 1/6 partner as well as the generous support of local businesses who provide capital sponsorship as well as team sponsorship funding.

Additional Updates...

In the fall of 2011 we will be holding a fall registration for the 2012 season for returning 2011 families and will not be accepting new players into the program until the winter of 2012 and only do so if space permits.  Additionally, for the 2012 season and beyond, we will not be accepting kids into the program that do not live within our current Little League boundary unless openings are available after all registrations are completed.   Due to our field shortage we are working with other communities to secure additional field space that is suitable for play and close in proximity to our current fields.