With the recent Governor's Executive Order, we are happy to announce the opening of our batting pavilion on May 25, 2020. A reservation will be required to use the cages. Please bring proof of your reservation with you to avoid any issues at the park. Please use following link to to view availability, and be sure to review the rules for using the cages and instructions on requesting a reservation below.

Click here to see availability.  Request a reservation by emailing gerocages@gmail.com.

Rules while using the cages:

• Reservation Required: Please Visit MSHYB.com for more info and updates
• Social distancing of 6 feet at all times
• Only one pitcher and one hitter in each cage
• No bystanders allowed in batting pavilion - if you are waiting to use cage, form a line outside cage and maintain social distancing (6') and you should wear a face covering when in line
• Face masks highly recommended at all times
• Disinfecting at discretion of user
• Bring your own hand sanitizer to use before and after using cages
• Avoid touching gates, netting, L screens, etc.
• Rear two cages are closed, only the front two cages are available (cage 1 - Left cage, and cage 2 - Right cage)
• Cages are reserved for MSHYB and Millburn Softball players. A pitcher must be an adult
• Only touch your own baseballs, equipment, etc. No sharing of equipment, baseballs, etc. with non family members

Instructions for requesting and confirming a reservation:

• Open Daily 9am-8pm
• 45 minute slots at top of every hour (Cage 1 - left cage, and Cage 2- right cage)
• One slot per day per family
• There is no need to arrive early in the batting cage area - we built in 15 minute transition windows between reservations (see above guidance in forming a line if you do arrive early)
• View calendar pointed to by the link above for available slots which will be labeled as OPEN (not RESERVED)
• E-mail your selected time slot and LAST NAME only (no Cage #) to gerocages@gmail.com
• Spots will be allotted by time stamp of e-mail and assigned to either Cage 1 - Left Cage or Cage 2 - Right Cage
• Once your spot has been recorded, the window in the availability calendar will show RESERVED with your last name assigned to one of the cages.  
• Please note -- your reservation confirmation will be to click on link to the calendar, click in the reserved timeslot(s), and then on details to verify your name in the description field.  There will be no email confirmations sent.

Neither the town nor MSHYB will be responsible for disinfecting the cages. If you would like to bring a method of disinfecting the L screen or any other part of the pavilion, that is your responsibility. Again, only the two front larger cages will be available for use. Please make sure you collect all trash when leaving the facility.

Enjoy!!!

- MSHYB

Dear MSHYB Families,

With this past Monday’s decision by Governor Murphy to keep schools closed for the rest of the academic year, we at MSHYB are disappointed to announce the cancellation of our spring 2020 Youth Baseball and Senior League seasons.  I am sure you were all looking forward to a great baseball season and all the wonderful interaction that accompanies at Gero Park and Pingry. Unfortunately, Covid-19 has proved to be a formidable opponent that requires us all to make prudent decisions about the health of our family and our community. 

This brings us to our next issue of how to wind down the spring season. Covid-19 has caused some unprecedented issues that we have never faced before as a league.  Most of MSHYB’s seasonal expenses are incurred long before the first games are played. We will be able to apply certain expenditures to the 2021 season, including purchases of uniforms, hats, balls and other gear. However, the vast majority of the money spent to date is for expenses we incur annually, whether or not any games are played – field maintenance and repair, irrigation maintenance, installation of outfield fences and batting cage nets, insurance costs, club house expenses, and our Babe Ruth Baseball charter to name a few.  In light of these expenses, it would be impossible to fully refund everyone’s fees without causing irreparable financial damage to MSHYB.

In order to keep our league solvent while ensuring that everyone is treated fairly, we would like to offer MSHYB families three options for their 2020 player fees:

• Option 1: Apply the full 2020 per-player fee of $200 as a donation to MSHYB, which is the option that provides the league with the maximum financial support.  When you register your child as a player next year, you will be charged the full 2021 player fee. 
• Option 2: Receive a credit of $175 toward your child’s 2021 player fee. When you register your child as a player next year, you will be charged the difference between the full 2021 player fee and $175. 
• Option 3: If your child has decided to not play baseball in 2021, you may request a partial refund of 50% of the 2020 player fee ($100). The refund will be credited to the same credit card you used to make the original payment. If your child later decides to play next year, you will be charged the full 2021 player fee at registration.

To record your choice with the league, please copy the following link below into your browser, enter your child’s name and indicate the option you are choosing. You must repeat this process for each child you registered to play in 2020; please note that you may choose a different option for each registered child. Please fill out your response by May 22nd.

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07eh2suxlqk9vuu9au/start

For those of you with 8th graders registered to play their final season in Senior League, you will be receiving a separate email from the league with your options.

Playing baseball has long been an important part of growing up in our community, and we realize the sadness and disappointment that canceling our spring season will cause for so many of our children. To partially fill this void, we are hopeful about offering a baseball option in the fall assuming that conditions allow. We are still working through various options and will send out an email when we have more information.

In the meantime, stay safe and healthy. If you have any questions, please reach out to the league at info@mshyb.com.

Sincerely,
 
Craig Ploetner
President, MSHYB