The Barrie Minor Baseball Association (BMBA) is dropping the name Red Sox from all their teams and switching over to the Baycats.
After decades of being known as the Red Sox, the BMBA will change their name to the Baycats beginning immediately and in time for the 2018 season. BMBA president Rebecca Sauder said the discussions have been ongoing for the last few months but everyone was in agreement that the time was now to make the switch.
“As an organization we had been discussing this topic for a while and really wanted to make it work,” said Sauder. “We had reached out to the InterCounty Baseball League Baycats a while ago and last night at our Annual General Meeting where we were able to finalize the details. This is a huge deal for us so we felt it was important to survey our entire membership, and I can say the overwhelming majority were happy to make the change.”
A Thursday night meeting with members of the local minor association made the final decision and work will now begin on making the change. The BMBA was looking to make some graphic and design changes as it was, so as big of a change as a new logo is, there were things that were going to be tinkered with anyway. With 1,339 kids from ages 4 to 18 enrolled in the BMBA last season, all jerseys, hats, shirts and other merchandise will need to be changed. It is certainly going to be a huge task but one that Sauder knows will benefit everyone soon.
Barrie Minor Baseball's new logo“Anytime an organization changes its identity it is a big deal, said Sauder. “But we think this can really benefit everyone in our organization as well as the IBL team. Just to have closer ties in the community is a good thing. Hopefully it will open many doors of cooperation between us which are in the early stages of being talked about but both sides are very excited.”
IBL Baycats President David Mills is overjoyed at the change and the new cooperation between the two organizations. The BMBA will provide a huge boost to ticket sales for the IBL club with a brand new excitement as the young kids try emulate the men who wear the same logo as they do.
“We’re so happy that the Baycats name will be emblazoned on all the teams that represent the city in tournaments and other events,” said Mills. “If you haven’t watched the players from the Barrie Minor Baseball Association, you need to get to a diamond next season and check them out. Personally I’m excited to know that the name will be so successful, because that’s what their organization does is succeed.”
The IBL Baycats success has been well-documented over the last few years with the team winning five championships overall, their fourth consecutive title recently and looking to Five-Peat next year. One team that is always on the Baycats tail is the Brantford Red Sox who come to town for some of the league’s best games; making for an awkward situation when the BMBA games are finished and the families head to Coates Stadium.
“It is kind of funny but a little weird when we’re playing Brantford at home and the stadium is packed with hats and shirts that say Red Sox,” said Mills. “I’ve always humourously shaken my head at that one, but now it will be Baycats all over the place.”
To follow the IBL Baycats, check them out at http://barriebaycats.com/view/barriebaycats
To follow the BMBA, check them out at http://barriebaseball.pointstreaksites.com/view/barrieminor
