Owen Sound Minor Baseball is Ready For An Exciting 2025 Season

The 2025 baseball season is approaching, and athletes in Georgian Bluffs and surrounding areas are ready to hit the diamond, eager to showcase their skills and passion for the game. The Owen Sound Minor Baseball Association (OSMB) provides programing for approximately 300 youth players from Georgian Bluffs, Owen Sound and surrounding areas.

According to OSMB President Jesse Edmunds, the organization has doubled in size over the past three to four years. “The current registration levels are the highest in its history and are continuing to grow year over year.” The demand and interest in the sport is evident in the area, even expanding to off-season training. Since the winter of 2023, OSMB Rep and Select Teams have been holding weekly off-season training sessions at Kemble Arena. The teams utilize diamonds within Owen Sound and Georgian Bluffs during the regular season, including the Balmy Beach Ball Diamond. “In 2024, OSMB hosted the Inaugural Battle on the Bay Tournament for 11U Rep / Select from around Southern Ontario. The entire tournament was played out of Balmy Beach and Shallow Lake,” said Edmunds. “For 2025, we will again be hosting the 11U Tournament out of those diamonds (Jul 25-27), while expanding the tournament to also host a 13U division that will play out of Duncan McLellan.” The organization notes that hosting travel tournaments has a significant positive economic impact for the area. “The tournament was a great success, and many families made a point of letting us know how beautiful it was here, and that they would undoubtedly be back for future tournaments, or just for vacation and sightseeing,” said Edmunds.

Hours and Hours of play each week, hundreds of athletes and numerous volunteers with a passion for local sport. OSMB is run entirely by volunteers, aside from the Umpires. “Since the winter of 2023, the volunteer executive has increased from 5-6 volunteers to 16+ volunteers. In addition, we have 80-100 volunteer coaches and parents that support and manage our teams,” said Edmunds. According to OSMB, the organization is a part of a vibrant and growing baseball community within Georgian Bluffs, Owen Sound and the surrounding area. “We are fortunate to have fantastic volunteers that are dedicated to growing the game and giving back to the community,” said Edmunds. Edmunds explains he volunteers with OSMB because of his love for the game and he has a child that loves the game as well. He says he was fortunate to learn from some great leaders and coaches and the impact they had on him is a key reason why he remains involved today. “I know first-hand the positive impact this game can have on the lives of our youth, their families, and the community at large,” said Edmunds. “That impact helps to mold future leaders, not only to ensure that these programs remain viable for years to come, but also to help develop and foster that deep sense of community, developing lifelong friendships and relationships, and making the place we call home a great place to be.”

For the 2025 season, the OSMB has rebranded to the Jr. Baysox to align the House League, Select and Rep Teams under one banner. This also further aligns the local baseball community, as the Sr. Men’s Rep Team in Owen Sound is known as the Baysox. The OSMB is also working to obtain a registered Not-For-Profit designation. “As the association continues to grow, our need for additional fields and facilities will further strain current resources. We want to do our part to help secure grants and funding necessary to support the growth of our league and the baseball committee at large,” said Edmunds.