Q&A with Garve Ivey and Jason Minor
Hornet Baseball Club
78: Tell us a little bit about what goes on inside the walls of the Hornet Baseball Club.
HB: Work. We have a love of the game of baseball and softball. We have fun while working on improving at the game we love. We have some really hard workers come through our doors and it has been a joy to see them improve and have success on the field.
78: How did this business idea come together and what did it take to make it happen?
HB: We have coached together for several years. We had talked for a long time about our dream of having an indoor facility for our kids and travel teams. The more we studied other facilities, we became interested in the HitTrax technology.
During COVID, when we were both at home and our minds had more time to wander and dream, we started talking more seriously about having a company and a facility where we could have the HitTrax Technology and be able to coach youth like we really wanted. We really started this business thinking it was a way to help our own kids and the kids that we had coached for several years, but it has sort of taken off in a little different direction than what we first expected. It is exciting to see the growth of the kids through each lesson.
78: Your business does not just provide instruction; what are some of the other unique features that you offer your clients?
HB: Of course, we offer personal, one-on-one instructions. The HitTrax technology allows us to track the player’s progress and see areas that we need to help them improve. The players receive emails after each lesson on the HitTrax. In the email, there will be videos of their swing in slow motion, data on the various metrics such as exit velocity, launch angles, and line drives versus ground balls and fly balls. It is our goal to give instruction and feedback as well as to instill confidence in the student-athlete. Beyond the technical stuff, we see lessons as a way to pour into our youth. These are young men and women from all walks of life, and all over the community. We want to see them excel in sports, but more importantly, in life.
Our goals as Hornet Baseball Club are to create an environment and space that can grow your child’s love of the game while giving them the opportunity to further develop their talents, to allow young men and women to learn life skills and lessons that will carry them far beyond the baseball and softball field, to strive to out-work the competition every time they step into the facility, and to help youth pursue their dreams and maintain a “Mamba Mentality.”
78: Travel baseball has become an absolute monster, but it seems like it has also had a narrowing effect on participation due to its high cost and time commitment. What’s the solution moving forward?
HB: It seems many are moving towards the travel ball direction. This past spring, we had four travel ball teams. Cost can certainly be an issue and deterrent for some. However, we try to make travel ball as cost-effective as possible for our teams. Travel ball can help prepare players for playing in high school and beyond. Many Park and Rec leagues are moving to a hybrid model of travel and park ball. Most travel ball teams have also done fundraisers for travel ball to help absorb the costs.
78: What is the most challenging thing for young athletes?
HB: Consistency. Many kids don't realize the work and hours that go into practice. You see college and pro athletes on TV, but many don’t realize the work that these athletes put in daily to get there and stay there. You can’t expect overnight success. In our “instant everything” culture it is a challenge. Talent with work ethic is the key.
78: What are some things your students can learn by watching the pros and what are some things young people should avoid?
HB: We believe that students can learn from the consistency and work ethic of this professional athletes. You can see it in the smallest things that they do – even during warm-ups or in batting practice. They are humans that must continue to practice and hone their skills. We want them to watch the professional athletes and how they go about working on their craft daily.
78: What’s your favorite thing about Hornet Baseball?
Garve: I love seeing a young athlete come in with very little experience or low confidence. Why? Because I love to watch the progression and their confidence build as they work and improve. The kids truly are what we enjoy the most.
Jason: It’s really become like a family. We love to keep up with our students as they play their games and celebrate their success. In those moments we are seeing them take what they are learning here and seeing the positive results on the field. We both try to watch as many of our students play as possible. 78