It’s a special thing to grow up in your hometown, to walk the same streets, play little league, wear your Acalanes high school jersey with pride, and even take the field at St. Mary’s. Many would call that luck. Life is good when you get to play the game you love, build lifelong friendships, and find joy in the community around you. This is Connor Hornsby.

Along the way, Connor met Kelly, the woman who would become his partner in life, and they welcomed Jordon to their family-now a bright-eyed toddler with a smile that lights up a room. As he grows, soon to be a little boy with his own dreams and energy, it’s easy to imagine him running the bases, maybe even stepping up as a shortstop one day, carrying forward the love of the game that’s been passed down to him. The joy he brings to their lives is a kind of magic that only a child can bring, filling their home with laughter, love, and endless possibilities.

For Connor, that journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. From playing the game as a young kid in Lafayette to coaching the next generation of players at Acalanes, his high school. He has  woven himself into the fabric of this town. Giving back—whether through teaching batting lessons, helping with the local all-star team, or leading the Dons to new heights—Connor has always been there for his community. He led by example, pushing the team to reach a Division I level, showing each player what it meant to be “all in” on and off the field, with everything from their gloves to their hearts. 

But as the year 2024 comes to a close, a new chapter begins for Connor, Kelly, and Jordon in Texas. Hearing this news is bittersweet. It’s a new adventure for their family, but it leaves us with a feeling of loss. Connor leaving the Dons dugout isn’t just a change in the lineup; it’s a shift no one in blue was quite ready for. Like baseball, life throws curveballs, sometimes when you least expect it. Our coach, our leader, the one who’s been there through every high, every low, every extra inning, is moving on to something new, something bigger, in Texas.

It’s not just his coaching ability we’ll miss—it’s his passion, his fire, his humor, his heart and his unwavering belief in every one of the Dons.  He made  the Dons all better players, but more importantly, he made them better young men. The dugout won’t be the same without him, and while we know he’s off to do great things, it still feels like a  loss for the Dons. His spirit, his drive, and the energy he brought to every game will live on in each of Dons he has coached.

Here’s to Coach Connor—gone from the dugout, but never from our hearts. You’ve shaped the Dons and the youth in our community in ways we can’t fully express, and the people you have touch will carry your lessons, your passion, and your love for the game with them, wherever they go. Thank you for everything, and best of luck on this new journey. We’ll miss you, but we’ll always be cheering for you.