Northeast Pride Baseball

NEW COLLEGE PLACEMENT SHOWCASE TEAM      

                                               

  MONTICELLO--Monticello based Pro Prospects and Northeast Pride Baseball out of Wayne County, Pa. have joined forces to provide Sullivan and Wayne County high school  baseball players the opportunity for skill training along with college guidance and exposure to college scouts. 

  Pro Prospects owner Steve Pinto, in commenting on the merger of the two baseball organizations said, "we will be part of a feeder program for tournament teams, will provide a local  travel team option and will develop hand picked showcase teams."

  Northeast Pride Baseball in their partnership with Pro Prospects will allow for several opportunities to enhance each player's development on the field and will also help assist in the development of the players via skill training and college placement for the showcase team only.

  Pinto noted that the college advisory seminar for the 17u team will be a part of the winter showcase at the Pro Prospect location in Monticello. 

  "For the younger teams Pro Prospects will assist with instructions and all players will be able to use our facilities for bad weather practice during the winter months," Pinto said. 

  Tryouts, by invitation only,  for the 17u Showcase team took place July 7 at the SUNY Sullivan baseball complex.

 Northeast Pride Travel teams 15u, 12u and 12u also had outs at that time. 

 Workouts and evaluations at that time were conducted by Pro Prospects General Manager Jared Carrier, Northeast Pride General Manager Joe Curreri and 18 & under Showcase Select Team managers Chad Goetz and Steve Alhona.

  Northeast Pride Travel Baseball has been in operation four years while Pro Prospects opened their center in 1997 helping athletes from the Tri-State area reach their potential one player at a time.

  Pro Prospects gives instructions in hitting, baseball, windmill pitching and defensive private lessons, offers instructional clinics and  camps, college guidance and exposure, strength and conditioning, arm strength (long toss program) and team training. Their staff consists of  current and former professional and collegiate baseball and softball coaches and players.

  The Northeast Pride 17/18 & Under Travel Showcase team is presently playing fall tournament baseball and will travel to the top tournament locations on the east coast including venues this fall and next spring at Ripken Baseball in Aberdeen, MD and Myrtel Beach, SC, Diamond Nation in Flemington, NJ, Baseball Heaven in Yaphank, NY, The Rock Sports Park in Chester, NY, New York Elite Baseball in Newburgh, NY, Cooperstown Dream Park in Cooperstown, NY, Triple Crown Sports in NY, NJ, PA and CT, In The Net Sports in Palmyra, PA, Berkshire Baseball in Reading, PA, Future Stars in Hershey, PA, Virginia Sports Complex in Ruther, VA, Sports At The Beach in Georgetown, DE, Millersville University at Millersville, PA and the Dynamic Baseball Tournament at Penn State University.   

  Sullivan County high school players on this team include Rodney Jester from Tri-Valley Central, Bray Curreri from Eldred Central, Jonathan Harned from Monticello Central, Patrick Pierce from Sullivan West and Dillon Taggart from Livingston Manor Central.

  Additional team members include Mike Carmody  from Valley Central, James Goetz from Wallenpaupack Central, Ben Kaplan from St. Joseph's, Pete Kelly from Honesdale Central, Adam Kelly from Honesdale Central, Kevin Klatt from Dunmore Central, David Loptka from Dunmore Central, David Ortiz from Wallenpaupack Central, Alec Babyak from Wallenpaupack Central, Brandon Newsome from Wallenpaupack Central, Josh Slocum from Abington Heights, Decker Mackenzie from Valley Central, Michael Best from Dunmore Central and Nate Packer from Western Wayne Central.    

  Pinto indicated that there will be college scouts in attendance at the Pride Showcase team tournaments this fall and in January team members will be in attendance at Pro Prospects Winter Showcase where they will receive a written player evaluation. Also included will be a discounted Showcase video and a discounted college marketing service options such as full skill video shoots and college advisory meeting with Pro Prospects staff and player's parents. 

  The team entered tournament play August 11-12 at The Rock in Chester and lost one-run ballgames to the Rockies Bertotti team from Chester, the Montreal Rockies from Montreal, Canada and the Rockies Penatello team from Orange County. 

  Coach Chad Goetz commenting on the first tournament for the team after only two practices said, "close losses and not bad for the first time together."

  The team will be in action next on Labor Day weekend at the Millersville University Labor Day Showcase in Millersville, Pa. On September 8-9 they compete in the Dynamic Baseball Tournament at Penn State University. 

                                              

                  

                         

Identification of above photos

Tri-Valley Central senior short stop Rodney "Taylor" Jester, playing short stop and third base for the Northeast Pride Showcase team attacks a pitch during tournament play at The Rock August 11-12. Second photo--Livingston Manor catcher Dillon Taggart in action against the Montreal Rockies. Both Taggart and Jester got hits for the Pride team in Saturday's  games.