By Rob Potter
SULLIVAN COUNTY — February 12, 2002 – The Pro Prospects softball team is going to DisneyWorld.
While they are planning to enjoy their time in Orlando, the team members are also on a mission.
That mission is to defend the championship they won at last year’s Disney’s Wide World of Sports Fast Pitch Festival. The team members and coaches will leave the county tomorrow afternoon for the festival, which begins Friday and ends on Sunday.
Pro Prospects begins its quest to repeat at 5 p.m. Friday with a game versus Finesse, a team from Michigan. After playing Finesse, Pro Prospects will meet each of the other teams in its 18-and-Under Fast Pitch pool.
After those four opening-round games have been played, Pro Prospects will be seeded for the single elimination tournament based on its pool performance. There, they will play teams from the other division – which features another Michigan team as well as squads from Kentucky and the state of Washington.
Obviously, the Pro Prospects players and coaches hope to be in the championship game on Sunday afternoon.
“We’re the defending champs and we’re going down there to win again,” Manager Dennis Dietrich said.
For the past two months, the team has been practicing in the Paul Gerry Fieldhouse at Sullivan County Communty College. And they even worked out outside once during a reacent spell of unseasonably warm weather.
“We want to thank everyone who has helped us,” Dietrich said. “Of course, Steve Pinto and his business, Pro Prospects, is our sponsor. We thank Chris Depew, Kyle Walter and everyone here at SCCC for letting us use the facilities. And we thank all the businesses and people who have donated money.”
Those who donated include: Candy Cone, Karl Colberg, Monticello PBA, Monticello Bagel Bakery and Deli, Tim Yaun Plumbing & Heating, First National Bank of Jeffersonville, Lakewood Estates, Gala Sand & Gravel, Inc., John Thayer (Freihofers), International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825, Gary Schmidt, Smallwood-Mongaup Valley Fire Department, Wyde Lumber, Pat Sarsfield, Arthur Trovei & Son, Inc., Mary and Raymond O’Kane, Nora Manzolillo, Middletown Honda, Kauneonga Lake Fire Department, Unstitch, Inc., Jo’s Groundskeeping, Inc., Hillside Nursery & Landscape Corp., Steve and Susan White, Bob Whipple, Mr. Willy’s and Pete Rossiter.
The team also held a 50/50 raffle to help raise the needed funds to travel to Florida. Charles Travis of Cortlandt Manor won first prize in the raffle, while Sheryl Manz of Monticello won second prize.
All of the members of last year’s team, except for three players, are back for 2002. (Those three are Kristi Beamer, Cindy Jessup and Jessica Konefal, all of whom are 2001 Monticello Central School graduates and are now either too old to play on the team and/or away at college.)
While this year’s squad consists mostly of Monticello student-athletes, there are team members from Chapel Field, Liberty and Port Jervis high schools.
During their time in the Sunshine State, the Pro Prospects players and coaches will spend some time sight seeing and visiting the beach. But, of course, softball remains the main focus of the weekend.
“We’re going to have a good time, but we’re also going there to win,” Assistant Coach Pat Shuart said. “It should be a very competitive tournament.”
Kim Donohue, a Monticello senior, was a member of the winning Pro Prospects team last year and is eager to capture the crown again.
“We’re going (down there) to win,” she said.