Story by Ed Townsend
MONTICELLO — Monticello-based Pro Prospects and Northeast Pride Baseball of Wayne County, Pa. have joined forces to provide area high school baseball players a better opportunity for skill training along with exposure to college scouts.
Pro Prospects owner Steve Pinto said, “We will be part of a feeder program for [Northeast’s] tournament teams. This will provide us with a local travel team option and will develop hand-picked showcase teams."
For Northeast, players will benefit from Pro Prospects highly regarded coaching staff as well as its indoor facilities and Winter Showcase.
Northeast Pride Travel Baseball has been in operation four years while Pro Prospects opened their center in 1997. Both have been 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.
Northeast Pride fields travel teams that play in tournaments during the spring, summer and fall. Their upcoming schedule for the 17/18 & Under Travel Showcase team includes stops at Ripken Baseball in Aberdeen, MD; Myrtle Beach, SC; Diamond Nation in Flemington, NJ; Baseball Heaven in Yaphank, NY; The Rock Sports Park in Chester; New York Elite Baseball in Newburgh; Cooperstown Dream Park in Cooperstown; 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 currently on the Northeast team include Rodney Jester from Tri-Valley, Bray Curreri from Eldred, Jonathan Harned from Monticello, Patrick Pierce from Sullivan West and Dillon Taggart from Livingston Manor.
Pinto indicated that there will be college scouts in attendance at the Pride Showcase team tournaments this fall. In January team members will be in attendance at Pro Prospects Winter Showcase where they will receive a written player evaluation.
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.