Pro Prospects Baseball Training and Softball Training Center 96 Cold Spring Road Monticello, NY 12701 (845) 791-1749 e-mail:info@pro-prospects.com Weekdays 2 to 10 pm Weekends 9 am to 5 pm

Pete Gilardo Drafted by Red Sox Pete Gilardo, a former Pro Prospects student and Dominican College senior, was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 45th round of 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. Pete finished the 2007 season with a .316 batting average to finish third on the team. He finished 27th in the CACC in hitting and was third in throwing out base runners (16). Pete finished his career at Dominican with a .328 average, 174 hits, 37 doubles, three triples and six home runs. He had a .443 slugging percentage, a .971 fielding percentage and threw out 59 base runners. "It's awesome that I will have the opportunity to continue playing baseball on the professional level," Gilardo said. "I was following the draft on my computer and it was just an amazing feeling when I was picked by the Boston Red Sox. I am anxious and excited to get to Florida and get started playing."

Minor Leaguers Prepare at Pro Prospects April 27, 2007 By Rob Potter Sullivan County Democrat MONTICELLO — The road to becoming a Major League Baseball player is usually filled with many stops along the way. Players who are drafted out of college by one of the 30 Major League teams often spend a least a couple of seasons improving their game in the minor leagues. Two current minor league players who are working hard to someday achieve that goal of reaching the big leagues recently spent some time working out at Pro Prospects Training Center in Monticello. Eddie Gonzalez, who spent the 2004 and 2005 seasons playing for the Sullivan Spartans of the Collegiate Baseball League, and Travis Garcia have been working on their swings and keeping in baseball shape at Pro Prospects. Gonzalez and Garcia played for the Chillicothe (Ohio) Paints of the independent Frontier League last season and will play for the Paints again this summer. Helping the teammates with their preseason training is Jared Carrier, General Manager of Pro Prospects and Head Coach/GM of the Sullivan Spartans. “We videotape their training sessions and then give them a DVD so they can see what they are doing and where they can improve,” Carrier said. Gonzalez, who joined the Paints in the middle of last season after playing for the River City Rascals, is happy to be training with his former coach. “That’s a great man over there,” said Gonzalez, as he pointed his bat at Carrier – who was setting up a pitching machine – prior to a training session last Thursday evening at Pro Prospects. “I can call him up if I’m having a hitting problem and he can tell me how to adjust my swing without even being there.” Gonzalez, who worked at the Swan Lake Resort & Hotel in Swan Lake and was also employed as a Pro Prospects summer camp instructor when he played for the Spartans in ’04 and ’05, and Garcia have spent the last two weeks in Sullivan County. They have been completing two-a-day workouts, training for a couple of hours with Coach Mike Marra and the Sullivan County Community College Generals baseball team and then training at Pro Prospects for a few hours later in the day. They are eager for the Paints’ new season to begin next month. The team’s first game is slated for May 23 and the 96-game season will wrap up in early September. Last season, Garcia and Gonzalez helped Chillicothe reach the Frontier League’s best-of-five-game championship series. Garcia, 25, who hails from the Bronx, played at NCAA Division I Iona College and was drafted by the New York Mets in 2003. That year and in 2004, he played for a few of the Mets’ Class A minor league teams, including the Brooklyn Cyclones, Capital City (S.C) Bombers and Port St. Lucie (Fla.) Mets. Last season, he played shortstop for the Paints and hit 11 home runs. “We are always working hard on all aspects of the game,” Garcia said. “In the winter, you think about the game a lot. So it’s great to get out now and take some swings.” Gonzalez, who was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, played for Webber International University in Florida, an NAIA Division I school. During his time with Chillicothe last season, he batted in the .240s and hit three homers. One of those round trippers was a game-winner. Although his primarily played catcher and shortstop in his two seasons with the Sullivan Spartans, the 23-year-old Gonzalez played all four infield positions for the Paints last season. “We’re excited to begin the season,” Gonzalez said. “We are going to keep working hard and trying to improve.” Of course, Garcia and Gonzalez are hoping that their talent combined with their hard work will enable them to someday take the field wearing a Major League uniform.

School's pitch: baseball and kids December 26, 2002 By Victor Whitman Times Herald-Record vwhitman@th-record.com Monticello – Brandon Katz presses his fingers tightly on the baseball, takes a deep breath - a quick sigh of a breath - and hurls it at the netting at this practice facility in a downtown Monticello warehouse. He misses. Way outside. Grabbing another ball, Katz tosses a lesson over in his mind. Don't grip too tightly. Relax. Keep the glove pointed down. "Not bad," said coach Steve Pinto of his next effort. "It was a strike." Katz, 14, dreams of playing for the Mets. He pitched a no-hitter last year for his Liberty modified school team and some college coaches scouted him recently. He might make it to the majors. He might not, but he has come along since he met Pinto in 1995 - back when he was a shy, awkward 7-year-old who couldn't get a pitch over the plate. Pinto, 34, a former minor leaguer with the Catskill Cougars and owner of Pro Prospects, also has a dream. Sure, it would be great if Katz or any student makes it to the big leagues. Not too long ago he was fine-tuning his batting swing with the precision of a scientist to follow the dream. But now he just wants to help the kids. "I don't have a business goal," he said. "My goal is to take an active interest in the lives of the kids and be a role model." Pinto, a former sportswriter for the Times Herald-Record, started the school in 1997 with three students. Really, it wasn't much of a school. Some parents asked him to coach. "Brandon was one of his first students we have been coming here since he opened," Katz's mother, Colleen Kelly, said. "It's amazing to watch. We have watched it grow ...Øjust multiply and it doesn't stop." The school now has three instructors. Last week, 140 kids showed up for lessons. It will get busier until April. Pinto has plans to expand to a larger facility. He recently submitted a proposal to the Town of Thompson to buy 3 acres of town land off Cold Spring and Gandy roads. "It's become a full-time job," he said. "When I first started I never thought it would be a full-time endeavor. It was unintentional. I pinch myself every morning when I wake up. I can't believe I'm doing this." Pinto never achieved his dream of playing major league ball, and most of his kids won't either. But a lot can be learned from baseball, he said – like teamwork, getting along with people and handling frustration. Katz isn't ready to give up. He can see himself on the mound, Shea Stadium, Mets versus Yankees, game seven. A scout for the Anaheim Angels showed up last Sunday and watched him throw. So far, that's been the apex of his career. Baseball - "I dream about it," he said.

Love of game endures, uncorrupted by money August 30, 2002 By Kevin Gleason Times Herald-Record kgleason@th-record.com A cold rain wakes us up and, like greed, won't go away. You figure if baseball is going to quit on us, yesterday marks the perfect preview. What a miserable day in the mid-Hudson, everywhere. Are they really going to do it? Are they really going to quit on us? Could the millionaires possibly be so crass? Oh, but the dreariest day has its bursts of sunlight. Grasses are greening. Farmers are smiling. And, I will realize soon enough, that baseball will thrive forever. Not major-league baseball. No, not the big boys. Sooner or later a generation will smarten up to their game. Sooner or later kids will agree that it's fun to play but nowhere near as much fun to watch. I just hope I'm around to see owners go broke and salaries fall. But baseball, the game, is a cloudless sky staring down youthful innocence. Baseball is kids fitting a glove for the first time. Baseball is a parent pitching to his child in the backyard. So I high-tail it up the Quickway to Pro Prospects training facility in Monticello. The day needs light; it needs promise. Kids of all ages and sizes learn the game in the old warehouse off Broadway. A couple 10-year-olds from Brooklyn, a girl and a boy vacationing in the Catskills, take turns getting instruction on hitting and pitching. Separated by netting, a 20-year-old named Sam Turkson takes batting practice next door. "This,'' Pro Prospects owner Steve Pinto announces, "is baseball. "This is the true spirit of baseball.'' The students are eager. They want time to slow while absorbing every word and motion. "I play a lot of sports,'' Mara Sokol-Rubenstein says, "but my favorite is baseball.'' She goes to Yankees games "to see the Yankees win,'' not to get autographs. She finds softball a bit silly, and has played against boys in leagues since age 6. These are the kids big-league big-shots threaten to curse. Mara's friend Nick Rozar listens to Yankees games on the radio – at age 10! – because he doesn't get cable. Nick spends 10 minutes on his way out the door asking Pinto about pitch selection. The boy humbly tells of a recent change-up that made the batter lunge. "People ask my take on the strike,'' Pinto says. "I don't have one.'' Pinto once loved baseball like these kids. Now another source carries his love for the game. "This is where my love of the game comes from,'' Pinto says, pointing to the kids. "I think 99.9 percent of us identify this with baseball.'' Mara and Nick promise loyalty to the game whether baseball quits on them or not. Major League Baseball is lucky to have them. Baseball, the game, will always have them Lubniewski works OT to reach dream March 23, 2001 By Kevin Gleason Times Herald-Record kgleason@th-record.com MONTICELLO: The 1998 Monticello graduate is trying to find the best path to a pro pitching career. There have been two Erik Lubniewskis, really. The first was Lubniewski the average baseball player. The second is Lubniewski the professional prospect. The first was a Monticello senior right-hander who walked into Pro Prospects baseball training center three years ago, stepped to the mound and unleashed a fastball ... 66 mph. The second is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound 20-year-old with a rippling-live 87-88 mph fastball. He wishes his was a tidy rags-to-riches tale. But stories are never as simple as they sound. Lubniewski knows how he progressed to tossing professional stuff, three pitches that perform assorted tricks: hard work, mechanical and mind-set improvements, physical growth. But where he'll find the forum to lure professional scouts remains the intriguing question. Lubniewski, a 1998 Monticello graduate, has exhausted his two-year eligibility at SUNY Orange and is about 20 credits shy of graduating. Division I schools Iona and Marist have expressed interest, Pro Prospects owner Steve Pinto said, but Lubniewski needs the degree to play at a Division I school. Lubniewski's second option, which he's leaning toward, is to use his sources to get professional tryouts. Among those sources is Pinto, a former independent-league player. "Last year I had a few people look at me (who were of) professional status or played within pro (ball) and they said I have the talent to keep going,'' Lubniewski said. "I have plenty of faith in myself.'' Lubniewski has already "kicked'' himself "in the butt'' for not mapping a more conventional route to his dream. He remembers not thinking much about college while at Monticello, at least in part because "I didn't think about my talent.'' But Lubniewski sleeps easily knowing hard work will open doors to his future. "It's up to me, actually,'' Lubniewski said. "I have to make the call.'' Pinto raves about Lubniewski's work ethic. For the last four years, Lubniewski has spent three to four days a week almost year round at the facility. He picks up instruction easily and works overtime refining his skills. He's made a similar commitment to the Smallwood-Mongaup Valley Fire Department. A four-year member, Lubniewski made lieutenant last year. "I like to volunteer for the community,'' said Lubniewski, who lives about 500 feet from the department in Smallwood. His passion for fighting fires has given Lubniewski another career possibility. Whether he's throwing heat or battling it, Lubniewski likes his chances. Dietrich takes control on mound By Justin Rodriguez Times Herald-Record jrodriguez@th-record.com Forget about the technical stuff. Don't warm up. Just throw the ball. That's the advice Monticello pitcher Analey Dietrich gets from her father, Dennis. His approach might sound unconventional, but it works. Dietrich is 11-2 with a 1.75 ERA for the Panthers this season. She has already matched her win total from 2000. And Monticello still has six games remaining on its schedule. "If I'm just throwing the ball, I'm not worrying about anything else,'' said Dietrich, a senior. "That's the way I was taught. It's worked pretty good. I just try to have a good time out there.'' That's not hard for Dietrich. She practically grew up on a softball field, watching her father pitch. Dennis Dietrich is regarded as one of the best modified pitchers in the area. His heyday came in the early 1990s when he played for Roche's Garage in various local leagues. Dietrich said she remembers watching her father playing from her baby carriage. She still watches him play. Dietrich began pitching as a freshman on the jayvee team. She threw in three varsity games as a sophomore, but earned the starting job last season. As a junior, Dietrich went 11-8. But Dietrich wanted an edge. So she began taking lessons at Pro Prospects Training Center in Monticello. With her father at her side, Dietrich improved her control during sessions this winter. Now she is regarded as one of the top hurlers in the Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association. "I knew the other day when I was pitching against Monticello I would be facing a real good pitcher,'' said 2000 Times Herald-Record Player of the Year Jess Donohue of Cornwall. Donohue tossed a four-hitter against Monticello on April 30, leading the Green Dragons to a 6-0 OCIAA Division III win. "She was good last year, I was kind of surprised,'' Donohue added. "But I think she is even better this season.'' Like her father, Dietrich comes at batters with an awkward delivery. Her body twists as she releases the ball toward the plate, distracting the hitter. That makes things tough on the opposition. Combine that with improved control, and Dietrich is a formidable pitcher. "This has been a long time coming," Dietrich said. "I've worked so hard. It feels pretty good for all this to be happening."

By Matt Youngfrau MONTICELLO — December 20, 2002 – The Pro Prospects Baseball/Softball Training School has been very active since it opened in 1997. Pro Prospects founder Steve Pinto started the school slowly, training three children. Now the school teaches over 200 kids a year. For the last three years, Pinto has been looking for property to try and expand his school. The current school on North Lakewood Avenue is just not large enough to suit the facility’s needs. Pinto has been working with the Town of Thompson and Supervisor Tony Cellini to purchase some property on Cold Spring Road. The property is the former facility for the Town’s Department of Public Works (DPW). The current facility has two batting cages and a pitching tunnel, which allows three lessons to be taught at once. The proposed facility would have four batting cages, allowing for four lessons at a time. The building would be 60 ft. by 115 ft. with a 20-foot ceiling. During the last few months, baseball and softball scouts from colleges and professional leagues have come down to look at the students. Last year, one student was signed by the Boston Red Sox. Earlier this year, a scout from the 2002 World Series Champion Anaheim Angels was there to see the students. Cellini discussed the school’s plans with the other Town of Thompson board members at their meeting on Tuesday night. The board members were very supportive of the project. They had Town Assessor Thomas Frey give an estimate on the property’s value. Before agreeing to sell the property, the board wants exact estimates on how large the school will be, how much property is needed and the impacts. They requested that Pinto have some site plans drawn up in the near future and meet with Town of Thompson Code Enforcement Officer TJ Brawley. "I feel great about the town’s support," Pinto said. "Tony Cellini has gone above and beyond with his assistance and guidance. I grew up in Sullivan County. My heart is here and I wanted to commit to the kids in the area." The plans for the school are still in the very early stages. If the Town of Thompson sells Pinto the property, the project still needs Planning and Zoning Board approvals. Pinto is hopeful to have the new facility open, if all goes well, by the end of next year.

Pro Prospects Brings Home A Win From Florida By Frank Rizzo MONTICELLO — February 27, 2001 – The Monticello Pro Prospects softball team won an American Softball Association (ASA) 18-and-under national tournament over the Presidents’ Day weekend at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla. The tourney was part of Disney’s Fast Pitch Festival. Pro Prospects beat the New Jersey Silver Starz 4-1 behind Analey Dietrich of Smallwood and Monticello High School. Dietrich yielded one hit and struck out five while walking nine. “It was a real small strike zone,” the hurler commented. Analey shared the game’s MVP with her sister Shannon, who went 2-for-3 with a double and triple and one RBI and even stole home. Kristie Beamer of Monticello drove in a couple of runs. Shannon also made a diving catch behind second base with runners on second and third for the game’s final out. Monticello HS softball teammate Kim Donohue, the catcher, had two pickoffs. Pro Prospects began the tourney with a 5-4 loss to the Jersey Silver Starz, with Dietrich taking the loss. The Prospects then underwent what coach Dennis Dietrich called a couple of “Mickey Mouse” situations. First, their next opponent, the Dutch national team, showed up and they were all over 18 years of age and were wearing steel spikes — both violations. “They wanted us to sign a waiver releasing them from responsibility in case of injury, but we said no,” Dennis related. As a result, Prospects won by forfeit. The Maitland Sting of the Orlando area then showed up an hour late for the 1:15 game, and also had to forfeit. According to Dennis Dietrich, the local squad arrived scant minutes after the umpires had already called the game. Prospects did agree to play a scrimmage against Maitland, however, and won 2-1 behind Michelle Olsen of Liberty. Crystal Forget of Monticello copped this game’s MVP. Dennis Dietrich said the facilities at the Wide World of Sports Complex were first class. He gave his thanks on behalf of the team and the other coaches — Kristi Dean, Pat Shuart, and Charlie Beamer — for all the people whose contributions helped make the trip possible. The Prospects hope to travel to another national-caliber tourney later this year.

They're Going to Disney World 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.