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Tournament will boost grassroots baseball here in Niagara
HIGH SCHOOL
Posted By BILL POTRECZ , STANDARD STAFF
Scott Bullett wants high school baseball in Niagara to be more than just a fringe sport. The former big league outfielder sees no reason baseball can't become an elite sport at the high school level, provided all involved are prepared to roll up their sleeves and get to work.
"We shouldn't sell baseball short," Bullett said while overseeing some eager youngsters taking groundballs at one of his Bullettproof Baseball clinics in Welland. "If we work hard at it we can start turning high school ball into what it is in the United States.
"When I was in high school (in West Virginia) I couldn't wait to get to my freshman year of high school."
Bullett, with the help of veteran Governor Simcoe coach Ron Zimmerman, has put together the New Era Niagara High School Classic, a 12-team tournament of Zone 4 schools that will take place April 30-May 2 in St. Catharines.
"We're just basically resurrecting the tournament we used to have," said Zimmerman, who was one of the driving forces behind forming high school baseball 10 years ago. "Scott and I talked about it and put our heads together and one thing became another. We want to see if we can get it going again, and it was nice New Era came on board. It was a natural fit."
The entry fee for the tournament is $450, which includes 20 New Era caps for each team in their team colours with an embroidered logo. Each team is guaranteed three games, which be counted in the regular league standings. As well, there will be a trophy for the winning team, top hitter and top pitcher.
"We're trying to bring grassroots baseball back," said Bullett, who spent parts of four seasons in the big leagues with the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates.
"We're 75 years behind the States," Zimmerman added.
This year's tournament will be restricted to Zone 4 (St. Catharines) teams, but the duo is hoping to expand it as early as next year.
"Lakeshore Catholic (Port Colborne) already wants to get in," Bullett said.
Zimmerman praised the City of St. Catharines for permitting the tournament to start early. Normally, city parks don't open until May 1 at the earliest, depending on the weather.
"To get on the fields early was nice," Zimmerman said. "The city was very co-operative."
Zimmerman and Bullett see this tournament as a sign of bigger things to come.
According to Bullett, the 2011 New Era Cap Classic will be held in Niagara. This year's classic, which will be held in Pittsburgh, features 179 teams in a variety of age divisions.
"New Era wants to bring baseball to the region," Bullett said. "There are a lot of good ball parks around here."
Bullett indicated the New Era Classic would be held across Niagara.
"Whoever opens the door and lets us use their field," Bullett said when asked for specific locations. "The more they let us use the fields, the most people we can bring into their community."
But first things first.
Entries for this year's high school tournament must be submitted before Feb. 24. For more information, call Zimmerman at 905-988-3055, or Bullett at 905- 321-8080.
BULLETT PROOF 18u YOUNGSTOWN UNIVERSITY TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS!!!
WAY TO GO BOYS!
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 Bullett Proof Baseball Academy™ is the ONLY indoor baseball training facility in the Niagara area. Operating year round under the guidance of former Major League Baseball player, Scott Bullett, Bullett Proof Baseball offers group lessons, private lessons, team clinics and private rentals to teams that wish to improve their baseball skills. Bullett Proof baseball also operates four elite travel teams that play in the United States and Canada.
Scott has assembled a top notch staff of highly trained coaches that provide a wide range of baseball knowledge to your children so they can become the best they can be. If you want to become a better baseball player, then Bullett Proof Baseball Academy is the only place in the Niagara Area that can provide that for you!
 Scott Bullett: a slacker's worst nightmare, a high school guidance counsellor's best friend. Before the former Major Leaguer fills out a lineup card for one of his development teams, he studies the players' report cards. Prospects on the Bullett Proof Prospects had better dedicate at least as much time to maintaining their academic average in the classroom as they do to raising their batting average on the field." Believe me, if they're in trouble at school for low marks, they're in trouble here," Bullett said as he gestures to the batting cages and pitching mounds at his indoor training facility at the Niagara Regional Exhibition grounds. Players can be suspended for "two days, two weeks or longer" if they let their marks slide and begin thinking of themselves as "athlete students" rather than "student athletes."... Read More >>
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