PNC Field plays host to District 2 baseball and softball media day

MOOSIC The way North Poconos Brian Jardine sees it, with the baseball and softball talent spread all throughout District 2 as well as the coaches who are working with the student-athletes the game continues to grow.

Jardines mission is to continue to promote it.

Thats why for the third consecutive year, Jardine put together the District 2 Baseball and Softball media day Sunday at PNC Field.

Coaches and players were afforded the opportunity to talk about the prospects of their upcoming seasons, with the official start of practice for spring sports coming Monday.

Also on hand were several guest speakers, including Mike Marcinek from NEPA Fitclub, who discussed reaching your peak potential with in-season training, Tomm Evans, who went over the gross mindset in sports, and Keystone College coach Jamie Shevchik, who spoke on making the jump from high school to college athletics.

The day was centered around The Bill Howerton K Cancer drive, where teams from across District 2 can hold Howerton games to help raise money in the fight against cancer.

Also, the foundation has handed out in scholarship money to baseball and softball players.

Were trying to promote our athletes and programs, Jardine said.

You look around Division 1 and the professional level, we have kids out there.

This is a strong softball and baseball area.

Most spring sports, its not like they are basketball or football with a 7 p.m.

start and a thing to do.

Youre talking about a 4:30 p.m.

game.

An event like this helps recognize kids and their programs.

As far as seasonal predictions are concerned, most coaches played things close to the chest, as expected.

Sure there are favorites, but nobody wants to be considered the team to beat.

The general consensus is just to be a team that will remain under the radar and surprise the teams they are playing.

One notable chance in baseball, as far as the Wyoming Valley Conference is concerned, has Nanticoke Area moving up from Division 1 to Division 2.

That will, of course, be a challenge for Kevin Ward and the Trojans, but one he and his program are willing to accept and face head on.

Dallas has a new softball coach in Dave Buchinski, who has spent several years in local dugouts coaching American Legion baseball, as well as high school baseball, and working as a PIAA-registered official.

As far as the Howerton Games are concerned, it is up to each individual baseball and softball team to designate a game on its schedule.

Funds can be raised through a variety of ways depending upon how each school wants to approach it.

For those who choose to participate, examples from past games have been raffles, dress down days or selling shirts.

Over the years the foundation has raised over $100,000.

For each team that designates a game for the Howerton foundation, a senior athlete will be eligible to receive scholarship money from the foundation.

The group has given away over $25,000 in scholarship money.

We are happy where this has gone, Jardine said.

If you look where we started, it was just a doubleheader where North Pocono played and then Keystone College played.

Right now we are at the point where 67 of the 78 schools in District 2 are here..

This article has been shared from the original article on citizensvoice, here is the link to the original article.