Steve Pinto, Owner

STEVE PINTO, owner of Pro Prospects Training Center, is a former minor league hitting, third base and bench coach. In 1996, Steve was an outfielder/first baseman for the North Atlantic League champion Catskill Cougars. He played four years of professional baseball. In 1997, Steve served as third base coach for the Cougars under Wally Backman, 2nd baseman for the 1986 World Champion New York Mets. In 1998, he was hired as the teams’ hitting coach by Gates Brown, a member of the 1968 World Championship Tigers and hitting coach for the 1984 Championship team.

Steve started Pro Prospects Training Center in December, 1997.

Jared Carrier, General Manager

“COACH JED” played two years of collegiate baseball at Broome County Community College (NJCAA D-III) where he was the starting first baseman. During the summers he was a member of the Binghamton Knights who competed in the NY-Canadian Baseball League. Jared, a 1997 graduate of Delaware Valley in Callicoon, NY was a 4-year starting outfielder and pitcher and a three-time Western Sullivan League All-Star. Jared’s past coaching experience includes two years as an assistant coach for the Brockport (NY) High School JV team, one year hitting coach for Genesee CC in Batavia, NY, head coach of the Sullivan Spartans of the Mid-Hudson Collegiate Baseball League and is currently an assistant coach at Sullivan County Community College. Jed graduated in 2002 from SUNY-Brockport with a degree in Physical Education/Sports Management with minors in business administration and coaching. Jared has been a member of our staff since May, 1999.

Everett Saul

COACH EV completed his first year of professional baseball in 2008, signing with the Florence Freedom of the independent Frontier League. With the Freedom, Everett went 7-7 with one complete game shutout.  Everett started 13 games as a rookie, throwing 81 innings while recording 73 strikeouts, finishing with a 7-7 record.   Prior to playing for Florence, Everett played at Missouri Western State University (NCAA D-II).  During his tenure at MWSU he compiled a combined record of 11-6, throwing a 113 innings while allowing 105 hits and striking 124 batters.

Everett graduated from both Sullivan West HS and Herkimer CC. Everett earned his degree in Physical Education in May of 2008 and has been a member of the Pro Prospects staff since September 2008.

Darren Rea, Head Fast Pitch Instructor

COACH DARREN, a native of New Zealand, Darren has played Fast Pitch softball at the elite level for over 20 years. Darren is a member of the New Zealand Black Sox National team, the reigning International Softball Federation Men’s World Champions. Darren has played in the ISC Fastpitch tournament for nine years, earning All-World Team status. Additional pitching accomplishments include ASA Men’s Fastpitch and Major Modified National Tournament MVP award in 2004 & top pitcher award in the Neal B. Turfler Memorial Tournament four times.
Darren joined the Pro Prospects staff in November 2005.

John Arpino, Fast Pitch Instructor

COACH JOHN has been on staff since December 1998. In addition to training windmill pitchers, Coach John works with our hitters as well. John has played competitive softball for 15 years and has competed in seven National Tournaments.

Steve Alhona

COACH STEVE comes to Pro Prospects with a wealth of coaching experience at the college level. He has been an Assistant Coach at the following college programs: Virginia Wesleyan (NCAA D-III), Georgetown University (NCAA D-I) and most recently at Marist College (NCAA D-I). Coach Steve was a middle infielder at D-III Chowan College in Murfreesboro, NC where he earned his degree in Physical Education/Sport Sciences. Coach Steve is presently an admissions counselor at Sullivan County Community College and Head Coach for the Sullivan Spartans of the Hudson Valley Collegiate Baseball League. He joined the staff in December of 2010 and will also be a part of our College Marketing Service advisory staff.

Joe Walentin

COACH JOE recently retired after pitching independent professional baseball in the Golden League with the Reno Silver Sox. He played for four years at Concordia University (NCAA Division II) and is a graduate of Valley Central High School where he was a two-time first-team Times Herald-Record All-Star.

Joe was a longtime student at Pro Prospects and has been on staff since September of 2007.

Brian Mieczkowski,
Performance Trainer and Rehabilitation Specialist

Brian joins our staff with 23 years of experience as an exercise professional. He owns and operates Joint and Muscle Function Inc. which specializes in performance enhancement, injury prevention and post-rehabilitative conditioning. Brian clients include the US. Junior Olympic Crew Team and Kent School Boat Club among others and works as course conductor for the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA).
In the past, Brian has served in an advisory capacity for us. Starting November of 2011, he will be running our Pro Performance Training Program. Brian is certified in the Functional Movement Screen and will be incorperating FMS in his work with our athletes.

Adam Larson

COACH ADAM is a former collegiate middle infielder at Christopher Newport University (D-III) in Virginia. Adam helped CNU earn a College World Series bid and led his team in hitting during their run in the D-III CWS. Adam, a 1997 Livingston Manor HS graduate was a 4-year member of the varsity baseball team as an infielder and pitcher. Adam was also a 2-year member of the Monticello Rockies who competed in the Hudson Valley Rookie League and played one season with the Sullivan Spartans of the mid-Hudson Collegiate Baseball League.
Adam’s past coaching experience includes JV baseball coach for Churchland HS in

Portsmouth, VA (3 years) and assistant coach of a collegiate summer team, the Sullivan Spartans. Adam currently is the assistant Varsity coach at Livingston Manor HS (NY).

Adam joined our staff in July, 2002. He graduated with a degree in Physical Education from CNU in 2003.

Past & Seasonal Instructors

Jessie Krause, Fast Pitch Instructor

COACH JESSIE is a graduate of Fitchburg State College (NCAA Division II) in Fitchburg , MA. At Fitchburg State, Jessie pitched, played outfield and was captain of her team her senior year. Jessie played high school ball at Cornwall (NY), where she won 3 Section 9 championships. Some of her accomplishments include CCHS Coaches Award (2004), five-time honorable mention player-of-the-week (2006-2008), MASCAC Pitcher of the Week (2006) & MASCAC First-Team All-Conference (2008). Jessie was a student at Pro Prospects for six years and has been on staff since July, 2007.

Fausto Severino

COACH FAUSTO is currently a minor league manager in the Washington National organization. A graduate of Point Park University in Pittsburg, PA where he played two years as a middle infielder and later coached, Fausto attended Point Park on an Athletic Scholarship and his accomplishments include a CABA Collegiate World Series MVP award (2002) and and a CABC CWS Golden Glove award (2003). Fausto was on staff for two years. Fausto’s first post-college position was at Pro Prospects, where he worked from July 2005 to May of 2007.
Fausto Severino. COACH FAUSTO is currently a minor league manager in the Washington National organization.

Eddie Gonzalez

COACH EDDIE played 3 seasons of independent professional baseball in the Frontier league. A native of Tampa, “Coach Eddie” played college baseball at Webber International University (NAIA) in Babson Park, FL and spent two summers with the Sullivan Spartans of the Mid-Hudson Collegiate Baseball League before signing his first pro contract. In his first year of professional baseball Eddie played all five infield positions and helped lead the Chillicothe Paints to the Frontier League finals. In 2007, Eddie was a member of the Florence Freedom, also of the Frontier League. Eddie has been a part-time instructor since July 2004.

Scott Cassidy

SCOTT CASSIDY pitched for 10 seasons in professional ball including Major League stints with the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers. Scott graduated from Liverpool (NY) High School in 1993...attended LeMoyne (NY) College, where he went 14-12 with a 3.44 ERA in his three-year career...left as the program's all-time leader with 18 complete games (in just 29 starts)...was the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference's North Division Player of the Year as a junior in 1998. Signed by the Blue Jays as a non-drafted free agent May 21, 1998. In 2002, Scott spent nearly the entire year in the Blue Jays’ bullpen, appearing in 58 games to rank second among American League rookies. He made his major league debut Opening Day (April 1) at Boston. In 2004 Scott was acquired by the Boston Red Sox on April 18 from the Blue Jays. Appeared in one game for the Red Sox on July 9, 2005 before being traded on July 19 to San Diego. Scott made his Padres debut on September 6th against the Colorado Rockies. In his final season of professional baseball (2006), Scott finished with a 6-4 record and a 2.53 ERA in 42 appearances for the Padres. His six wins were second best among Padres relievers. Scott retired in March of 2008 as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers. Scott was a member of our staff from October 2008 through April 2009.