tool name
closeRobert Gummo is a name several colleges and even a few professional organizations already know.
The mail started coming in a few weeks ago. First there was a letter from Duquesne, then one from Slippery Rock University, and another from a scout in the Atlanta Braves organization.
That was before Gummo, a standout pitcher at Bellefonte High School, played in the prestigious American Legion East- West Showcase at Harrisburg’s Metro Bank Park on July 25.
Gummo, who was just one of six rising juniors to play in the game, pitched two innings
and added a single in two at-bats while playing for the West team in the East’s 8-2 victory. Eight major league organizations and close to two dozen colleges were on hand for the game, which features some of the state’s top talent.
“I just told myself to go out there and do what I normally do and to not worry about the scouts, that they’d talk to me later and send me things in the mail,” Gummo said.
Recent Bellefonte graduate, Matt Fisher and Seth Tressler also played in the 66th annual game. Fisher is headed to Jefferson State, a junior college in Alabama, and Tressler to Division II Mansfield.
Gummo, a lanky right-hander who played at 6-foot, 150 pounds for the Red Raiders this past spring, will seemingly have at least a few options to chose from to continue his baseball career after high school.
He’ll play in other showcases soon. He was invited to one at Duquense and another conducted by Philipsburg scout Keno Beezer. Both are scheduled for early this month.
But the big one for Gummo is the Blue-Grey Classic, which, like the East-West Showcase, will bring together top players from around the state. The event is scheduled for Aug. 15-16 at the Double-A Erie Seawolves stadium.
“It’s pretty exciting,” Gummo said. “When you’re a young kid, you never think that this stuff is going to happen. Just being able to get stuff in the mail and getting the opportunity, it’s pretty exciting.”
Gummo, who went 7-2 for the Red Raiders last season and owns an 11-2 mark in two varsity seasons, had to pass cuts in Philipsburg, Clearfield and Butler to make the 21-player West roster for the East-West Showcase. Players were graded on 60-yard dash times, 250-foot throws from center field to home plate and throws across the infield. Pitchers were also scored based on throws to seven batters in a simulated game.
Gummo’s tryout in Butler led to the invitation to the Blue-Grey Classic.
“If you work hard and do whatever you need to do, you’ll make pretty much anything that you want,” Gummo said. “It felt pretty good doing that as a sophomore.”
And he’s already reaping the rewards.
“I think it’s especially good for kids who are trying to get themselves out there for colleges to look at them,” Gummo said. “I think that’s the best thing that came out of it. The competition, too. Those were the two best things.”
AAABA county connection
Six county players are on the Altoona Johnston Realty team participating in the AAABA Altoona Regional, which started Saturday and ends Monday. By virtue of its finish in last year’s regional, Johnston has already qualified for the national tournament, which is set for Aug. 10-16 in Johnstown.
The roster includes Bald Eagle Area graduates Ryan McNamara, A.J. Robinson and Joe Pillot, as well as Philipsburg-Osceola alums Matt Curtis and A.J. Czap, and P-O senior-to- be Luke Curtis.
McNamara, who signed last month to play at Southern Mississippi, Matt Curtis and Czap led Allegany College of Maryland to the National Junior College tournament this past spring. Robinson and Pillot helped BEA to a district title this year.
Luke Curtis, who pitched Johnston to a victory over Buffalo, N.Y. in last year’s regional, McNamara and former Claysburg-Kimmel standout Kaleb Fleck highlight a rotation that could make Johnston a formidable opponent in the national tournament.
In Print
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