It’s an experience they’ll never forget.
Twenty members of the Montour Spartans baseball team got the chance to attend a Pittsburgh Pirates spring training game at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla., last month.
“Going to the spring training Pirates game was a great time!” said Andrew Porto. “As a senior, it was awesome bonding with my teammates and coaches. Definitely a memory I’ll hold onto as I finish up my last high school season.”
Accompanying players to Florida is a tradition that Montour coach Bob Janeda inherited about eight years ago from the previous coach, who took the team to the ESPN Wide World of Sports at the Walt Disney World Resort every year.
For the past five years, however, the Florida trip centered around Baseball City in St. Petersburg, where the team played other high schools from across the country.
It’s an honor for the players to make the spring training roster, based on their hard work all winter. In addition to the 20 players, four coaches also made the trip.
“And, of course it’s great to leave Pittsburgh when it’s 20 degrees here and 75 degrees there,” Janeda said.
It’s always a five- to six-day trip, with the team arriving for practice on a Wednesday, followed by scrimmage games on Thursday and Friday, before playing real games on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, then returning home Monday night.
The Florida trip is accomplished through a combination of players’ out-of-pocket expenses and fundraising.
“Our baseball boosters do an excellent job and we do all the fundraising and such and I think this was our third year in a row going over to a Pirates game and the players really enjoy that,” Janeda said. “It felt really good that they had the desire to take time out of their trip.”
The players certainly enjoyed their time in the Sunshine State.
“It’s a super cool experience to see all of the practice and warmup facilities super close up,” said player Ryan Gamble.
“The spring training game was a great chance to bond with the team,” said Quinn Dalverny. “It was cool to watch good baseball at the highest level in Florida.”
The trip is also a special time for Janeda, a die-hard Pirates fan whose father took the family to spring training every year.
“I’ve been going to spring training for probably the last 40 years,” he said. “When I had my children, my wife and I would take them every year, so I have fun, fond memories.”
Memories that Spartans players can share for years to come.
“The Pirates’ spring training game was an unforgettable experience,” said senior Olliver Wovchko. “The atmosphere was terrific. It was also a great way to bond with underclassmen.”
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