Beast of the East Brings Big Bucks to Ohio Valley
By FRED CONNORSArticle Photos
WHEELING - While high school baseball players from 14 states and Canada are in Wheeling looking for a big break, local business owners are getting big bucks in their cash registers.
A Players Showcase - conducted by the Paramount Scouting Bureau's National Scouting Report - attracted 250 players to Patterson Field in Elm Grove Wednesday. As part of the Edgar Martin Beast of the East Classic, the showcase is held to provide athletes with a professional evaluation of their talents. Players are evaluated for all baseball skills, including pitching, catching, throwing and running. National Scouting Report sends results from each showcase to every college coach in the country.
Along with the players, come parents and other family members who have to find lodging and food during their stay in Wheeling. A sampling of out-of-towners' expenses reveals an economic boon for the local economy.
Kathy Turick and her mother, Laura, of Dearborn, Mich., came to the event to watch 16-year-old Kyle Bloom compete.
"We are staying at the McLure House Hotel downtown," Kathy Turick said. "I would estimate our total expenses will be about $1,000."
Jennifer Luzik and Sarah Nemeth of Pittsburgh are here for their sons, Ryan Luzik and Troy Nemeth.
"We are each spending at least $700," Luzik said. "We are staying at the Marriott in Wheeling. We come every year. It's like a mini vacation."
Mike Zappone of Cleveland will be at the Holiday Inn Express in Triadelphia while his son, Anthony, competes.
"We will be here for four days," he said. "With goods and lodging, we will spend $800 or $900."
Kim Miller of Shrewsbury, Pa., is in Wheeling with her son, Troy. They are accompanied by Cindy Hnatuik and her son, Matthew, of Baltimore.
"All the motels in Wheeling were filled so we are staying at the Baymont in Weirton," Miller said. "We estimate we will spend between $800 and $1,000."
Ed Piotrowski of Ellicott City, Md., is part of a 15-family group in town for the Beast of the East.
"Most of us are staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Triadelphia," Piotrowski said. "The players are staying in cabins at Grand Vue Park in Moundsville. All totalled, we will spend more than $15,000 as a group."
The Players' Showcase allowed players be evaluated by college and professional baseball scouts and by the Paramount Scouting Bureau. A former big leaguer was on hand to offer his input. Former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Grant Jackson, who won Game 7 in the Pirates 1979 World Series win over the Baltimore Orioles, evaluated pitchers' performances during Wednesday's showcase.
"I look for arm strength and the kid's ability to throw the ball over the plate," Jackson said.
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rogers7
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07-09-09 8:31 PM
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It is getting to be sad that the ohio valley relies on a high school baseball tournament to "bring bucks" to the area. If it weren't for this and Jamboree in the hills, how would any business survive? haha
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mernie
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07-04-09 8:51 AM
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Every community needs events that become traditions to bring people in year after year. The Beast is a great example of individuals doing just that...for the love of the game, a great opportunity for the kids and their families...and for the valley. We get to show off our good things and, apparently these folks don't care about our dead downtown. It would be great if there were things to do downtown other than the centre market area, but this works and we should be proud. People all over the country know about the Beast and it is great! Play ball!
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Kubotaman
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07-03-09 9:39 AM
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AlexanderShulgin: Why is that someone always has to try to put something down, and usually they have no clue as to what they are talking about? If you read the article, it says as a group, they will spend around $15,000. Note, that group is ONE team. Besides the economic stimulus the event brings, sports are very important to the developent of our youth. Sports teach sportsmanship, team work and setting personal goals. As I tell my players, Work hard and you will be rewarded. Slack off and you will be sitting the bench. Imagine a kid entering adulthood with that kind of work ethic instead of the mindset that everything should be handed to them.
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billybob
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07-02-09 12:44 PM
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Don't laugh I seem to have more days the mind says type one thing and the fingers do what they want. I have to blame that on summer. Too many of them.
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billybob
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07-02-09 12:43 PM
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More (kids) need out of the house and away from the cell phone and moving their in sports to keep them busy. We all would be better off.
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AlexanderShulgin
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07-02-09 9:23 AM
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You busted me . I know little about baseball- don’t care to. It is fun to watch occasionally. I’m surprised that people are spending upwards of 1k for a series of kids games.
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GDsfinest
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07-02-09 9:14 AM
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Dear Alex, If you knew anything about baseball, you would know that Grant Jackson is a left-handed thrower. He played from 1965 to 1982.
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AlexanderShulgin
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07-02-09 8:06 AM
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"I would estimate our total expenses will be about $1,000." Wow. Big bucks.
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AlexanderShulgin
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07-02-09 8:03 AM
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Is the guy pretending to throw a ball? Another quality photo by the unintelligencer. No one can ever say that the NR does not hire their share of the mentally challenged.
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