Prep Baseball Report

Scout Day Spotlight: N.O. Canes


Bruce Hefflinger
PBR Ohio Senior Writer

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Scout Day Spotlight: N.O. Canes

BRUNSWICK - A family atmosphere is a big part of the N.O. Canes baseball organization.

“Practice is very important for us,” explained Matt Kimmick, the hitting instructor of the Canes. “We like to have the younger kids watch the older ones. The older ones like to show the younger ones the way to do it and it helps the younger ones concentrate more.

“It brings more of a family atmosphere. With the guys all working and practicing together, they all know each other when they’re at the facility.”

It is a far cry from where the Canes were when the program started.

“It all evolved when my two sons started travel community baseball in Brunswick,” explained Gregg Napoli, the co-founder and owner who is now in his 17th year with the organization. “I thought there might be a better way to do it.”

And so, the Northern Ohio Canes was formed.

“We had one team that first year,” Napoli reflected. “We grew to as much as 12 but now we’re at seven. Travel ball as a whole has gotten diluted and we wanted to be more strategic. It’s more about the quality of the team instead of the quantity.”

The philosophy is simple.

“It’s about developing our players to be better citizens on and off the field,” Napoli said. “We try to under promise and over deliver. We’ve had close to 100 go on to play in college. We’re open and frank with the parents and players. It takes coaches like Matt Kimmick.”

In addition to handling the hitting instructor chores of the whole organization, Kimmick is head coach of the 15U team.

“With hitting and fielding, for me it’s just letting the kids know we have higher standards,” Kimmick said. “It’s not just going through the motions. It’s important to set expectations with the players.”

Dino Lombardo, vice president of the Canes and current head coach of the 17U team, has been with the organization for close to a decade while John Dezzutti, in his fourth year with the program, heads up the 13U team.

“John has taken teams that have not had much success and worked hard with them to be a more competitive team,” Napoli said.

New to the organization is Jeff Makowski, who has started a velo program for player development of the Canes.

The hard work being put in goes on display Feb. 7 when the Canes participate in the PBR Scout Day.

“That’s crucial for us,” noted Kimmick, whose organization is participating for the second time. “Last year Brandon Skory was a senior who threw 80-81 in the summer, but worked his butt off to get to 85-86 at the event. It was tweeted out by PBR and we had four colleges contact us the next day. Without PBR we would not have that. It’s a great way to get guys seen and recognized for all their hard work.”

Getting ready for Scout Day is important for the organization.

“We go over what they’ll do so they’re prepared,” Kimmick said. “We show them what’s expected so it’s not a culture shock when they get there.”

Year one went well for the Canes.

“From what the players told us, they loved it,” Kimmick said. “It was a smaller setting and they knew all the players there. They liked the individual looks they got from PBR and that they weren’t there all day.”

Once summer arrives, the Canes will have the 15U teams and up play in the Diamond League and those 14U and lower in the Ohio Prospect League.

“At the high school ages we try to have our teams play in tournaments that are of good quality, with quality fields that scouts go to,” explained Kimmick. That schedule includes the Midwest Challenge, now in year five, which is hosted by the Canes.