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Scout Day Spotlight: 5 Star Midwest

What started out as two Cincinnati Fury teams in 2012 is now 14 teams representing 5 Star Midwest.

“We were in talks with the Andy Burris group the winter before 2016 but we didn’t make the move until (the fall of) 2018,” explained general manager Don Gullett Jr.. “It doesn’t change the structure of how we’ve operated in the past. The partnership with Andy just gives us more opportunities for our kids being with a bigger organization. There is power in numbers.”

The goal of the organization is two-fold.

“In-game college recruitment and youth player development,” pointed out Gullett, who is also the head coach at Turpin High School.

Strong coaching is a key.

“We try to get our coaches pulling the rope the same direction,” Gullett said. “Our goal is to help the coaches give our players the tools to get better, things like the best way to run practice.”

Assistant general manager Roger Strunk plays an important role in that aspect with the younger players.

“He’s been in the business for more than 30 years,” Gullet said. “He coached the Flames and Midland and is now in charge of player development for all youth teams with 5 Star Midwest.”

Helping players reach the next level has been a strong suit of the organization.

“In our short history, from 2012-17 we’ve had 32 college players, nine or 10 in Division I, and that’s with only three teams graduating out,” Gullett noted. “I think this partnership will give us even more that will reach the next level.”

There has also been success on the field. In 2016, the 16U team finished in the top 100 teams at the Perfect Games while last year the 9U squad was ranked number two in the state of Ohio.

“We don’t keep track of it all,” Gullett admitted. “Winning is great and part of the game to show you’re credible, but we want to get the kids to the next level. That’s what is big for us.”

A number of coaches have played a big part in helping in that aspect in addition to Gullett and Strunk. Matt McCourt and Asif Shah have both played big parts in the development of the high-school aged players while Dusty Bargo has been involved at the lower ages the past five years. This fall, Bargo led the 13U team to five championships in six tournaments.

“For about half time time we stay in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio,” Gullett said about the summer schedule of the program. “We also do the World Wood Bat, go to Music City and some of the bigger events at Grand Park.”

This will mark the first venture into Prep Baseball Report Scout Day for the organization, with the 5 Star Midwest event set for Jan. 27.

“In the past at this time of year we’ve had recruiting seminars bringing in college coaches,” noted Gullett. “We were more of an education-based program. This is the first time we’ve done a showcase thing.

“Matt McCourt got it rolling for us. We’ve sent a lot of guys to PBR showcases and got some good results. We’ve had some good write-ups on our guys and got a lot done with PBR as far as recommendations. Doing this as a group is pretty exciting.”