Bombers Away

A Youth Baseball Program Provides Players with an Opportunity to Compete Against Elite Competition

As the Leesburg Bombers practice at Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex, coach Vinny Niglio shows young baseball players proper fielding techniques and throwing mechanics.

“Make sure that your glove foot is on the bag,” he instructs a first baseman.

Players hang on to his every word, most likely because he brings a boyish enthusiasm to the field. The 43-year-old with a dark beard is an imposing figure who could easily pass as an offensive lineman. However, his players don’t seem intimidated by his massive frame. He commands their respect because they know he has their best interests in mind.

“My passion for being a baseball coach is to motivate young players to succeed on the baseball field and in life,” said Vinny, who is employed as a business account manager with Sprint.

A taste of the ‘big’ league

For young baseball players, there’s nothing like playing a game under the lights against elite competition. It gives  a sense of what it’s like to compete in the big leagues.

Thanks to the vision and passion of Vinny, young baseball players in Leesburg are experiencing that unique feeling.

The only difference is they  are not making million-dollar paychecks like their major league counterparts. Instead, they are driven to play baseball through heart and passion alone.

Vinny formed the Leesburg Bombers 18 months ago. Since then, his travel-ball organization has allowed baseball players to compete in prestigious tournaments such as Perfect Game in Fort Myers and Prospect Wire in Vero Beach. Not only are they testing their skills against some of Florida’s most talented youth baseball players; they are also showcasing their talents in front of collegiate and professional scouts.

“We take a core group of  from Leesburg and keep them together from ages 8 to 18,” Vinny said. “By the time they are seniors in high school, they should be a well-oiled machine because they’ve been playing together for so long.”

‘Major’ success

Vinny has coached baseball for 15 years as and has also provided private pitching instruction. A former high school player, in 1993 he had an unsuccessful tryout with the Florida Marlins as a left-handed catcher.

When he moved to Lake County from South Florida nine years ago, he was disturbed that youth baseball players had no outlet to keep their skills sharp during the offseason.

With support from the City of Leesburg Recreation Department, the New York City native formed the Leesburg Bombers. He affectionately named the program after the Bronx Bombers, now known as the New York Yankees.

“Calling ourselves the Yankees wouldn’t have made much sense here in Florida,” he said while laughing. “I formed this program so Leesburg can have a stronger baseball community, and I want to get the best athletes out here playing baseball regardless of their skin color. I also think baseball is a fantastic tool to instill values and teach them about life lessons.”

The Leesburg Bombers organization is comprised of six teams and 70 players. Each player must pay $65, which covers the costs of insurance and uniforms. There are also 14 coaches—none of whom are paid but all still enjoy the experience of teaching the finer points of baseball to today’s youth. Travis Wofford, who coaches the 8-and-under team, has two of his sons, Cayden and Dylan, enrolled in the program.

“It’s a great program because it keeps  active and off the Xbox,” Travis said. “We also try to instill character in these , and that helps them achieve success in the classroom. The Bombers have become a family, and the coaches and players look out for one another and encourage each other.”

Children seem to blossom as members of the Leesburg Bombers. Just ask Kelli Tome, whose son, Bryson, plays catcher on the 9-and-under team.

“Bryson never took anything seriously before in his life,” she said. “He used to be a goofball, but now he’s much more focused and serious. That’s because his coaches have taught him about the importance of being responsible.”

Yahel Jurado has seen a pleasantly surprising increase in the activity level of her son, David Martinis.

“Before he joined the team, he always wanted to stay inside, watch television, or play video games. When he’s at home now, he is always going outside and playing baseball. His confidence has increased tremendously.”

Dawn Windham is equally gratified that her two boys, Caleb and Travis, are part of the Leesburg Bombers. “The coaches have taught them both how to win and lose graciously,” she said. “They eat, sleep, and live playing for the Bombers, and I’m glad because that keeps them active. If it’s raining outside and they can’t play baseball, they are extremely disappointed.”

Dreaming big

One thing is certain: Vinny never lacks for clever ideas to promote his program. During the week between Christmas and New Year’s, he hosted a free three-day clinic for children ages 5 to 15 at Pat Thomas Stadium in Leesburg. More than 100 young athletes participated.

In addition, he held a Leesburg Recreation Department alumni game for 37 players between the ages of 18 and 55. More than 125 people packed the stands to watch the rookies edge out the veterans.

“The alumni game will become an annual event,” he said. “It’s another way to get the community interested in youth sports.”

His next big idea is to raise $15,000 to send the 12-and- under team to Cooperstown All-Star Village in next summer. The Bombers would compete on major league-style baseball fields against teams throughout the world.

“One way to go about raising this money is to host tournaments at Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex. In fact, if I could host 10 tournaments in Leesburg each year, then children could play with the Leesburg Bomers for free.

Regardless, the valuable lessons his players are learning as youngsters are equipping them for the biggest game of all—the game of life.