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PG Select Baseball Festival | General | 9/6/2024

NYC = New York Catchers

Hannah Jo Groves

Photo: Julian Martinez-Robert Mascia-Colin Raymond (Perfect Game)

Though they play on three different travel-ball teams, the trio of catchers representing the East in the 2024 14U PG Select Festival all hail from New York. However, their journeys into this event are all very unique and personal to them.

This is the first Select Fest for Colin Raymond, who made the trip from Syosset, New York.

Recently, Raymond has been working on the perfecting the dynamics of the ever-important pitcher-catcher relationship.

“I work on making the pitcher comfortable on the mound, because without the pitcher, there’s no game.”

One of the many aspects that Raymond was looking forward to coming into the festival was the opportunity to learn from former MLB players.

“It’s been fun so far,” Raymond said. “A lot of the guys that have been here have shown me the ropes and have shown me around.”

One of those guys that has been here before is Julian Martinez, otherwise known as “Juju.” But Martinez hasn’t just been here once before - this is his fourth Select Fest, as he’s been invited every year since he turned 11.

When asked about how he keeps getting invited back to this event, Martinez said it doesn’t only come down to what he’s doing on the field.

“I mean, just working hard, staying active while you’re not playing baseball, [being] in the weight room, staying strong and working on the fundamentals,” Martinez said. “[That’s] probably the best that you can do - just master your craft and put in hard work and you’ll be here.”

As for Robert Mascia from Commack, New York, also known as “Robbie,” his path isn’t so linear when it comes to the Select Fest. Though invited to the 12U Festival back in 2022, he did not get the call to the 13U Festival in 2023.

“I was going into [last year] confident, but then, when I didn’t make it, I kind of took a step back and reflected,” Mascia said. “I was like, ‘you know, I really shouldn’t have made it.’ Because I wasn’t the player I am right now. I needed to get faster, I needed to get stronger, so just working on those to make sure next year, it’s almost impossible for them to not take me again. That’s what I’ve been working on - just getting bigger, faster, stronger definitely helped me.”

Raymond said he went into the Select Fest thinking it would be very intimidating.

“I thought it was gonna be a hard showcase where people were just trying as hard as they can,” Raymond explained. “But it’s really just a fun event. They want you to smile and have fun.”

Martinez echoed this sentiment.

“You learn a lot. They (the former MLB players) teach you how to have fun on and off the field - to have fun and be locked in at the same time.”

PERFECTGAME.TV

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