The mission of Southwest Florida Baseball is to provide high school
players with a first class baseball experience and an opportunity to
obtain a college scholarship. We want to develop the players on the
field and assist them in becoming quality young men while
maintaining the integrity of the game. John Cedarburg, Dave Fore,
and Bill Skarbek are the original founders and have set up SWFL as a
not for profit organization. Our board member advisory staff
includes two exceptional people with solid baseball backgrounds;
Russ Schropp and Tom LoSauro. SWFL Baseball assists with the
operation of many baseball events and teams in the area. The
Southwest Florida Fall Showcase, the SWFL Fall and Summer
Invitational tournaments, the Summer League and travel teams are all
a part of the Southwest Florida Baseball program.
The SWFL travel team has been on the move since 1993 showcasing
players for college recruiters and professional scouts alike. The
Southwest Florida Baseball Wood Bat League got its start in 1998 and
at the time it was one of a few High School Wood Bat Leagues in the
United States. The inaugural season started with a Colorado Rockies
work out, a draft of the players by coaches in the league and a
desire to put wood bats in high school player’s hands again. There
have been changes but to no surprise, the league has been a
tremendous success. High School players enjoy hitting with the wood
bat and pitchers have enjoyed the rewards of being able to pitch
inside and use their defense.
Since the founding of Southwest Florida baseball Inc. in 1998, SWFL
has expanded its programs and prestige around the state and country.
The fall travel team is part of the newly formed Florida Prospects
Showcase League and will attend 5 weekend events playing against the
very best from around the state while hosting the SWFL invitational
in September. The 18U summer traveling team has garnered national
recognition by winning nine State, National or World Championships.
The 2008 summer team posted a sterling 33-18 record. The 16U summer
team went 30-10-2 and had 2 top 10 finishes in the USA Junior
Olympics and the PG BCS Nationals. This fall the SWFL programs will
feature an 18U, an Underclass team and a 16U team. With 3 teams the
Southwest Florida program is expanding in the right direction.
SWFL traveling teams have assisted 131
players in obtaining a college baseball experience since 1998 and 25
alumni have played or are playing professionally. Congratulations to
former SWFL players Jimmy Miller and Chris Waters who made their
Major League debuts this summer. They joined Tommy Watkins, Prince
Fielder, John Huber, Jesse Litsch and Chris Resop as former SWFL
players who had made “the Show.” Other alumni garnering pro interest
this summer were Sean Buckley, Damon Krestalude, Adam Younger and
Casey Coleman. Coleman, Younger and Krestalude both signed. Coleman
had a very good pro debut, he moved levels and he started the 1st
game of the FSL play-offs in Ft. Myers for the Daytona Cubs.
The Southwest Florida Wood Bat League will feature 16 High Schools
from around the area in 2008. 5 players who participated in the Fall
Wood Bat League last year continued their baseball careers at
colleges this fall. Congratulations and good luck to those young men
who will now embark upon the next portion of their baseball careers.
We thank you for your interest in Southwest Florida Baseball and
look forward to seeing you this fall.
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