BASEBALL U PA & TOP LEVEL JOINING FORCES!
INTRODUCING TOP LEVEL U
Baseball U & Top Level Are Joining Forces!
A New Chapter. More Opportunities. One Baseball Family.
Dear Players and Families,
We are excited to share an important next chapter for our baseball community.
Baseball U and Top Level are joining forces to create TOP LEVEL U, a unified travel baseball program designed to bring together outstanding coaching, player development, training, facilities, and competitive opportunities throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.
This partnership is about building something stronger together while preserving the relationships, coaches, teams, and local baseball communities that have made our programs successful.
Our goal is simple:
Give every player the opportunity to develop, compete, and reach the highest level that his ability and commitment can take him.
WHAT IS TOP LEVEL U?
Top Level U will become the travel baseball identity for our combined programs.
By bringing Baseball U and Top Level together, we can create a more connected baseball organization with access to:
High-level player development
Quality coaching
Professional training
Stronger and deeper travel teams
Greater competition
Expanded tournament opportunities
More players and coaches throughout the region
Additional opportunities as players reach the high school years
A consistent development path from youth baseball through the older age groups
Most importantly, this partnership allows us to think beyond individual locations and build a baseball program that serves players throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.
7U–12U: KEEPING BASEBALL LOCAL
For our younger players, we believe there is tremendous value in playing and developing close to home.
That is why 7U through 12U teams will remain primarily location-based.
Players will continue developing with their local teammates, coaches, facilities, and baseball communities.
Programs such as Baseball U PA and BUPA Pocono will continue developing their younger age groups locally while becoming part of the larger Top Level U family.
This approach gives younger players the stability of their local program while also creating a pathway into the larger Top Level U organization as they get older.
13U–18U: COMBINING FORCES
As players get older, their baseball needs change.
Competition becomes stronger. Rosters become increasingly important. Players begin preparing for high school baseball, showcases, college opportunities, and the next stages of their development.
For that reason, Top Level U will take a regional approach with our older players.
Summer & Fall
13U–18U
At these ages, we will have the ability to combine players and resources from throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania, including:
Scranton • Pocono • Pittston • Hazleton • and surrounding NEPA communities
Rather than every location operating independently and competing for the same players, our goal is to combine our resources and create the best possible opportunities for our athletes.
A player's home location will still matter, but it will no longer necessarily determine the only team available to that player.
Players may have opportunities to compete alongside other Top Level U athletes from throughout the region based on age, development, roster needs, and competitive level.
ONE PROGRAM. MORE OPPORTUNITY.
Imagine having strong players and coaches throughout Scranton, Pocono, Pittston, Hazleton, and the surrounding communities all connected through one organization.
That is the vision behind Top Level U.
Instead of allowing geography to limit opportunities, we want geography to become one of our strengths.
By combining our player pools and baseball resources at the older ages, we believe we can create more appropriate competitive levels and stronger opportunities for players throughout the organization.
BUPA POCONO
Matt DelGiudice will continue to lead the BUPA Pocono program from 7U through 18U.
Those teams will become part of the Top-Level U family.
The younger Pocono teams will continue developing locally, while older players will have the opportunity to participate in the larger regional Top Level U structure.
This allows us to preserve what has been built locally while giving players access to additional opportunities as they advance.
EXPANDING THROUGHOUT NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA
Top Level U is being designed to grow beyond one facility or one community.
Programs and baseball organizations in additional locations may become part of the Top Level U family.
That includes relationships such as The Grind in Pittston and opportunities to expand into additional communities throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.
The objective is not simply to become bigger.
The objective is to create better opportunities for our players.
WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR COACHES?
Continuity matters.
The Baseball U coaches are joining Top Level U & will continue coaching within the new organization.
We want players and families to continue seeing familiar coaches while also benefiting from the expanded coaching resources available throughout Top Level U.
As our programs come together, coaches from different locations will also have greater opportunities to communicate, collaborate, and share baseball knowledge.
TRAINING AT TOP LEVEL
Top Level will continue to operate its training and player-development programs.
Players will continue to have access to professional instruction and development opportunities through Top Level, including:
Hitting • Pitching • Fielding • Catching • Strength & Conditioning • Individual Instruction • Group Training • Team Training • Camps & Clinics
Travel baseball and player development will work alongside one another, giving athletes a more complete development environment.
COLLABORATIVE BASEBALL LEADERSHIP
Top Level U will also establish a leadership structure designed to encourage communication and collaboration between our programs and locations.
Mike Guy and Matt DelGiudice will have positions on the Top-Level U Board and will participate in conversations regarding important baseball matters such as:
Tournament selection
Team structure
Coaches
Player evaluations
Rosters
Tryouts
Scheduling
Player development
Coordination between locations
Travel-team logistics
The purpose is to make sure important baseball decisions include input from experienced baseball people representing different parts of our organization.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR MY PLAYER?
For most younger players, the immediate experience should feel familiar.
They will continue playing with their local program, coaches, and teammates while gaining access to the broader resources of Top Level U.
As players get older, however, the opportunities become much larger.
A player who begins in Scranton, Pocono, Pittston, Hazleton, or another Top Level U community can eventually become part of a regional player pool and potentially compete alongside players from throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Local development at the younger ages. Regional opportunity at the older ages.
That is an important part of the Top Level U vision.
WHY WE'RE DOING THIS
Youth baseball has changed.
Players and families are looking for quality coaching, development, competitive schedules, good facilities, and a clear pathway as athletes get older.
We believe the best way to provide those opportunities is by working together rather than working separately.
Baseball U and Top Level each bring valuable experience, relationships, resources, and people to this partnership.
By joining forces, we have an opportunity to build something special for baseball players throughout our region.
THE NEXT CHAPTER STARTS NOW
We are incredibly excited about what lies ahead!
There will be additional information coming regarding teams, tryouts, coaches, schedules, tournaments, uniforms, training opportunities, and other details as we prepare for the transition.
We also understand that families will have questions, and we want communication to be an important part of this process.
At the center of every decision will be the same question:
How can we create the best possible baseball experience and opportunity for our players?
We look forward to building the answer together.
WELCOME TO TOP LEVEL U
IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO YET, PLEASE REGISTER FOR A TRYOUT BY FILLING OUT THE FOLLOWING FORM BY CLICKING HERE! (IF YOU ALREADY REGISTERED FOR A BASEBALL U TRYOUT OR ATTENDED A BASEBALL U TRYOUT, YOU DO NOT NEED TO REGISTER AGAIN)
Local Roots. Regional Strength. Bigger Opportunities.
Baseball U + Top Level = Top Level U