CAPITAL TIMES, August 22, 1990
DISCOVERED:
Don Walters
Capital Times
Flame throwin' Rob Mitchell, a 1987
Phoenixville graduate who is now
entering his senior year at Penn State
Harrisburg as an accounting major, was
recently signed as a free agent by the
Philadelphia Phillies.
The 20-year-old Mitchell, a 6-foot-4,
160-pound righthanded pitcher, will
report to Clearwater, Fla., for spring
training in March of 1991 after he
attends classes at PSH this fall.
The Phantom's Program can't take
credit for this young hurler's success.
Mitchell never played high school or
American Legion baseball for
Phoenixville. He was cut from the high
school team as a junior because he had
control problems and didn't go out as a
senior. He never went out for the
Legion team.
However, last year he transferred to
Penn State Harrisburg and found the two
most important things of his baseball
career - PSH Head Coach Gary Pritchard
RENOVATIONS from 1
Other renovations, restorations and
additions included:
MET LAB
PSH undertook a 3200 square foot
addition to the Mechanical Engineering
Technology Laboratory over the summer
months.
The addition includes two 36-student
classes and an automotive lab. An
outside contractor worked with
university staff on the project with
intentions of improving the facility and
enhancing the attractiveness of it.
The project cost $330,000 and was
funded by gifts to PSH -- with the lead
GENERAL NEWS
PSH STUDENT SIGNED BY PROS
and the strike zone
"Gary Pritchard taught me everything
about being a pitcher," says Mitchell.
"My biggest problem has always been
throwing strikes - ever since I was in
Little League."
"I never had a coach that took the
time needed to help me learn how to
pitch with control, but coach Pritchard
took me from day one and worked with
"The thing he stressed the most was
the mental part. gave me the
confidence I needed to become a good
pitcher. I always could throw hard, but I
had no confidence, and without
confidence you can't throw strikes."
Mitchell emerged as an ace last
spring for Penn State after gaining
valuable experience during the season.
Last month Mitchell went to
Chestnut Hill Academy for the Phillies'
tryout camp where he made an
immediate impression on the scouts.
"I just happened to go there on my
own," states Mitchell. "There were about
40 pitchers there and I was the fifth one
to throw."
gift from the Whittaker Foundation.
The lab is ready for the fall semester!
DINING HALL
The final stage of a 4-year project in
the dining hall took place over the
summer.
This consisted of complete
refurbishing and purchasing of new
equipment for the kitchen.
LEARNING ASSISTANCE
CENTER
Room W-112 was redone as a new
learning assistance center.
The room contains a writing center
and other learning support activities.
INTERACTIVE CLASSROOM
A new addition to Olmsted is the
"interactive classroom" on the third
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Any budding journalists, photographers, typists, graphic!:
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If you or anyone you know fits this description, report
immediately to Room W-341 and join the Capital Times
!Staff!
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:We.have state-of-the-art Apple Macintosh Plus •
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:Computers and a Laserwriter Printer, along with the
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part of a team that works to create a valuable resource:
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"After my fifth pitch, the scout
watching me told me to stop and called
to Joe Reilly. Mr Reilly came across the
field and told me to throw on the side."
"After just a couple of pitches he told
me to stop and go home before another
team spotted me."
Mitchell said his fastball was not
clocked by a JUGS gun but estimates
it's almost 90 mph. He said Reilly was
more impressed with the movement of
his pitches.
"They say I have a moving fastball,"
Mitchell said. "At least when I throw it
right . It doesn't seem like the Phillies
are too much into the gun. Their guys
can tell if you throw fast enough. They
want ball movement more than speed."
Mitchell said his biggest advantage
may be his untapped potential.
"I've really only pitched one year of
ball since Little League," he said. "I
have a lot of talent, but I know I am
very raw."
"I've come so far the past year, and I
credit Coach Pritchard, but I also feel I
have so much more to learn and so much
more improving to do."
This room contains the technology for
the usual telephone traffic. plus data
transmission to and from University
Park and two-way audio/visual
communication.
This room will be used as a regular
classroom during the fall semester and
will become an "interactive classroom"
in the spring semester.
APARTMENT BUILDING
PSH is now in the process of
completing the Ist year of a 3-year
conversion project in the apartment
building on campus.
When completely renovated, the
building will contain: continuing
education offices, apartments for guest
speakers to stay in while on campus,
child care facilities, etc.
Phoenixville High School has
produced more than its share of
professional baseball players.
As reported by a Phoenixville paper,
two Phoenixville High seniors - catcher
Creighton Gubanich and center fielder
Cesar Ramirez - were selected in the
June amateur draft. Gubanich, picked in
the sixth round, has agreed to sign a
contract worth $BO,OOO with the Oakland
A's and Ramirez turned down an offer
from the Cleveland Indians to accept a
full scholarship from Seton Hall
University.
Two years ago, Mike Piazza - who
graduated from Phoenixville one year
before Mitchell - was drafted by the Los
Angeles Dodgers. Piazza currently is
catching with the Dodgers' class A team
in Yew Beach, Fla.
And of course, the most legendary
Phoenixville baseball name is former
major league star Andre Thornton.
But unlike Thornton, Piazza and
Gubanich - all of whom were famous
throughout their scholastic careers -
Mitchell was a virtual unknown.
What else happened while you were on
summer vacation?
I) . replacement roofs on dorms and
apartments'
2) new air conditioning in
Continuing Education building
3) reupholstered chairs and new carpet
in the Lion's Den
4) writing lab became a classroom
5) art studio renovations
6) new insulation in Meade Heights
7) resurfaced parking lot next to MET
lab
8) installation of catch basin in front
of Olmsted at west end
9) raising of water control device in
front of dorms so guard rails can be
eliminated -- will be complete in 1-2
years
10) carpeting in the new lobby