PHILIPSBURG:--- The Tallahassee-St. Maarten Foundation Inc. (TLH-SXMF) and Skillz Baseball Academy St. Maarten have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to guide the relationship between both organizations to the benefit of the St. Maarten sports community and in particular those associated with Skillz Baseball Academy.
TLH-SXMF Director Arthur Lugisse says that he is willing to explore the possibilities of in-state tuition study at universities in Florida in order to provide young athletes through the Skillz Baseball Academy the opportunity to develop their athletic capabilities and potential.
"I applaud Reggie Plaisir, the Skillz Baseball Academy founder for all his positive results already achieved. I am also looking forward to receiving the Skillz Baseball Academy group in Tallassee coming August. Skillz can make a major contribution to the development of sports tourism. The latter is a niche market and with the synergy that has been developed, we can work diligently with other stakeholders to develop this part of the economy," Arthur Lugisse said on Monday.
Skillz Baseball Academy was founded in 2004 by Reggie Plaisir, and co-founders Sharine Romeo and Evans Marshall.
The Academy's mission is for the youth of St. Maarten is to provide advanced baseball training skill sets along with academic achievement in school. The goal of the organization is good grades first and athletic skills second.
The Academy has already been successful in placing athletes in Colleges in the United States.
Skillz Baseball Academy Board Chairman Reggie Plaisir announced at a July 18 board meeting several high profile events. One of them is the placement of two athletes from Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius) followed by; Showcase event from August 17-20 with five/six students from St. Maarten in Florida; Advance High Performance Baseball Training from September to February; a team to head to Arizona during the October/February school vacations.
In November Skillz Baseball Academy will host power-showcase.com, a power high school hitter's talent evaluation event to select the top 14 and 15-year-old baseball prospects to represent country St. Maarten at the Miami Marlins Stadium on December 27, 2012.
During the board meeting on July 18, Chairman Plaisir introduced new board members to those present, Timothy Daniel, Branch manager Windward Islands Bank, Geert Bersgma, Head of Tax Administration, Julian Moseley, Architect/Technical Facilities Advisor, Kelly Stinnett, Major League Baseball player (Arizona, USA) and Julius Robinson (Caribbean Netherlands-Saba), whose son is a pro-baseball prospect.