Geneva-native Dan Pontes joined the Hobart baseball coaching staff prior to the start of the 2023 season. A 1993 draft pick of the St. Louis Cardinals, who reached the AAA level in the New York Mets farm system, he will work with the Statesmen pitchers.
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An accomplished mentor, Pontes has coached baseball from Little League to High School to the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League with the Geneva Red Wings.
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Pontes played nine seasons of professional baseball, spending four seasons in the Cardinals’ minor league system, two in the Mets’ system and three with independent league teams. He posted his best numbers at single-A Peoria in 1995, producing 88 strikeouts, a 1.60 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP in 67.2 innings for the Chiefs.
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It was with New York that Pontes came closest to the major leagues, rising to AAA Norfolk in 1999. He appeared in 14 games for the Tides.
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Pontes signed with the Cardinals after a successful collegiate career at Long Island University. He headed to Brooklyn on a baseball scholarship, playing four seasons, including three as a starting pitcher. He also took a turn at competing in golf and track and field for the Blackbirds.
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A former PGA certified golf professional, Pontes previously worked as the head professional at Hammock Dunes Club in Palm Coast, Florida, and as the director of golf at Cypress Lake Golf Club in Fort Myers, Florida.
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A three-sport star at Geneva High School, Pontes was a three-year starter at pitcher and shortstop for the Panthers. He was a first team league all-star and team captain for Geneva and also earned the program’s prestigious Deledonne Award. In basketball, he led Geneva to the Section V Class B Championship during his senior year. In the fall, Pontes was a three-time all-star and two-time league scoring leader. He was inducted into the Geneva Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
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