Portolite performs big-time in the Big Apple
Jordan Baltimore was at the top of his game working on Wall Street. But there was another game weighing heavily on his heart. Baseball.
So he threw everyone a curve ball. Baltimore left Wall Street behind. Baltimore and his team started New York Empire Baseball in the Hunter College High School gym. Over six years in a gym and two additional locations they grew large enough to purchase commercial space in a luxury apartment building in Manhattan. They turned 5,000 square feet into New York Empire Baseball.
"I love baseball, but I'm not the fan screaming at the TV," said Baltimore. "Instead, I love the movement and mechanics of it all. I nerded out on all the lessons out there. There are so many misconceptions. I decided this was where we could thrive – in the training and education space."
Something else he nerded out on … Portolite pitching mounds.
"My team wanted to create a realistic training facility for players and coaches," said Baltimore. "That included the pitching experience. And it doesn't get more real than Portolite. We have the best portable mounds in the industry."
Baltimore and his team uses an entire family of Portolite pitching mounds at New York Empire, as his team trains players at every skill level. The portability of Portolite mounds allows coaches and players of all ages to transport the mounds.
"The portability is intuitive," said Baltimore. "Pitchers and coaches just grab a mound and create what they need in the space. It gives us a sense of ownership, which is our goal."
In addition to the Manhattan facility, New York Empire has a location on Long Island and one in the Hamptons where they utilize Portolite indoor and outdoor mounds.
The New York Empire team can easily transport the pitching mounds to the outdoor locations. Players train and play on the same mound. That consistency is valuable for perfecting mechanics, according to Baltimore.
New York Empire trains younger pitchers going from flat ground to mound. The entire Empire team enjoy Portolite's no-lip and gentle-sloped design, saying it makes the transition safe and easy for younger players.
The longevity of the mounds also caught Baltimore's attention. New York Empire even donated two "used" Portolite mounds to a local high school and Little League organization. The turf and core of the mounds still had life, and Baltimore wanted others to benefit from the authentic pitching experience Portolite offers.
Currently, the New York Empire team is working with Portolite to host a few demo days at his Manhattan facility, so others in the industry can see, touch and try Portolite mounds.
"Nothing is random," said Baltimore. "That's a saying we have around Empire. It means we put careful thought into every move we make. Honestly, we probably overthink things. But that's how we knew Portolite was worth the investment."
Portolite Pitching Mound’s limited warranty says it all. Portolite has set the standard in lightweight, durable and portable pitching mounds since 1992.