Athlete of the Week: Countryside Cougar Vinny Ballantoni is Own Toughest Critic

Left-handed pitcher Vinny Ballantoni, is carrying a 1.55 ERA and batting .310 but if you ask him, he’s disappointed.

“I always feel like I can do better,” said Ballantoni. “The only way I am happy with my pitching performance is if nobody gets a hit.”

Ballantoni’s one-hitters against Largo Feb. 15 and March 9 were somehow disappointments, even though they were both victories and totaled 18 strikeouts. However, it’s not a bad thing to be so self motivated.

The introduction to baseball happened for Ballantoni at four years old. He started out in Countryside Little League much like many of his current teammates and opponents. It was here that he fell in love with the game. Eight years into little league, he discovered his ability to pitch.

“I always had a decent arm. I was about 12 when I started to pitch regularly,” Ballantoni said.

Now, Ballantoni is one of the more feared southpaws in the county. He has helped lead the Cougars to a 9-5 record at this point in the season. He is 2-2 but the two losses came against two of the best teams in the county, Dunedin and Seminole. He has 39 punchouts on the year.

Ballantoni has definite plans to pursue baseball at the collegiate level. He has met with UCF coach Terry Rooney and hopes to attend the school and play for the team.

“I would definitely go if I got an offer from UCF,” Ballantoni said.

His favorite thing about pitching?

“Knowing you are going against the other team’s best hitter and being confident you can get out of it,” Ballantoni said.

His not so favorite thing?

“When you’re down in the count and you know you have to make this pitch or everything is going to come apart.”

But it is not all baseball for Ballantoni. He also is active in Relay for Life, helping to raise money for cancer awareness and research.

On deck:

Tarpon Springs (7-8) comes to Countryside (9-5) to play at 7 p.m. April 5.