STAFF

MEET THE TEAM

Nick Matera
Founder/Head of Player Development


 High School Career

  • Roxbury High School/Morris Catholic HS
  • 4 year varsity starter
  • 1st team All Conference
  • 1st Team All Area
  • 1st team All County
  • Team MVP
  • Ranked Top Prospect N.J.

  College Career

  • Rutgers University
  • 3 year starter
  • 3rd Team All-Big Ten 2017
  • Drafted 34th round Philadelphia Phillies 2017


  Professional Career

  • 34th round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies
  • Advance to AAA Lehigh Valley Iron pigs in second year of pro ball
  • Advanced 5 levels in 2 years
  • Current Reading Fightin' Phills player 2021 (Phillies AA)

Mike Dzurilla

Founder/Player Development


College Career

  • St. Johns University
  • 2 Time All-Big East
  • All Big East Rookie team 1997
  • Big East Tournament-“Most Outstanding Player” 1997
  • 1st Freshman since Mo Vaughn to win award
  • St. Johns MVP 1998, 1999
  • Cape Cod league all-star 1998
  • All-American 1999
  • St Johns Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Professional Career

  • 7th round draft pick of Chicago Cubs
  • Top prospect of NW rookie league 1999
  • 2003 AA all-star team
  • Lakewood Blue Claws MVP (2005)
  • Signed with the Long Island Ducks 2006

Pete Zoccolillo
Founder/Player Development


  College Career

  • Rutgers University Graduate
  • Four-year letterman Baseball
  • “All-Big East” 1st base 3 yrs 1997-1998-1999
  • “All-American” 3 yrs 1997-1998-1999
  • Broke 10 school offensive batting records 1999 (Single season HR, RBI, Hits, T.B., Career HR, RBI, Hits, TB, Doubles, AB’s)
  • Broke 3 Big East offensive batting records (Hits, RBI, Doubles)
  • Drafted 23rd round 1999 MLB draft by Chicago Cubs
  • Rutgers MVP 1999
  • Rutgers Hall of Fame Class of 2004
  • Named in the Top 50 athletes of all-time at Rutgers University.


Professional Career

  • 2000 Midwest “All-Star” Lansing Lugnuts (Chicago Cubs “A” Affiliate)
  • Traded to Milwaukee for P. David Weathers
  • 2003 AAA MVP for Indianapolis Indians (Milwaukee Brewers “AAA” Affiliate)
  • September 5, 2003 MLB debut for Milwaukee Brewers
  • 2004 AAA “All-Star” Oklahoma Redhawks (Texas Rangers “AAA” Affiliate)
  • 2005 played for Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals “AAA” affiliate)
  • 2006 signed “AAA” contract with the Colorado Rockies
  • 2006 World Baseball Classic outfielder (Team Italy)


High School Coaching Career

  • Head Varsity Baseball Coach Morris Catholic HS (2013-2016)
  • N.J. Star Ledger Coach of the Year 2013
  • Non-Pubic B State Sectional Champions 2013
  • Conference Champions 2014,2015
  • Voted NJ.com top coach in the NJAC 2016
  • Head Varsity Baseball Coach Mount Olive HS (2021-present)
  • 100 Career High School wins

Max Burt

Player Development


High School Career


  • St. John’s Prep 2011-2014
  • Four-year letter winner at shortstop
  • .330 average
  • 2013 and 2014 league championships
  • 2013-14 Best Athlete Award
  • 2014 All-League Baseball
  • 2013-14 Boston Globe All-Scholastic Basketball Player honoree

College Career


  • NorthEastern University
  • 4-year Starter
  • 28th Round Draft Pick 2018 MLB Draft (NY Yankees)


Professional Career


  • Selected in the 28th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball's amateur draft by the NY Yankees
  • Played for the Somerset Patriots 2022-2024
  • Reached AAA with the NY Yankees (Scranton)


Bobby Varua
Player Development


High School Career

  • Herricks High School

  • 4 year Varsity Letterman Baseball / Soccer

  • Division Champions ‘.89

  • All-County (Baseball) ‘91 & ‘92


College Career:


  • IONA College Baseball

  • Division 1 • MAAC ‘92 & ‘93


Post College Career:


  • Walden White Sox (Baseball) Walden, NY

  • Independent League ‘96 - ‘98


Mike Rampone
Player Development


High School: 

  • 2010 Randolph State Champion
  • 1st team all-state group 4 
  • 1st team all-morris
  • 1st team all-daily record
  • Back to back Senior American Legion Batting titles(.525/.598)


College:

  • NJIT 4 year starter
  • Ranked School’s D1 all-time in games played (197), hits (222), and doubles (47) leader 
  • NJCBA all-rookie team


Independent League Career:

  • 2016 Tucson Saguaros (Pecos League)
  • League champions
  • Named All-Star
  • 2017 Utica Unicorns (USPBL)


Scott Paltos - FTS Performance GYM

Founder/Head of Player strength and conditioning


Professional Career


  • Played for the NY Giants (NFL) in 2000
  • Played for the Oakland Raiders  (NFL) in 2000/2001
  • Noted as one of the top Strength Sport athletes in Powerlifting, Strongman, and CrossFit
  • Has run and operated FTS for over 22 years