PRESTON HOLLOW — If Jost hosts it, they will come.

A group of professional baseball players came to the rural town of Rensselaerville for a baseball clinic held by the town supervisor, Jost Nickelsberg.
Five former players of Nickelsberg’s baseball scouting enterprise, The Baseball Academy, came to the Little League "Field of Dreams" in the hamlet of Preston Hollow. The local nickname is based on a movie about an Iowa farmer who builds a baseball field in his cornfield and a great player — Shoeless Joe Jackson — comes to play there.

The all-day clinic on Sept. 16 drew a large crowd of young players. Grade-school players learned in one group and a second clinic was held for high-school-aged players.

Among the five professional players to teach at the clinic were a Major League Baseball player; a minor league player; a player trying to get back into professional baseball after suffering an injury; and a player who was in the minor leagues for a few years, but decided to hang up his spikes.

Humberto Sanchez, a member of the New York Yankees 25-man roster, was the headliner. The relief pitcher is rehabbing after having elbow surgery in April.

Sanchez is probably best known to Yankees’ fans as coming to the team from the Detriot Tigers as part of the trade for Gary Sheffield.
"Jost used to be my summer coach at the Baseball Academy all through high school," Sanchez said. "He is a father figure to me."

Nickelsberg is also a father figure to Elvys Quezada, Brian Parish, Joharry Burgos, and Hector Henriquez, and that is why they showed up to help out in the Helderbergs.
"Jost is a great person," Henriquez said. "I met him when I was 15. Ever since then, our relationship has gotten better. He’s a very humble person, but he has helped a lot of people out to be successful in life. He helped us out a lot."
"We all feel like that," Sanchez said. "Me, Elvys, Hector, and Brian. He took us under his wing. There is a lot of things I would do for Jost."

"Something I love to do"

There was a crispness in the air, but baseball was in full swing on that beautiful Sunday afternoon.

Nickelsburg talked about baseball and life to the young listeners and gave them ideas about what it takes to be successful on the field and off.

Then the players spilt up to work on drills. The younger kids worked on fielding balls in the infield and hitting. Some worked with Burgos, who is a catcher.

Later, the players hit against the pitching of Henriquez, who ran the infield drills.

When the high school players showed up, they split into more specialized areas.

Pitchers worked with Sanchez and Quezada, who is in the Yankees minor-league system.

Infielders fielded grounders hit by Nickelsberg and got instruction by Henriquez, who Nickelsberg said is one of the best middle infielders he’s ever seen. Henriquez was a minor leaguer in the Seattle Mariners farm system.
"This is something I love to do," Henriquez said. "We’ve been down here over in Albany before. There are a lot more kids this year and that is a good thing to see. The parents saw it and liked it. More people got involved and that is a good feeling.
"The kids that come out seem to enjoy it," he added. "They thank you for coming. And that is also a good feeling."

Henriquez is a native of the Dominican Republic but moved to New York City when he was a teenager.

Quezada pitched collegiately at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. He was drafted and is now in the Yankees farm system. He played this past season for the Tampa Yankees, New York’s High Class A Florida State League team.

Quezada was also born in the Dominican Republic and moved to New York City. He now lives in Florida, near the Gulf Coast area.
"I’m playing ball for the Yankees," Quezada said. "It could be better. I could be in New York, but I’m not complaining. I had different things going in my life."

Parish also played for The Baseball Academy under Nickelsburg and wanted to come out and help out his former mentor.

Parish was born and raised in Westchester County and played in the St. Louis Cardinals farm system for three-and-a-half years before an injury forced him to take some time off. He is trying to work his way back into pro baseball.
"We had players from everywhere," Parish said of The Baseball Academy. "Some got drafted and a lot got a chance to play pro baseball. Jost was more than generous with my family and the community. We really want to do that here."

"The nucleus"

The clinic also provided a reunion for the guest players. Most have kept in contact since their time with The Baseball Academy ended, but not all the time.
"We all played on the same team," Sanchez said. "And most of us live in Florida. I talk to Elvys all the time. But I haven’t seen Brian in four years. We were the nucleus of those teams, and it’s great for all of us to get back together."

The Baseball Academy five played on the team for 15- and 16-year olds and then later on the 17 and 18 team.

The stars connected to some of younger players who attended the baseball clinic in Rensselaerville.

Conor Drosseo was one of them. The Little Leaguer from Medusa was excited to see professional baseball players up close.
"These people play in the big leagues," Drosseo said. "They actually know what they are doing. It’s fun, a great experience."

Drosseo plays first base and catcher in the Greenville Little League. He worked mostly with Burgos on catching drills.
"We did a lot of stuff with catching," Drosseo said. "He showed us how to block the ball, our footwork, and easier and faster ways to help us behind the plate.
"They are all good teachers," Drosseo added. "I met Humberto before at a Yankees game. I’m into the stats and line-ups."

Drosseo was thankful that Nickelsberg put on a clinic for the younger players in the area.
"It’s cool to have your town supervisor be a scout," Drosseo said. "It’s really fun. Meeting a major leaguer, especially with the younger kids, it makes them in awe."