Hello my name is D’Anthony Morrow. I am a rising sophomore at Benjamin Elijah Mays High School. I am going to reflect on what happened yesterday evening. First I went to the Georgia’s Own Credit Union board room to prepare for our interview with V-103’s celebrity DJ Greg Street. In the board room we all talked to coach CJ and Coach Kelli about the experience that we were having. How important it was for us to be on live radio getting interviewed by Greg Street. Also when being interviewed you want to answer his questions with confidence and to speak fluently.

The L.E.A.D. Ambassadors in the Georgia’s Own Credit Union board room

After that, we were special guest of Georgia’s Own Credit Union for the von Grey band concert. We had the opportunity to talk with them all. They told us that they have been playing together for 5 years and they are sisters. They showed us what instruments they all play also what type of music they play. Then they explained how long it took them to play the music and play it the way that they want it to sound. After that we took a photo with them and Dave Preter (President/CEO of Georgia’s Own Credit Union) before they performed for Georgia’s Own Credit Union staff.

The L.E.A.D. Ambassadors with the von Grey band and Dan Preter (Georgia’s Own President/CEO)

Next we got an opportunity to speak baseball to a celebrity DJ Big Tigger at V-103. He talked to us about how he played when he was a child and how he wished he could have played longer because he loved the game. He talked a little trash to us about how he was better than some of us.  We had a good time talking to Big Tigger. Before he left he and Coach Kelli exchanged cards to keep in touch with each other and they told him about the softball  game that will take place during L.E.A.D. Weekend at Turner Field and that he could attend if he had time to.

The L.E.A.D. Ambassadors with Celebrity DJ “Big Tigger” at V-103

And last but not least we were interviewed by the celebrity DJ Greg Street. We walked into the V-103 station and introduced ourselves to Greg Street. Then he explained to us what type of questions he was going to ask us and how to answer them. Then show time he plugged us up and we were on live radio speaking to millions of listeners. He asked me who I was and how long I have been in L.E.A.D. I told him my name is D’Anthony Morrow I am a rising sophomore at Benjamin Elijah Mays High School and I have been in L.E.A.D. for 3 years. Then after he talked to coach CJ, he asked us to say “We represent L.E.A.D. and its time for Greg Street to rock on the peoples station V-103″.

We are in the summer phase of programming for L.E.A.D. providing educational, leadership and baseball development to our 25 high school age L.E.A.D. Ambassadors and 40 middle school age Jr. Ambassadors. They won’t miss a beat this summer and will be ready for school in the fall. 

The summer is super busy for us with our L.E.A.D. Ambassadors and Jr. Ambassadors. Our four L.E.A.D. pillars of excellence are academics, athletics, service/civic engagement and exposure. We have to plan for success while expecting the worse. Unfortunately, sometimes the best plans don’t always turn out perfect. Like baseball, life is about making quick adjustments. We’ve had to make several adjustments as an organization this summer. 

L.E.A.D. recognizing Lance Oubs (The Lovett School Baseball Head Coach) and his staff for their continued support of L.E.A.D.

What does the perfect opportunity to get a college baseball scholarship look like for African-American males from the inner city of Atlanta?
That’s an easy answer. All you need is L.E.A.D. and Perfect Game USA (PG USA). Perfect Game USA is the world’s largest baseball scouting service. PG USA is devoted to furthering the development and career of the talented high school baseball players. The most respected scouting service in the industry.

I remember having a discussion with Andy Ford (PG Vice President) in 1998 at the ABCA Coaches Convention about his vision for Perfect Game. It has exceeded the vision that we discussed back then. Without attending a PG event, you have only a slim chance of competing at the next level. In 2015, Perfect Game will make Georgia it’s new permanent home. 

I have successfully developed amateur and major league players through my for profit business Diamond Directors since 1998. My organization has developed over 30 professional baseball players and over 100 players at the NCAA Collegiate level. We consistently get amazing results due to a proven training methodology that I created called AT-BATS. Without a methodology, you can’t develop anything with consistency.

Dexter Fowler, Jason Heyward and I

The L.E.A.D. Ambassadors played its inaugural season the summer of 2008. As a high school senior, L.E.A.D. Ambassador Joseph McCrary was one of the team captains. In my opinion, he could have played at most Division I schools but of course I’m biased. 
I made a lot of calls on his behalf to college baseball coaches and heard no each time. Coach Carlton Hardy at Savannah State University (SSU) hosted a workout that Joseph attended and it was a done deal. 

In the fall of 2009, Joseph enrolled at Savannah State University as a student-athlete. He graduated in May 2013 Magna Cum Laude from Savannah State and has been the catalyst for the program for all four years. In his senior year, the Tigers won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). This is only the second year that Savannah State has been in the conference.

The Savannah State Tigers has earned a bid to play in the Tallahassee Regional with Florida State University, University of Alabama and Troy University. Game action begins on Friday, May 31st at 5:00PM in Tallahassee and will be televised on ESPNU. 

L.E.A.D. Ambassador alums Jason Wynn (Senior, RHP) and Mendez Elder (Freshman, OF) are also integral parts of the Savannah State MEAC Championship team.

L.E.A.D. is only a vision without our Ambassadors.

Nick Marigny and his family relocated to Atlanta from his hometown of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina destroyed their home. He and his sister enrolled at my Alma Mater Westlake High School in Atlanta, GA.  Nick and his family applied to become a LEADer in the fall of 2009 as a part of our Legacy League.  After 3 months of academic, athletic, service and enrichment development, he earned the right to become a L.E.A.D. Ambassador.

Nick Marigny holding the 2013 SWAC Championship trophy