"Pro Player Instructional Baseball Clinic" 

World Series Champion and Arizona Diamondback's pitcher, Robert Ellis, and Louisville Slugger will be hosting a one-day instructional clinic for pitchers, catchers, and hitters. The clinic will be hosted at the Panola College Baseball Field in Carthage TX. on Saturday, December 1, 2001, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m., and for ages 13 and up. 

Ellis was a member of the 1990 Conference Champion Panola Ponies and a second round draft choice by the Chicago White Sox.   Even though he had signed with Florida State University, he opted for professional baseball.  With 11 years of experience in professional baseball, Ellis has had an opportunity to play and be coached by some of baseball's best.  He was selected to the Minor League All-Star team 3 years, was a top prospect for the White Sox for 3 years, selected as the Topps Player of the Month in May of 1993.  Ellis received Pitcher of the Year honors in the Venezuela Winter League in 1998.  In 2000-01' season he was selected the Most Valuable Player and Pitcher of the Year in the Dominican Winter League and went on to lead his team to the Caribbean World Series.  Ellis has received numerous other honors through the years, however, his most coveted honor was this year winning the World Series and being on the same starting rotation with future Hall of Famers Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling.  

Other instructors include St. Louis Cardinals' catching prospect, Shawn Schumacher, ABCA Hall of Fame member Dave Gorrie, and the Panola Baseball coaching staff.  Schumacher, another ex-Panola Pony, was moved up to Double A and was selected to the Minor League All-Stars this summer.  Before signing and being drafted by the Cardinals in the eight round of the 1999 draft, Schumacher had earned NCAA All-American honors as a catcher for the Texas A&M Aggies and led them to the College World Series.  Dave Gorrie, a volunteer assistant for Coach Don Clinton with Panola College, played professionally in the Kansas Royals organization, then spent 29 years coaching at UC Santa Barbara and Pepperdine University.  His teams went to 7 NCAA Regional Tournaments and the 1979 College World Series.  After retiring from Pepperdine in 1989, he was selected to coach the United States Team in the Goodwill Games for three years.   

Each player will be instructed on the techniques and tactics of pitching, catching, and hitting, plus, videoed and evaluated for future development. 

For registration call the Panola College Athletic Department, 903-693-2062.  Pre-registration is requested.  Louisville Slugger will provide t-shirts and gifts to be given away.