⚾️ Business Visit Spotlight: Spinball Sports ⚾️

Today our CEO students had the opportunity to tour one of Mount Vernon’s true hidden gems, Spinball Sports. President Steven Spontanski welcomed us and shared the backstory behind this innovative and growing company.

Founder and CEO Tom Hart, a former college baseball player and engineer at Boeing, originally started the company in a garage. The first prototype of their two wheel pitching machine was built using dishwasher motors and wheelbarrow tires. Steven shared the mindset that fueled their growth, “Do what you have to do to get where you want to be” and “There’s no crazy ideas in business.”

Basically, they went from a home garage to selling on eBay through an eBay store to now their brick and mortar location located in Mount Vernon. What started with just two employees has grown to a team of ten. They began with one product in a 40 by 60 building and have now expanded to four products, serving a niche market on a global scale. They ship internationally and source nearly all of their materials from US based businesses.

With the help of engineer Daniel Halleran, their iPitch machine uses real world stats and analytics such as velocity, spin rate, pitch type, movement, and release angle from actual pitchers. The machine is programmed to replicate those exact parameters, essentially functioning as a true pitching simulator. This allows hitters and coaches to create highly customizable training scenarios based on real pitching profiles. Today, 28 of 30 MLB teams use their products, moving from backyard dads to high schools to Division I programs and now to the Major League market.

Sometimes in business you fall into something, but innovation, persistence, and belief in your idea are what allow you to scale it. A niche market with global impact, right here in Mount Vernon.

We are grateful to Steven and the entire Spinball team for investing in our young entrepreneurs and giving them an inside look at what it truly takes to grow and sustain a business. ⚾️💼✨