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Zach Tortorella Commits to University of Maryland Eastern Shore Baseball; Taking Prep Year at Georgia Premier Academy
At the age of three, Indiana, Pennsylvania native Zach Tortorella started playing the game of baseball. Life’s changed a lot since then as Maroon 5, Avril Lavigne, Akon, and Plain White T’s were some of the most popular artists and bands of the time. While they produced some bangers, mike.’s latest hits get him ready to go to battle on the diamond today. The former Duke Blue Devil pitcher turned recording artist has become an inspiration to Tortorella and many other young people, and rightfully so.
While Zach may not remember the Plain White T’s, we have to remember it’s hard to ask anyone to recall memories from when we were three-years old. However, his earliest memories are of him hoping to be a college baseball player one day. The Indiana Area High School graduate has taken a prep year and has reclassified to the class of 2023. This year will help him get ready to take on college baseball at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), but not before a year of growth and college readiness prep at Georgia Premier Academy.
Georgia Premier Academy, a program in the National Academies Association, is an option that opened up to him by playing for US Elite on the club baseball circuit. He said this about why this year of holding off from jumping into college baseball and going prep was right for him.
“Georgia Premier Academy is the right fit for myself because of the tradition of the program and the coaching staff has your back through everything. It’s the right fit for myself because of how respected a program GPA is. It will help me grow on the field but also off the field spiritually.”
Without US Elite, this door does not open. Tortorella called it “the best travel program in the country” during the interview and explained why he believes this to be true.
“From the coaches, my teammates, and parents it is first class. We travel all over the country to play in national level tournaments and the coaches teach us how to play the game the right way. They also instill in us how to act like young men off the field.”
On top of playing for US Elite, the WPIAL product became a two-time Perfect Game Preseason All-American, a First-Team WPIAL All-Section selection by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and a two- time PG WWBA National Championships All Tournament Team honoree.
Sports he hopes will never go far in his life as his goal is to complete a degree one day in Communications Broadcasting and break into the Sports Broadcasting field once his days as a baseball player conclude.
Interestingly, sports are not just his thing, but a true family affair. His father, Paul, has been a college football coach since the 1980’s and currently serves as the Head Football Coach for the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) Crimson Hawks football program.
For now, Zach’s focus remains on showing out for Georgia Premier Academy and becoming the best ball player he can be for the UMES Hawks starting in the 2023-24 school year.
“I chose UMES because of the coaching staff. Going through this process, I wanted to find a coaching staff that has my back, and UMES has my back. I also can’t wait to compete in the great NEC Conference and to bring an NEC Title back to Princess Anne Maryland!”
Good luck to you in this prep year and as you get ready to take on Division I baseball, Zach! ⚾️ 🎤
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