Charlie Karstedt
Assistant Director, New York

We've had some great young student athletes come through the PBR network since it's inception in New York State and thought It would be great to see where they are now. Periodically, we're going to catch up with some of these guys with a brief Q & A session to see how things have been going since we saw them last. All of these players are guys who benefitted at some point from the PBR Network or Events within its first 2 years of existence.  For the next installment we decided to sit down with Ricky Sisto. A 2015 Graduate Ricky Sisto.

Name: Ricky Sisto
Current College Baseball Program: Miami of Ohio (D1 MAC)
High School: Liverpool High School
Position: Shortstop
High School Honors: All state 3rd Team, All CNY 1st Team, Co-CNYCL Player of the year, 1st team all County, 1st team all league.

PBR: So how has your college experience been so far ?

Sisto: My first college experience has been incredible so far. College is everything and more that people tell you. I am really enjoying it.

PBR: What have been the biggest changes or adjustments since moving away to college?

Sisto: Growing up always surrounded by family, the biggest adjustment for me was coping with being away from everyone you've ever known and loved. Having to do things on your own where at home in some cases you wouldn't have to be as independent. But for me it's been the distance from my family that has been the biggest adjustment.

PBR: What are you majoring in at Miami? What is your dream job after school?

Sisto: I am currently a Sports Management Major at Miami and my dream job is to one day be a full time Shortstop for the New York Yankees.

PBR: Tell us what it's like being a Division 1 Student Athlete. Is it what you expected or have you been surprised by anything ?

Sisto: I knew before I even got to Miami that it was going to be tough. So coming in with that mentality helped prepare me for the most part, but the fact of the matter is it's very difficult trying to manage your time independently for the very first time. It is everything I expected it to be, but what I didn't anticipate was how much fun it was going to be once the season got underway.

PBR: Can you give us some background on how PBR New York helped you get to Miami?

Sisto: PBR New York is what allowed me to showcase my talents in front of the school I currently attend and play for. I did a lot of things on my own to get me where I am today along with the help of my incredible coaches and my father above all the rest...but without PBR I'm not too sure if I would have been able to be where I am necessarily. They have done a lot for me and all I can do is say thank you from the bottom of my heart.

PBR: What advice do you have for current High School players hoping to get where you are now?

Sisto: I've never really been the type to give advice or tell others what to think and do, I believe in doing what you personally think is best and what makes you happiest and doing it to the best of your ability. So that would be my advice right there.. Continue doing whatever it is you're doing that makes you happy to the best of your ability, pick up things along the way, learn from yours and others mistakes, and never stop trying.

PBR: What's the best advice you were ever given throughout your baseball career before getting to Miami?

Sisto: Baseball is like life, it's a game of failure. It's the ones that can overcome failure, see the positives in their negatives, and try again the next time even harder than before that will one day reach whatever dreams they have chosen to pursue.

PBR: What is the best food at the Dining Halls at Miami?

Sisto: I got to go with the chicken strips on this one.

PBR: What's the best part about dorm life?

Sisto: The best part about the dorm life is being able to do things on your own and be on your own while being surrounded by people going through the same thing as you allowing for there to be new long lasting relationships.

PBR: What's the worst part about dorm life?

Sisto: The worst part about the dorm life for me is how small my room is. I know that may not be the case for others...in which case I envy you.

PBR: Thanks a lot for talking with us today and we wish you the best of luck in your freshman season at Miami.

Sisto: Thank you for everything, can't tell you how much It means to me. I really appreciate it.