Former professional baseball player Nick Tisone is working to bring in top notch opportunities for Scott County athletes. Since coming to Scottsburg, Tisone has opened Scottsburg Indoor Sports Academy, has created a partnership with local schools and city parks, and he and his father, Nick Tisone, Sr., also hosted Southern Indiana’s first ever Perfect Game Baseball Association tournament at Scottsburg High School this September. The PGBA organization is the largest recruiting network for college and professional scouts in the country.
Tisone grew up mostly in Mandeville, Louisiana. He was drafted both out of high school and out of his freshman year of college, and he received a full athletic scholarship to University of Alabama for his junior year. However, he signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves instead of continuing his college career in Alabama. He pitched for the Braves Organization from 2004 to 2007, but an elbow injury put an end to his professional career.
Just two years ago, Tisone had settled down in Gulf Shores, Alabama when his sister, who resides in Louisville, started talking about how great it would be for him to coach his nephew. He took his sister up on her offer for him to move to Louisville and hoped to give his twelve- year-old nephew’s baseball career a boost. His name started to get out once he was giving private lessons in Louisville. Eventually, a Scottsburg couple started to travel to Louisville to give their sons the opportunity to play on Nick’s Derby City Venom travel team and to have Nick personally train them.
Nick got word that the head baseball coaching position was open at Scottsburg High School. He began driving from Louisville to give private lessons in Scottsburg and get to know the students. While he did not get the coaching job, he found the building that would become Scottsburg Indoor Sports Academy. They began remodeling in October and officially opened their doors in March. Tisone is currently working with over 100 athletes, with half of them coming into town from outside of Scott County.
Brandt Kendall, age 11, loves taking private lessons from Nick and being on one of his teams. “It’s fun working with Nick. He really knows so much about baseball! He’s the best at teaching the game and really wants to help the kids improve.”
“We have had such great support from the City of Scottsburg and all of Scott County…” Tisone says. He and his father have worked with local parks to redo baseball diamonds so that they are in top shape for everyone in the community. The Scottsburg Indoor Sports Academy seems to have endless possibilities, and the schedule is packed.
SISA is creating younger teams, working with Scott County School Districts 1, Scott County School District 2, and Grace Christian Academy to utilize the facilities for all sports, bringing in college and professional scouts, and starting to host parties! They are continuing to offer the basic private lessons for baseball and softball, and they are sponsoring two baseball teams made up of Indiana’s best high school players. Nick is also going to be putting on movie nights so kids have fun things to do in town on the weekends!
If you want to contact Nick or SISA, you can call 812-414-2692. They are open Monday- Thursday 3pm-8:30pm, Friday 3pm-midnight, and Saturdays 1pm-10pm. They are located at 926 South Main Street in Scottsburg.
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