CV's Melko signs with Northampton.
By: The Review | Towanda Daily Review | May 13, 2016
2016 NTL and District 4 News
Northampton Community College is becoming the southern version of the NTL as Cowanesque Valley's Tyler Melko became the fifth player from the league to head there for baseball in the past two years.
"It just feels like a good stepping stone for me to get to a bigger university, it's a good transition to get to a bigger university," Melko said.
This past season four NTL players (Canton's John Bowman, Towanda's Tristan James and Athens' Tyler Forbes and Zane Vargason) were a part of the team at Northampton.
Melko played with all four players on the Bradford County Bobcats in the past.
"It's a little bit easier for me to go down there and have someone show me around, show me the ropes," Melko said.
The hope for Melko is to go down, have success and move on to a bigger school. After watching James have a dominant year down there, Melko is confident the same thing can happen for him.
"That's what I was thinking to begin with, even before everything happened with Tristan," Melko said. "I talked to the coach and we talked about scholarship possibilities after two years.
"I definitely want to go D1 or D2 after two years and eventually, if I mature enough and grow enough as a player, I'd like to play pro, or at least semi-pro, ball."
Northampton is looking at Melko as a corner infielder and outfielder, mostly at first base, and they liked the way he hits the ball.
"My hitting, they really heard I can swing the bat, that's what they are looking for," Melko said. "Being that I'm a multi-sport athlete, and all my accolades, they feel I'll be a really good fit for the program."
The senior is ready to play at the college level.
"I can't really put it into words right now, I'm ready to grow as a player, get out of the Valley and see what else is out there," Melko said.
One thing that Melko is excited about is to be in a lineup where teams can't pitch around him.
"It's been a struggle this year, I've been intentionally walked quite a few times," he said. "It will be nice to go up and get my at bats, get my swings and see what happens."
The CV senior thinks that a lot of NTL kids will continue to get these opportunities to play at the collegiate level.
"Absolutely, if kids continue to work hard, they are going to get noticed," he said. "You have to put the work in, that's the biggest thing."
