Louisville Slugger Hit Club

Louisville Slugger Hit Club: Day 2

Louisville Slugger Hit Club: Day 2

Sunday was the second of the three days for this year's Louisville Slugger Hit Club as the 11 talented batters went to PGF, an Angels game and the beach.

Aug 3, 2016 by Brentt Eads
Louisville Slugger Hit Club: Day 2
Sunday was the second of the three days for this year's Louisville Slugger Hit Club as the 11 talented batters enjoyed the Southern California sun, baseball fun, the beach and a visit with one of the key partners who makes the Hit Club possible…

First, a list of this year's Hit Club honorees:


***

Here's a recap of the second day, Sunday July 31, and some of the highlights of the action and recognition these top 2016 grads received…

After enjoying an evening at Disneyland, the Louisville Slugger Hit Club players started off the day with breakfast at Einstein Bagels before travelling up the 405 freeway to the Huntington Beach headquarters of Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF), which is a partner in presenting and running the Louisville Slugger Hit Club.

There, President and CEO Dan Hay took time off from the start of 16U and 14U Nationals to greet the players, give them a history of PGF and a tour of the facility which now includes the ability to embroider uniforms and take orders nationwide for equipment and apparel as well as plan and execute hundreds of national event including the PGF National Championships and the PGF All-American Game, both of which the Hit Club players participated in last week.

After each player was then videotaped for media interviews before everyone boarded the limo bus and headed to Angels Stadium in Anaheim, about 20 minutes away, to watch the afternoon game between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Angels.

Enjoying hot dogs, pizza and other fun stadium food while sporting "sun hats" that were handed out at the stadium entrance, the Hit Club players sat in the left field pavilion enjoying a scoreless game before the Angels burst out for three runs in the bottom of the fifth.

However, the Red Sox exploded for five runs in the top of the ninth inning capped by a three-run home run with two outs in the inning to eventually win 5-3.

Before heading back to the hotel, the Hit Club bus stopped at the Orange County airport to drop off Kayla Konwent, who had to fly back to Wisconsin to sign up for classes Monday at the University of Wisconsin.  Another of the 11, Aaliyah Jordan, also left once the group returned to the hotel as she drove up the 405 freeway to move in to UCLA and begin summer school on Monday.

After time to rest and clean-up, the now-nine players were taken back to Huntington Beach to eat freshly caught-and-cooked fish at Duke's Restaurant by the Huntington Pier and then walk around downtown which was packed with fans of a different sport as the U.S. Open of Surfing concluded Sunday right next to the pier.

To wrap up the evening, the Hit Club players enjoyed the sunset and fresh ocean breezes on the Newport Beach sand as they enjoyed s'mores and other goodies heated over the beach fire pit, but most importantly heard from current college stars Shay Knighten of the National Champion Oklahoma Sooners and Amanda Lorenz with the Florida Gators.

Knighten touched on what it's like being a high-profile athlete and dealing with the spotlight of the media and the double-edged sword in particular that is social medial.  Lorenz spoke on being a freshman and dealing with what it's like dealing with upperclassmen as well as what it's like being a freshman integrating into a new team.

The day's activities wrapped up around 10 pm and the tired, but inspired incoming college freshmen, returned to Irvine to call it a night and get ready for Monday and the final day of the 2016 Louisville Slugger Hit Club.

[album albumid="450257"]

----

  • "Yesterday was a big day for me! Not only was I given the privilege of taking a tour of PGF headquarters and learning the history of the organization, I was able to listen to the best of college athletes tell their personal story. My favorite and the most memorable part was meeting Shay Knighten (Oklahoma) and Amanda Lorenz (Florida) to have a very real and raw conversation about what to expect and how to deal with the pressures of college, especially freshman year. There were so many things that I didn't take into account before sitting down and having that talk. I truly believe that you can't get that anywhere else except for the Hit Club. It's been an honor." -- Shannon Rhodes
  • "The second day with the Hit Club was just what I needed. I went to my first MLB game, learned the history behind PGF, and ate a plate of fish. However, the highlight of the day was talking with Amanda and Shay. They told me the real deal of college. It isn't easy but it's definitely worth it. Now, I feel more prepared of the challenges that will come my way and I thank them." - Elissa Brown
  •  "My favorite part of the second day was having the bonfire at the beach and talking with Shay Knighten and Amanda Lorenz.  I think they prepared us for what to expect in college freshman year!" -- Nicole Bates
  • "My favorite part about Sunday was when we were at the beach talking to Shay and Amanda and just getting real life advice from them on how it's going to be. Yes, college is going to be fun, but life isn't always roses and there will be some very real struggles that I will come across and after listening to them and asking them questions I feel as prepared as I can be for college." -- Nicole Mendes
  •  "The highlight of the second day of Hit Club was the bonfire and listening to Shay Knighten and Amanda Lorenz talk about their experiences in college. They talked to us about what we would really experience as freshmen and how to deal with the struggles of our freshmen year." -- Mackenzie Boesel
  • "My favorite part about the second day included the bonfire on Newport Beach. We got to talk with Shay Knighten and Amanda Lorenz about their experiences in college. It really impacted me, and I believe that it truly helped me become more prepared for college." -- Hannah Edwards
  •  "The highlight of day two was definitely speaking and listing to Amanda Lorenz and Shay Knighton! They are two amazing athletes so it was awesome to hear the inside of college softball before we head off! To hear how they made it and how they worked for the top honors they revived and earned!" -- Jessica Harper
  •  "My favorite part of day 2 is going to PGF headquarters and seeing where it all started. I learned without PGF I wouldn't have been given the opportunities to play in such a great environment, play in the All-American game or be in the Louisville Slugger Hit Club." -- Amanda Doyle
  • "The bonfire was my favorite part of the day because I got to enjoy listening to stories from Shay and Amanda about what really happens freshman year in college and it opened my eyes and motivated me to be ready for all the obstacles that I'll encounter freshman year." -- Dejah Mulipola

***
Coming Sunday for the Hit Club: the final day includes an hour with one of the leading sports psychologists in the world, a batting cage workout and analysis from a Gold Medal Olympian and recognition in front of thousands of young players who hope to follow in the Hit Clubbers' footsteps…