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Announcing the 2018 Louisville Slugger Hit Club

Fun at the beach for the players from the 2016 Louisville Slugger Hit Club.

The fourth year of the Louisville Slugger Hit Club will take place in Orange County, California from Saturday, July 28-30, 2018 and—if the first three classes are any indication—will once again produce outstanding college hitters who earn all types of honors.

Last year’s Hit Clubbers got to enjoy a ropes course in Irvine, California.

Louisville Slugger and Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) have partnered to give 10 elite players in the Class of 2018 the chance to spend three fun and education-filled days that will include everything from hanging out at Disneyland together to watching a home game at the Los Angeles Angels’ stadium in Anaheim to participating in a rope course to competing to see who ranks as the most impressive hitters by top softball players and coaches.

Along the way the 10 athletes will get instruction and advice that includes instruction from coaching legend Sue Enquist, a noted mental edge speaker and former Hit Club alumni who are now making an impact at the collegiate level.

Just to be invited is a huge honor and caps off esteemed high school and club careers that includes for many being named PGF All-Americans, Gatorade State Players of the Year and/or Extra Inning Softball Elite 100 selections.

The 2017 Louisville Slugger Hit Club class included a National Freshman of the Year five other who earned All-Conference honors so far.

Past Hit Club participants have included such current college standouts as WCWS MVP Shay Knighten (Oklahoma) and National Player of the Year finalist Amanda Lorenz (Florida) from the Class of 2015 to recently named NFCA 1st Team All-Americans such as Nicole “Sis” Bates (Washington) and Aaliyah Jordan (UCLA) from the 2016 Hit Club to last year’s group which included National Freshman of the Year Jocelyn Alo (Oklahoma) and 1st Team All-SEC and Conference Freshman of the Year Mia Davidson (Mississippi State).

This summer’s selections have been evaluated by a panel of coaches, scouts and evaluators who look for hitting expertise, technique and ability for all types of hitters ranging from speedy slappers to long-ball mashers and are chosen primarily from the pool of players chosen as PGF All-Americans with many participating in the PGF All-American game on Friday, July 27—the day before the Hit Club begins.

Amanda Freed talks hitting at the 2016 Louisville Slugger Hit Club with Sis Bates, Jessica Harper and Shannon Rhodes.

The players over the last three years have received hitting instruction and analysis from former playing legends such as Jessica Mendoza, Amanda Freed and Lovie Jung, who have helped in the selection of an event MVP.

Last year it was Jocelyn Alo who ended up being this year’s National Freshman of the Year. Amanda Freed, who won a National Championship at UCLA and a Gold Medal in the Olympics, said in her evaluation of the power hitter from Hawai: “Jocelyn has quick hands with a lot of power and has a nice, strong base through her swing.”

The 2016 Class enjoyed a game at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, California.

Two years ago the MVP was Sis Bates and Freed commented: “Nicole is extremely versatile with great hand-eye coordination and touch. She has quick hands when swinging away and good power.”

From the three years of invitees, there have been 31 total players (in 2016 there were 11 players as future NFCA All-American Jessica Harper was so impressive during the PGF 18U Nationals, she was a late addition) and collectively their honors include the following:

  • 1 WCWS MVP
  • 2 National Champions
  • 2 who have won National Freshman of the Year honors
  • 2 who are on the USA Softball Women’s National Team
  • 5 who have played in the Women’s College World Series finals
  • 5 who made the USA Softball Jr. National Team
  • 6 who have earned All-American honors
  • 13 who made the All-Freshman Team
  • 14 who have been named All-Conference
  • 19 who have played in the WCWS

Over the next seven weeks leading up to this year’s Hit Club, Extra Inning Softball will announce and profile the 10 invitees and tomorrow (Wednesday) morning we’ll reveal the first player who has been locked in!

And Extra Inning Softball be there in person to provide exclusive interviews and insights during the three-day weekend until the MVP is announced at the final dinner Monday, July 30.

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