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The fourth year of the Louisville Slugger Hit Club will take place in Orange County, California from Saturday, July 28-30, 2018 and will once again produce outstanding college hitters who earn all types of honors.
Past Hit Club participants have included such current college standouts as WCWS MVP Shay Knighten (Oklahoma), National Player of the Year finalist Amanda Lorenz (Florida) and 1st Team NFCA All-American Aubrey Leach (Tennessee) 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).
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:
- spending time at Disneyland
- watching a home game at the Los Angeles Angels’ stadium in Anaheim
- participating in a rope course
- competing to see who ranks as the most impressive hitters and earns the MVP award
Extra Inning Softball is the exclusive media partner for the Louisville Slugger and in the weeks leading up to the three-day event will unveil this year’s class.
So far the standouts announced have included…
- Invite #1: Kassidy Krupit (IF/PF, Baylor)
- Invite #2: Brittany Allen (1B, Florida)
- Invite #3: Kelli Godin (OF, UCLA)
- Invite #4: Skylar Wallace (IF, Alabama)
… and we’re happy to announce today that Baylee Klingler, the prodigious hitter who will play at Texas A&M, is the fifth publicly announced confirmed player who will attend!
Here’s a closer look at 2018 Louisville Slugger Hit Club Invite #5 as we reach the halfway point in announcing the 10 standouts who will make up the 2018 Class…
NAME: BAYLEE KLINGLER
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Positions: 3B/SS/C
Club Team: Texas Impact Gold-Jackson
High School: Dickinson High (Texas)
GPA: 3.2
College: Texas A&M
When Committed: 8th Grade (Fall 2013)
Height: 5-foot-9
Other Sports: Volleyball
Top Stats/Honors:
- Member of the USA Jr. Women’s Team (Champions of Junior Worlds)
- Senior Season Stats: batting average .589, 38 runs batted in, 11 home runs, walked 34 times, OBP .725, slugging percentage of 1.268 and batting average of .625 with runners in scoring position
- 4x 1st Team All District
- 4x 1st Team All Galveston County
- Co-MVP All Galveston County (sr. year)
- 2x All State Team (jr./sr. years)
- Max Preps Preseason All-American
- Extra Inning Softball 2018 All-American
- Extra Inning Softball Extra Elite 100, Class of 2018 (ranked #5)
- Galveston County Female Athlete of the Rear finalist
- Vype Preseason Player of the Year finalist
Other Universities Considered: LSU and Oklahoma
Preferred College Major: Communications/Journalism
Scouting Report: Baylee had 10 college softball offers by the time she was in 8th grade in large part because she’s such a dangerous hitter who has already shined on the international state as the only high school player to participate on the USA Jr. National Team last year. She didn’t just attend, she shined as she helped Team USA take the Gold Medal in the 2017 WBSC Jr. World Championship by hitting .393 with two home runs and 12 RBI. Skilled enough with the glove to play the left side of the infield, the outfield and even catch, the Texas A&M signee has good athletic bloodlines as her father, Jimmy Klingler, was a record-setting QB at the Univ. of Houston in the early 1990’s.
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What’s your approach to hitting that you believe has made you successful?
I believe my approach to having a plan every time I step in the box has helped me tremendously.
What’s been the highlight of your career and why?
Obviously, the day I committed to Texas A & M was huge. After visiting the school and getting to know the coaches, I knew that this is where I am meant to be.
As far as playing the game, the highlight of my career on the field, so far, has been winning the Junior Worlds Championship against Japan last summer. It was such an amazing experience seeing teams from all over the world and playing beside some of the best players in the USA and being coached by some of the best. As a team, we had a great bond and it showed on the field.
What did you know about the Louisville Slugger Hit Club before being invited?
I knew that you had to be a good, productive hitter and I knew that some of my fellow teammates from USA team had participated (and I knew they were great hitters and players).
What’s been the #1 thing in your mind that’s helped you develop as a good hitter?
I think the number one thing that has helped me develop into a good hitter is the mentality that I will win the at bat. I am very competitive, so when I step into the box, I want to win the at bat and put my team in a position to win a game.
What goes through your mind as you step into the batter’s box?
Honestly, I try not to think too much when I get in the box. Before I go to the plate, I look at the situation and decide what my plan will be. Then, that is when the hours in the cage come into play. I let my practice and experience take over. I trust the process that I have been using to execute a quality at bat.
Other than the obvious, getting on base, what would you qualify as a successful at-bat?
I look at a quality at bat as executing the plan that I had when I stepped into the box. If a runner is on base, what did I do to move that runner or put her in the position to score? If there is no one on base, did I square up on a pitch that was the pitch that I was looking for?
Where can we see you play this summer?
We played in Colorado at the Boulder IDT and will be in Georgia for Triple Crown/USA Nationals and California for PGF Nationals.
Who’s a player, past or present, you look up to and why?
Honestly, I have been blessed to play beside some great teammates and players. I learned so much from all of my teammates on the USA team, being able to watch great players like them and players like Tori Vidales at A&M. Her approach to hitting has been a great learning experience for me.
One player that I have been amazed by as I watch her at-bats and approach is Kelly Kretschman. I had the privilege of playing beside her at the USA Selection Camp and she has one of the best eyes for the ball that I have seen. I don’t know that I have seen her swing at a bad ball. She is a very disciplined hitter.
When did you first realize you had the ability to play at the next level?
Honestly, I think it was in the 8th grade. I was on an 18U Gold team with a bunch of seniors and juniors that were going to big schools and were great athletes. As the season progressed, I earned a starting spot at second base. My teammates were so good about taking me under their wing and pushing me to be the best I could and it made me better as a result. That season showed me that you had to work hard to achieve your dreams.
What is it you love about softball?
I love the relationships you build while playing softball. And, I love that every game is different and requires you to do different things. I enjoy the speed of the game and the fact that you have to do your job to help your team achieve a goal.