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ABOUT
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’ve earned all types of honors including Extra Inning Softball Elite 100 status as well as All-American recognition.
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)
- Invite #5: Baylee Klingler (IF, Texas A&M)
- Invite #6: Rachel Cid (3B/MIF, Oregon)
… and we’re happy to announce today that Skyler Shellmyer the speedy infielder headed to Northwestern, is the seventh publicly announced confirmed player who will attend!
Here’s a closer look at 2018 Louisville Slugger Hit Club Invite #7 of the 10 standouts who will make up the 2018 Class…
NAME: SKYLER SHELLMYER
Hometown: Urbandale, Iowa
Positions: Shortstop/Outfield
Club Team: Beverly Bandits
High School: Urbandale (Iowa) High School
GPA: 3.9
College: Northwestern
When Committed: Junior year (2016)
Height: 5-foot-5
Other Sports: Track
Top Stats/Honors: Extra Elite 100 (Top 20 ranking); four-time 1st team All-State (2015-2018); 2nd Team All-State (2014) as an 8th grader.
Other Universities Considered: Drake University, University of Minnesota
Preferred College Major: Economics
Scouting Report:
Skyler’s biggest asset is her speed. She has been clocked at 2.5 to first. She is a very well-rounded hitter. She can slap and also hit for power. She is able to make adjustments from at bat-to-at bat and also during her at bats. Skyler can also read defenses very well and adjust her at bats accordingly to find a way to get on base. She is a tough out and makes defending her pretty close to impossible when she is on.
Defensively, Skyler can do about anything. She uses her speed to get to balls the average player wouldn’t get to. She has great arm strength to throw girls out from the hole at shortstop. She moves well and reads balls off the bat. She uses her skills to be leader on the infield and leads by example. There is no ball she won’t give an effort for.
Coach’s Comments:
“Skyler is a very special player. She is that player that everyone wants. Skyler has tremendous leadership skills and plays hard all the time. Sometimes just watching her make some of the plays she does you are just in aww. Skyler has the “IT” factor that all coaches look for. You know what you are going to get out of her every time she is on the field; she has worked very hard and has a great work ethic. That is why she is where she is today. Skyler has been a staple of our program for five years and made a huge impact in our community and our softball family.”
— Nick McCool, Urbandale High School Head Coach
*****
What’s your approach to hitting that you believe has made you successful?
Keeping my hands high to get more of a down angle to the ball to produce more line drives and ground balls instead of pop flies.
What’s been your highlight of your career and why?
Winning PGF Nationals last year with the Bandits because that was the biggest stage in all of my competitive years. And to win on that big of a stage was an absolute thrill.
What did you know about the Louisville Slugger Hit Club before being invited?
Before being invited I did not know as much about it, but I do recall a former teammate, Lauren Burke (Oregon), being invited to participate last year.
What’s been the #1 thing in your mind that’s helped you develop as a good hitter?
Knowing situations and how the defense is playing me to determine whether I should bunt, slap, or hit away.
What goes through your mind as you step into the batter’s box?
As I step into the box I think about anyway I can get on base to help my team.
Other than the obvious, getting on base, what would you qualify as a successful at-bat?
I would think a good at-bat would be going deep into the count or simply moving a runner.
Who’s a player, past or present, you look up to and why?
Honestly, I don’t really look up to anyone… I just play the game as hard as I can.
When did you first realize you had the ability to play at the next level?
I was down at a Softball Factory event in Oklahoma City at the same time the Junior National team was playing… and I realized that I could play with those girls.
What is it you love most about softball?
I love being a part of something bigger than me. It gives me purpose when I am fighting with my team for a common goal. I honestly just love playing hard and getting dirty.