RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
COLLEGE
ABOUT
The fourth year of the Louisville Slugger Hit Club will take place in Orange County, California starting this Saturday, July 28 and will conclude Monday July 30 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)
- Invite #7: Skyler Shellmyer (SS/OF, Northwestern)
- Invite #8: Ally Shipman (C, Tennessee)
… and we’re happy to announce today that Anna Vines, the speedy So Cal infielder/outfielder signed with UCLA, is the ninth publicly announced confirmed player who will attend!
Here’s a closer look at 2018 Louisville Slugger Hit Club Invite #9 of the 10 standouts who will make up the 2018 Class…
NAME: ANNA VINES
Hometown: Temecula, California
Positions: Middle Infield/Outfield
Club Team: Firecrackers-Rico/Weil
High School: Vista Murrieta (Murrieta, California)
GPA: 3.1
College: UCLA
When Committed: April of freshman year
Height: 5-foot-6
Top Honors: Top 15 ranked prospect in the Extra Elite 100, PGF All-American
Other Universities Considered: Tennessee, Oregon, Arizona, Northwestern
Preferred College Major: Political Science
Scouting Report: Versatile player who is a triple threat with excellent ability to hit, slap and bunt and ultimately find a way to get on base at the top of the lineup. Following in the footsteps of her older sister, Brooke, who was in the first class of the Louisville Slugger Hit Club and is currently at Tennessee and has played for Team USA, Anna has won an ASA 10U and PGF 14U National Championship playing with the Corona Angels before joining the Firecrackers.
*****
What’s your approach to hitting that you believe has made you successful?
My approach that I believe has made me successful is putting the ball on the ground and making the defense have to field and throw the ball.
What’s been your highlight of your career and why?
The highlight of my career was winning PGF in 14s. It was a great experience being able to play on a bigger stage.
What did you know about the Louisville Slugger Hit Club before being invited?
Before being invited, I knew that the Louisville Slugger Hit Club gathered the top 10 hitters together to highlight there success, then have them play small activities to test their skills.
What’s been the #1 thing, in your mind, that’s helped you develop as a good hitter?
The #1 thing that I constantly repeat in my mind is to breath, put the ball in play, and run fast.
What goes through your mind as you step into the batter’s box?
When I step into the batter’s box I remind myself to breath and read the situation.
Other than the obvious, getting on base, what would you qualify as a successful at-bat?
A successful at-bat can qualify as moving runners into scoring position, scoring a run, taking good swings at good pitches, and making the pitcher throw as many pitches possible.
Who’s a player, past or present, you look up to and why?
I look up to my sister, Brooke Vines, because she has gone through three surgeries on the same shoulder and still has a heart willing to fight for her teammates. I also look up to Sis Bates because of her presence on the field. She plays big and and does anything to put her team in the bests position to be successful.
When did you first realize you had the ability to play at the next level?
I first realized that I had the ability to play at the next level during the summer of my freshman year going into my sophomore year.
What is it you love about softball if you were explaining your passion for the sport to someone not familiar with it?
What I love about the game of softball is how it’s a game of failure. You’re going to fail more than you succeed, but the best thing about it is that you learn grit and competitiveness through it. For me competitiveness is what makes the game fun and exciting.