Author: katiewoods
Gardenhire Highlights 2015 NBC Hall of Fame Class
WICHITA, KS The National Baseball Congress is proud to announce the 2015 Hall of Fame class. Six worthy inductees will be honored during the 81st NBC World Series, July 24th to August 8th at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Since the inaugural Hall of Fame Class in 1991 the National Baseball Congress has chosen to recognize some of the great contributors to the NBC legacy. The 2015 class is comprised of; Emmett Ashford, Ron Gardenhire, Chris Hmielewski, Frank Leo, Gil Carter and John Braden.
Ashford, inspired by Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier as a player, became Major League Baseball’s first African-American umpire in 1966. Ashford umpired five seasons in MLB, including the 1967 All-Star game and the 1970 World Series. After his retirement from MLB, Ashford served as Umpire-In-Chief for the Alaska Baseball League in the early 70’s, then worked the NBC World Series for a couple of years.
Gardenhire managed the Minnesota Twins for 13 season, compiling a win-loss record of 1068-1039. He earned the AL Manager of the Year in 2010 after his team finished the season 94-68. Gardenhire played in the NBC World Series in 1977 and 1978 for Wichita (KS) Coors. Gardenhire also logged five years of MLB service as a short-stop and second baseman for the New York Mets.
Hmielewski is in his 10th year as the Director of Athletics at Southwest Minnesota State University. However, around Wichita, he?s known to have one of the best World Series performances ever. As a slugging first baseman and pitcher for Kenai (AK) Peninsula Oilers during the 1991 NBC World Series, Hmielewski smacked 8 homeruns, a record 25 RBI and 42 total bases.
This is Frank Leo’s 33rd season as manager for the Hays Larks. During his tenure, the Larks have won six NBC Midwest Regional titles, and eight Jayhawk League titles. Leo has coached the Larks in 23 trips to the NBC World Series. Finishing as Runner up in 1995, 2000, 2001 and 2007. Leo was inducted into Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.
Carter is known as the man who hit the longest homerun in organized baseball, a record 733 feet!!!! Carter helped the Wichita Rapid Transit Dreamliners to NBC World Series Championships in 1962 and 1963. Belting six homeruns during the 62′ World Series. In July, Carter will be inducted into the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame. Recently, his family was presented the Pride of Kansas Award by the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.
Braden, became the first manager to guide teams to five NBC World Series Championships with teams from Fort Wayne, Indiana. He racked up four straight from 1947 to 1950, with number five happening in 1956. A dominating run though the NBC World Series in the early years has earned him a place in the National Baseball Congress Hall of Fame.
The 2015 Hall of Fame class will be inducted on six different nights during the World Series. The 81st National Baseball Congress World Series will be held in Wichita, KS on Friday, July 24th with a National Champion crowned on Saturday, August 8th. For more information visit www.nbcbaseball.com or call the NBC Office at 316-977-9400.
NBC Announces Hunter Pence as the 2015 Graduate of the Year
WICHITA, KS The National Baseball Congress announces San Francisco Giants and former Liberal BeeJay Hunter Pence as the 2015 National Baseball Congress Graduate of the Year.
NBC World Series Graduate of the Year is awarded based on the previous season stats. In 2014 Pence helped lead the San Francisco Giants to a franchise eighth World Series title. During the season Pence hit a .277 average with 20 homeruns, 180 hits and 74 RBIs. Including a career high for the post season .444 batting average, one homerun and five RBIs in the Major League World Series. Runner up in voting was Detroit Tigers and former Liberal BeeJay, Ian Kinsler.
During the summer of 2003, Pence played for the Liberal BeeJays of the Jayhawk League. During his lone season with the BeeJays, the left fielder was named the team?s MVP after an incredible season. Pence led the team with a .429 average, four triples, seven home runs, 39 RBIs, 61 hits, 48 home runs and was second on the team with 12 doubles. At the NBC World Series Pence, batted .500 in three games and tallied two RBIs and a .714 slugging percentage.
In the spring of 2007, Pence made his major league debut in center field for the Houston Astros. Even with an injury shortened season Pence was still unanimously selected to the Major League Rookie All-Star Team. From that day on Pence has proven to be an asset to each team he goes to.
In a big league career that began in 2007, the 32-year old Pence has batted .284 with 187 home runs, 702 RBIs and has appeared in three All-Star games. He also features a career slugging percentage of .471.
In the 2015 MLB season Pence has had to battle back from an injury to his left forearm. Pence has seen action in 18 games, and he has been hitting .282 while hitting two homeruns and 13 RBIs.
The Graduate of the Year Award has been given out since 1975 and past award recipients include Tony Gwynn, Joe Carter, Dave Winfield, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Albert Pujols, Tim Lincecum, Mark Teixeira, and Alex Gordon.
The 81st Annual National Baseball Congress World Series begins in Wichita, KS on Friday, July 24th with a National Champion crowned on Saturday, August 8th. For more information visit www.nbcbaseball.com or call the NBC Office at 316-977-9400.
Buck Named To U.S. Women’s National Team
DURHAM, N.C. — USA Baseball announced the 18 players named to the 2015 U.S. Women’s Baseball National Team following the completion of three days of on-field trials in North Carolina. The 18 players will represent Team USA, July 20 to 26, when women’s baseball makes its multi-sport event debut at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.
The 2015 U.S. Women’s Pan American Baseball Team is made up of 18 athletes from eight different states. California led the way with six selections, followed by four from Texas, three from Florida and single representatives from Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, South Carolina and Washington.
Twelve of the 18 players represented Team USA in the first-ever Pan American Games Women’s Baseball Qualifier in La Vega, Dominican Republic, where the U.S. went a perfect 5-0, winning gold and qualifying to compete in the Pan American Games for the first time. Thirteen of the selected athletes have previously competed with the Women’s National Team in World Cup events, most notably Malaika Underwood and Tamara Holmes who have competed in five and four World Cups, respectively.
The roster also includes the reigning USA Baseball Sportswoman of the Year, Sarah Hudek, as well as Holmes and Jenna Marston who earned the sportswoman of the year honor in 2012 and 2010.
The U.S. Women’s National Team will reconvene on July 8 to prepare for the Pan American Games with 10 days of training both domestically and in Canada. Team USA will meet Venezuela on July 20 at President’s Choice Ajax Pan Am Ballpark in Ajax, Ontario, in the historic first-ever women’s baseball game in the Pan American Games. It will also be the first women’s baseball game contested at a multi-sport, multi-nation event.
Team USA’s pool play schedule includes Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Canada. Pan American Games semifinals are scheduled on July 25 with the medal round games on July 26.
The Women’s National Team will be led by Jonathan Pollard, who returns as manager after guiding the 2014 USA Baseball Women’s National Team to a silver medal at the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup in Miyazaki, Japan, last September. Pollard will be joined on the staff by pitching coach, Matt Weagle, and assistant coaches, Kerry Kincaid and Mike Morgan. Cameron Harris will serve as press officer for the U.S. delegation during the Toronto Pan American Games.
The 18-woman U.S. Women’s Baseball Pan American Games roster is as follows:
Name, Position, Hometown
Veronica Alvarez, C, Miami, Fla.
Ryleigh Buck, IF/RHP, Wellington, Kan.
Samantha Cobb, OF/RHP, Garland, Texas
Veronica Gajownik, IF/RHP, Chuluota, Fla.
Brittany Gomez, OF, New Braunfels, Texas
Jade Gortarez, IF/RHP, Riverside, Calif.
Tara Harbert, OF, Boulder, Colo.
Tamara Holmes, OF, Albany, Calif.
Sarah Hudek, LHP/OF, Sugar Land, Texas
Anna Kimbrell, C/RHP, Fort Mill, S.C.
Jenna Marston, RHP/IF, St. Louis, Mo.
Stacy Piagno, RHP, St. Augustine, Fla.
Nicole Rivera, IF/RHP, Lakeside, Calif.
Cydnee Sanders, IF/RHP, Magnolia, Texas
Marti Sementelli, RHP, Sherman Oak, Calif.
Michelle Snyder, IF/RHP, Wenatchee, Wash.
Malaika Underwood, IF, San Diego, Calif.
Kelsie Whitmore, OF/RHP, Temecula, Calif.
For more information on the Women’s National Team program, please visit USABaseball.com or follow @USABaseballWNT on Twitter.
New Fan Experience Membership, Ticket Prices Announced For 2015 World Series
Wichita, KS— The National Baseball Congress is excited to announce the new NBC Fan Club for the upcoming 81st NBC World Series.
This opportunity gives fans unique experiences and benefits during the World Series, July 24-Aug. 8.
Included in the membership is an NBC Fan Club performance T-Shirt, 10 lower box flex tickets, $10 in NBC Concession Bucks. Plus, members will receive access to exclusive team, player and Hall of Fame meet and greet opportunities during the tournament. NBC Fan Club memberships are priced at $75.
Kevin Jenks, NBC World Series general manager, expressed his excitement about the new fan club.
“We want to build an opportunity that gives the fans the feeling of ownership with the National Baseball Congress and their beloved World Series,” Jenks said. “So many of our fans support us year-in, and year-out, it’s time for them to feel rewarded for their loyalty.”
In addition to the membership, members who volunteer for three games during the World Series receive 40-percent off gift shop purchases and 25-percent off NBC fundraising entry fees and events.
However, the NBC Fan Club is not the only way fans or individuals can get involved by volunteering. The tournament depends heavily on the work and effort of volunteers, this year’s tournament being no different.
The NBC World Series also unveiled the new ticket pricing for this year’s summer tournament.
Ticket packages are significantly lower than in years past. Prices are as follows:
Full World Series Pass:
Lower Box: $150*, Upper Box: $120*, Evening Sessions Only: $120*
*World Series Passes include 1 (one) VIP Parking Pass
Individual Sessions:
Lower Box: $10, Upper Box/GA Bleachers: $6
NBC Flex Tickets:
20 Pack: Lower Box: $100, Upper Box: $60
40 pack: Lower Box: $200, Upper Box: $120
For information about our inclusive picnics, party decks and Skybox suites, please contact the National Baseball Congress office, 316-977-9400.
Baseball ‘Round The Clock
The Nicole Kirk-Baseball ‘Round The Clock returns for the 26th straight year and is slated for July 31-Aug. 2.
Entry is $20 while, any fan with a World Series Pass will only be charged $5. Fans this yearhave thechance to compete for a cash prize upon completing and winning the marathon event.
The contest spans 17 games over the three day stretch, beginning with the 4 p.m. game Friday, July 31, and finally concluding with the 10 p.m. game Sunday evening.
Fans will once again compete to see who can outlast the pack and complete all 17 games in 56 hours. For complete contest rules and registration, call the office or contact Jason Ybarra at jason@nbcbaseball.com.
NBC Forms Partnership With D-BAT For Upcoming World Series
The National Baseball Congress proudly announces D-BAT as the official wood bat sponsor for the 81st NBC World Series.
D-BAT, which produces elite professional model wood bats, will provide team bats for the summer showcase, slated to begin July 24.
NBC tournament director and general manager Kevin Jenks expressed his respect and excitement about the opportunity.
“D-BAT produces a quality product that players will be very confident with once they get these bats in their hands,” Jenks said. “The company and their bats are highly respected throughout the baseball industry, as well as, throughout many of the leagues and teams affiliated with the NBC World Series. The partnership between D-BAT and the NBC is truly a perfect fit.”
D-BAT is based out of Carrollton, Texas. For more information about the company and their products, visit dbatinc.com.
Former NBC Players On Golden Spikes Watch List
Congratulations to these former NBC players for being selected to the Golden Spikes Watch List. Presented by USA Baseball, the list includes: Santa Barbara, CA Foresters Riley Ferrell, RHP, Junior, TCU and Blake Fox, RHP, Junior, Rice. San Luis Obispo, CA Blues Sheldon Neuse, 3B, Sophomore, Oklahoma. Anchorage, AK Bucs Zack Collins, C, Sophomore, Miami. Clarinda, IA A’s Blake Trahan, SS, Junior, Louisiana-Lafayette.
DURHAM, N.C. — USA Baseball released its 50-player preseason USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award watch list on Tuesday, beginning the organization’s journey to naming the top amateur baseball player in the country in a trophy presentation on Tuesday, June 23 in Los Angeles. Sponsored by Major League Baseball, and presented in partnership with the Rod Dedeaux Foundation, 2015 marks the 38th year of the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award.
The preseason watch list features 50 of the nation’s top amateur players, and will be a “rolling” list until May 22 — when the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award semifinalists are announced — ensuring that athletes can play themselves into consideration for the award throughout the collegiate and high school seasons.
“It is hard to believe that we will be presenting the Golden Spikes Award for the 38th time this June,” said USA Baseball’s executive director/CEO, Paul Seiler. “2015 looks to be another outstanding year for amateur baseball and we can’t wait to follow the competition across all levels of the game this season.”
Six players on the watch list have previously been named semifinalists for the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award in their careers. Nathan Kirby (LHP, junior, Virginia), Michael Murray (RHP, junior, Florida Gulf Coast) and DJ Stewart (OF, junior, Florida State) were all semifinalists for the award in 2014, while David Berg (RHP, senior, UCLA), Alex Bregman (SS, junior, LSU) and Thomas Eshelman (RHP, junior, Cal State Fullerton) earned the recognition in the 2013 season.
Players on the list represent 17 different collegiate athletic conferences, led by Southeastern Conference with 12 players named to the watch list. The Atlantic Coast Conference has 10 athletes on the list, while the Pac 12 has eight. 2014 NCAA Division I national champion, Vanderbilt, leads all institutions with three players on the preseason watch list, while Cal State Fullerton, Florida, Miami (Fla.), TCU, UCLA and Virginia all placed a pair of athletes on the list.
Also appearing on the list are three non-NCAA Division I athletes. Phil Bickford (RHP, sophomore, College of Southern Nevada) is the lone junior college representative after winning the Robert A. McNeese Award in the Cape Code League last summer. Two-time Division III national player and pitcher of the year, Chris Haddeland (RHP, senior, Linfield), returns to the watch list after receiving consideration for the Golden Spikes Award late into the 2014 season. Brendan Rodgers (SS, senior, Lake Mary (Fla.) HS) is the only high school athlete on the preseason watch list. Bryce Harper (2010) and Alex Fernandez (1990) are the only two non-NCAA Division I winners of the award.
On April 9, USA Baseball will release its 60-man midseason watch list, shaped by the Golden Spikes Award committee. On May 22, USA Baseball will announce the semifinalists for the 2015 Golden Spikes Award. The semifinalists list will be sent to a voting body consisting of past USA Baseball National Team coaches and press officers, members of the media that follow the amateur game closely, select professional baseball personnel, current USA Baseball staff and the 37 previous winners of the award, representing a group of more than 200 voters.
Fan voting will once again be a part of the Golden Spikes Award in 2015. Friday, May 22, marks the day when amateur baseball fans across the country will be able to vote for their favorite semifinalists at GoldenSpikesAward.com. As part of this selection process, all voters will be asked to choose three players from the list. On Tuesday, June 3, USA Baseball will announce the finalists, and voting will once again commence that same day.
The 2015 Golden Spikes Award winner will be named on Tuesday, June 23, at a presentation in Los Angeles. The finalists and their families will be honored at the Rod Dedeaux Foundation Dinner that evening at the Jonathan Club in downtown Los Angeles.
Last year, University of Kentucky’s two-way star, A.J. Reed, took home the prestigious award, joining a group of recent winners that includes Kris Bryant (2013), Mike Zunino (2012), Trevor Bauer (2011), Bryce Harper (2010), Stephen Strasburg (2009) and Buster Posey (2008).
The anticipated timeline for the 2015 Golden Spikes Award announcements is:
- Tuesday, February 10: 2015 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award 50-man preseason watch list
- Thursday, April 9: 2015 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award 60-man midseason watch list
- Thursday, May 7: 2015 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award 30-man preliminary list
- Friday, May 22: 2015 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award semifinalists, voting begins
- Friday, May 29: 2015 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award semifinalists voting ends
- Tuesday, June 3: 2015 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award finalists, voting begins
- Friday, June 12: 2015 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award finalists voting ends
- Tuesday, June 23: 2015 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award trophy presentation
A complete list of the 50-player USA Baseball preseason Golden Spikes Award watch list is as follows:
Name, Position, Class, School, Conference
David Berg, RHP, Senior, UCLA, Pac 12
Phil Bickford, RHP, Sophomore, CC of Southern Nevada, Scenic West (JC)
Alex Bregman, SS, Junior, LSU, SEC
Walker Buehler, RHP, Junior, Vanderbilt, SEC
Austin Byler, 3B, Senior, Nevada, Mountain West
Shaun Chase, C, Senior, Oregon, Pac 12
Zack Collins, C, Sophomore, Miami, ACC
Wil Crowe, RHP, Sophomore, South Carolina, SEC
Tyler Davis, RHP, Senior, Washington, Pac 12
Steven Duggar, OF, Junior, Clemson, ACC
Thomas Eshelman, RHP, Junior, Cal State Fullerton, Big West
Riley Ferrell, RHP, Junior, TCU, Big 12
Blake Fox, LHP, Junior, Rice, C-USA
Carson Fulmer, RHP, Junior, Vanderbilt, SEC
Kyle Funkhouser, RHP, Junior, Louisville, ACC
Justin Garza, RHP, Junior, Cal State Fullerton, Big West
Eric Gutierrez, 1B, Junior, Texas Tech, Big 12
Chris Haddeland, RHP, Senior, Linfield, Northwest Athletic (DIII)
Ian Happ, OF, Junior, Cincinnati, American Athletic
Tyler Jay, LHP, Junior, Illinois, Big 10
Casey Jones, OF, Senior, Elon, CAA
James Kaprielian, RHP, Junior, UCLA, Pac 12
Nathan Kirby, LHP, Junior, Virginia, ACC
Jake Lemoine, RHP, Junior, Houston, American Athletic
Brett Lilek, LHP, Junior, Arizona State, Pac 12
Richie Martin, SS, Junior, Florida, SEC
Tate Matheny, OF, Junior, Missouri State, Missouri Valley
Michael Matuella, RHP, Junior, Duke, ACC
Andrew Moore, RHP, Junior, Oregon State, Pac 12
Preston Morrison, RHP, Senior, TCU, Big 12
Michael Murray, RHP, Junior, Florida Gulf Coast, Atlantic Sun
Sheldon Neuse, 3B, Sophomore, Oklahoma, Big 12
Kevin Newman, SS, Junior, Arizona, Pac 12
Connor Panas, 3B, Senior, Canisius, MAAC
Cal Quantrill, RHP, Sophomore, Stanford, Pac 12
Brendan Rodgers, SS, Senior (High School), Lake Mary (Fla.), High School
Chris Shaw, OF, Junior, Boston College, ACC
Logan Shore, RHP, Sophomore, Florida, SEC
DJ Stewart, OF, Junior, Florida State, ACC
Christin Stewart, OF, Junior, Tennessee, SEC
Andrew Suarez, LHP, RS-Junior, Miami, ACC
Dansby Swanson, SS, Junior, Vanderbilt, SEC
Keegan Thompson, RHP, Sophomore, Auburn, SEC
Trent Thornton, RHP, Junior, North Carolina, ACC
Blake Trahan, SS, Junior, Louisiana-Lafayette, Sun Belt
Christian Trent, LHP, Junior, Ole Miss, SEC
Robert Tyler, RHP, Sophomore, Georgia, SEC
Brandon Waddell, LHP, Junior, Virginia, ACC
Colin Welmon, RHP, Senior, Loyola Marymount, West Coast
Mikey White, SS, Junior, Alabama, SEC
Kansas High Schooler Will Play For USA Baseball
DURHAM, N.C. — USA Baseball announced the 36 players named to the 2015 USA Baseball Women’s National Team on Tuesday, following a multi-event selection process approved by the U.S. Olympic Committee. Trials will be held May 22 to 24, 2015, with the final 18-player USA Baseball Women’s Pan American Games Team being named following the event. Ryleigh Buck of Wellington, KS is one of the players selected to the team. In March, she’ll travel with the team to the Dominican Republic to play in a qualifier and represent USA Baseball. Ryleigh will then have a chance to be selected to play in the Pan Am Games.
“Finalizing Trials selections is always tough and this year proved to be particularly difficult with the level of talent we saw at the inaugural Women’s National Open,” Women’s National Team Director, Ashley Bratcher, said. “We are extremely pleased with the group of women we have coming into Trials in May and look forward to the next phase of preparation for this summer’s Pan American Games.”
Players were named to the Trials from the 2014 USA Baseball Women’s National Team Identification Series, the 2015 USA Baseball Women’s National Open, as well as a petition process and discretionary selections.
The roster is comprised of athletes from 13 different states, as well as an athlete from Washington, D.C. California is the most represented state with nine athletes named to the Trials roster, followed by Texas with six and Florida with four. Illinois and South Carolina each have a trio of athletes competing for a roster spot, while Georgia and Washington each send a pair of players. Alaska, Colorado, Kansas, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia will each have a representative at the Trials.
The 2015 USA Baseball Women’s National Team will be managed by Jonathan Pollard who led the program to the silver medal as manager at the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup in Miyazaki, Japan in 2014. Pollard, a resident of Woburn, Mass., also won the silver medal with the Women’s National Team at the 2012 IBAF Women’s World Cup as the pitching coach.
Joining Pollard in the dugout is pitching coach Matt Weagle who served in the same role for the silver-medal winning 2014 USA Baseball Women’s National Team. A native of Charlton, Mass., Weagle guided a pitching staff that posted a 2.07 ERA in 65 and one-third innings pitched last summer.
Off the field, the Women’s National Team is guided by director, Ashley Bratcher. Kim Moncel returns to the Women’s National Team as the certified athletic trainer, and Cameron Harris will join the team as the press officer for the Pan American Games.
For more information on the Women’s National Team, please visit USABaseball.com.
The 36-player USA Baseball Women’s National Team Trials roster is as follows:
Name, Position, Hometown
Veronica Alvarez, C, Miami, Fla.
Gabrielle Augustine, RHP, Palmerton, Pa.
Susanne Boden, LHP, Atlanta, Ga.
Ryleigh Buck, IF/RHP, Wellington, Kan.
Cayla Calderon, OF/IF, Canyon Country, Calif.
Samantha Cobb, OF/RHP, Garland, Texas
Megan Dedrick, IF/RHP, Everett, Wash.
Eliza DeMers, IF/OF, Rochester, N.Y.
Caitlin Everett, OF, Sunnyvale, Texas
Riley Frisbie, RHP/C, Countryside, Ill.
Lauren Frost, IF/RHP, Eagle River, Alaska
Alex Fulmer, RHP, Little Mountain, S.C.
Tera Gainer, IF/OF, Tallahassee, Fla.
Veronica Gajownik, IF/RHP, Chuluota, Fla.
Brittany Gomez, OF, New Braunfels, Texas
Jade Gortarez, IF/RHP, Riverside, Calif.
Kayla Haberstich, RHP, Bartlett, Ill.
Tara Harbert, OF, Boulder, Colo.
Tamara Holmes, OF, Albany, Calif.
Lindsay Horwitz, RHP, Gurnee, Ill.
Sarah Hudek, LHP/OF, Sugar Land, Texas
Anna Kimbrell, C/RHP, Fort Mill, S.C.
Sydney Love-Baker, C, Washington, D.C.
Meaghan May, C, Spring, Texas
Stacy Piagno, RHP, St. Augustine, Fla.
Nicole Rivera, IF/RHP, Lakeside, Calif.
Cydnee Sanders, IF/RHP, Magnolia, Texas
Marti Sementelli, RHP, Sherman Oak, Calif.
Michelle Snyder, IF/RHP, Wenatchee, Wash.
Laura Trout, OF, Alexandria, Va.
Malaika Underwood, IF, San Diego, Calif.
Emily Grace White, RHP/OF, Marietta, Ga.
Kelsie Whitmore, OF/RHP, Temecula, Calif.
Donna Williams, RHP, Fremont, Calif.
Nichole Willis, C, Clovis, Calif.
Codee Yeske, IF/RHP, Lexington, S.C.
NBC Joins ABCA In Supporting MLB And USA Baseball Youth Arm Care Initiative
ABCA OFFICIALLY SUPPORTS PITCH SMART
The American Baseball Coaches Association board of directors votes unanimously
DURHAM, N.C. — USA Baseball, Major League Baseball and the American Baseball Coaches Association announced on Tuesday that the ABCA is officially supporting USA Baseball and MLB’s joint youth arm care safety initiative, Pitch Smart. The announcement follows the ABCA’s board of directors unanimously voting in favor of supporting the initiative that was launched in late 2014.
“Major League Baseball is pleased that the ABCA has endorsed the Pitch Smart pitching safety program,” said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, who received the 2015 ABCA Honor Award on January 4, 2015 at the ABCA Convention. “Keeping pitchers healthy should be a common goal of everyone in baseball. Pitch Smart is a great example of the entire baseball community, professional and amateur, coming together to make our game better.”
The Association is involved in numerous programs that promote the integrity of the profession and the development of the game of baseball, and, each January, the ABCA hosts the largest baseball convention in the world. Approximately 4,000 coaches attend the convention, which is held at various locations around the country. The 2015 iteration was attended by commissioner, Rob Manfred, as he continues to further engage the amateur baseball community.
“With its endorsement of Pitch Smart, it is clear that the American Baseball Coaches Association is making player health and safety a priority in everything it does,” said USA Baseball’s executive director/CEO, Paul Seiler. “It is the support of the ABCA and other organizations that confirms our belief that baseball has united in protecting our young athletes.”
The ABCA is committed to the success and growth of baseball through youth baseball. In the past 12 years, thousands of young people have gone through ABCA sponsored youth clinics. Each year, several hundred young players attend ABCA clinics in Montgomery, Alabama; Lewiston, Idaho; and Grand Junction, Colorado.
“The ABCA is proud to endorse Pitch Smart along with Major League Baseball and USA Baseball,” said ABCA executive director, Craig Keilitz. “Education is one of our organization’s cornerstones and the health and safety of our young players is a major priority. Pitch Smart provides clear guidelines for our coaches, particularly those who are new to the profession, and we look forward to being involved in the further development of this initiative for years to come.”
The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 6,600 members represent all 50 states and 24 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, Junior College, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth.
About the American Baseball Coaches Association
Established in 1945, the American Baseball Coaches Association is the top professional association for amateur baseball coaches. Its over 6,600 members represent all 50 states and 24 countries. Association membership has broadened to include eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, Junior College, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth. The annual ABCA Convention hosts over 4,000 coaches and features the ABCA Clinics, Trade Show and other activities. The 72nd annual ABCA Convention will be held Jan. 7-10, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee.
About USA Baseball
USA Baseball is the national governing body for the sport of baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic, World Cup and Pan Am teams (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team; the USA Baseball 18U, 15U and 12U National Teams; and the USA Baseball Women’s National Team, all of which participate in various international competitions each year. USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. For more information, please visit USABaseball.com.
2015 NBC Rulebook Pre-Orders
We are taking pre-orders for the 2015 NBC Official Rulebook. These are same rules of MLB and less expensive. To order, contact us at kevin@nbcbaseball.com.
Price breakdown is below.
| 1-9 Rulebooks | $3.50 each, plus shipping/handling |
| 10-24 Rulebooks | $3.00 each, plus s/h |
| 25-49 Rulebooks | $2.70 each, plus s/h |
| 50-99 Rulebooks | $2.50 each, plus s/h |
| 100 or More | $2.00 each, plus s/h |