HiCast Sports 2018 MVP Awards for Youth Baseball Presented by Rawlings Announces Winners

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December 10, 2018 – HiCast Sports Network in partnership with Rawlings Sporting Goods is proud to announce the grand prize winners of the HiCast Sports 2018 Awards for Youth Baseball chosen by our judge, Legendary Hall of Fame Shortstop Ozzie Smith. His comments follow each winning highlight below.

Most Valuable Defensive Plays

  1. Jeremy Payne’s Diving Catch for Sta-Mo Storm Major Baseball 13U at Shortstop at Baseball USA in Houston, TX shared by HiCast user: divalishish24 from TX – “He had to range far to his left and go airborne. Showed great athleticism.”

  2. Mitchell Kahlenberg’s Diving Catch in Right Field for SBA - Mendez 14U at Shipyard Park in Charleston, SC shared by HiCast user: tctiger33 from SC – “He made a great recovery on a ball that was hard to judge off the bat.”

  3. Lukas Loring’s Diving Stop and Throw at Short Stop for the Out for Bagel Bombers 12U at Sports at the Beach in Georgetown, DE shared by HiCast user: Mloring from MD – “Good instincts and good reaction.”

Most Valuable Offensive Plays

  1. Erick Diaz’s 2-Run Home Run for Jersey Storm 12U at Diamond Nation in Flemington, NJ shared by HiCast user: heriberto from NJ – “Very big league.”

  2. Kevin Henrich’s 2-Run Home Run for Bellringers National 13U at Baseball Heaven in Yaphank, NY shared by HiCast user: Henrich_kevin from PA – “He had great approach and a great swing.”

  3. Zach Turko’s Inside-the-Park Grand Slam for Diamond Studs 15U at Diamond Nation in Flemington, NJ shared by HiCast user: eturko from NJ – “Ran hard right off the bat which forced the defense to make a play.


About Our Judge, Legendary Hall of Fame Shortstop Ozzie Smith

Legendary Hall of Fame Shortstop and former MLB player for the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals from 1978 to 1996, Ozzie Smith (nicknamed “The Wizard”) set major league records for career assists and double plays by a shortstop, as well as the National League record with 2,511 career games at the position. He won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award for play at shortstop for 13 consecutive seasons (1980–92) and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2002.


See All Finalists’ Highlights

Tap to view each Finalist’s highlight below selected by the general public to be evaluated by judge Ozzie Smith. All highlights were created by HiCast Sports Network app users from game coverage provided by HiCast at top venues across America.

Top 10 Finalists – Offensive MVPs

  1. Jared Scharlat inside-the-park grand slam at Baseball Heaven shared by HiCast user caryscharlat

  2. Kyle Urban Grand Slam. Bethpage Eagles 17U at Sports at the Beach shared by HiCast user kylurban

  3. Doron Griffin's First Home Run. DE Diamond Kings 11U at Sports at the Beach shared by HiCast user doritrg

  4. Ulisses' Base Running Skills Sends the Runner Home to Score. Jersey Boyz Baseball Club at Diamond Nation shared by HiCast User Jax61904

  5. Connor's Grand Slam at Sports at the Beach shared by HiCast user lorjas

  6. Erick Diaz's 2-Run Home Run. Jersey Storm 12U at Diamond Nation shared by HiCast user heriberto - Top 3 Winner

  7. Jacoby Harnen First Out-of-the-Park Home Run. MVP Bluejackets 11U at Diamond Nation shared by HiCast user ajharnen

  8. Kingsten Davis' Grand Slam. Houston 24K at Traction Sportspex shared by HiCast user Kingsten8

  9. Kevin Henrich's 2-Run Home Run. Bellringers National 13U in the NYBC at Baseball Heaven shared by HiCast user Henrich_kevin - Top 3 Winner

  10. Zach Tutko Inside-the-Park Grand Slam. Diamond Studs 15U at Diamond Nation shared by HiCast user etutko - Top 3 Winner

Top 10 Finalists – Defensive MVPs

  1. Michael Scotto's Diving Catch in Left Field. South Shore Sharks 10U at Sports at the Beach shared by HiCast user rscotto

  2. Vincent Fattore's Diving Catch in Center Field. Diamond Jacks 14U at Diamond Nation shared by HiCast user lisapooh9

  3. Mitchell Kahlenberg's Diving Catch in Right Field. SBA - Mendez 14U at Shipyard Park shared by HiCast user tctiger33 - Top 3 Winner

  4. Shortstop Lukas Loring's Diving Stop & Throw for the Out. Bagel Bombers 12U at Sports at the Beach shared by HiCast user Mloring - Top 3 Winner

  5. Jeremy Payne's Diving Catch at Shortstop. Stamo Storm Major Baseball 13U at Baseball USA shared by HiCast user divalishish24 - Top 3 Winner

  6. Jonah James Rocha makes the game-winning catch that took the 8U Texas Mizuno into the semi-final game at Baseball USA shared by HiCast user rubtar

  7. DP by Forrest Mitterbauer 1st, Pitcher Vince Cannizzaro, Catcher Joshua Nachmann. SKD Aces 10U at Diamond Nation shared by HiCast user mauracarland

  8. Brayden Cole's Diving Catch in Center Field. Scorpions 10U at Baseball USA shared by HiCast user Pcole1128

  9. Catcher Jacob Fontenot and Pitcher Conley Goodlife Play at the Plate. Leopard Dawgs 9U at Traction Sportsplex shared by HiCast user leoparddawg2018

  10. Nate Spingler's Diving Catch at Shortstop. All Out Pack 9U at Diamond Nation shared by HiCast user dollardave96


About HiCast Sports Network

HiCast Sports Network offers an automated, turnkey video technology solution for venue owners and managers who want to provide the ultimate player and fan experience, reach more viewers, engage with fans beyond their stands through shared game highlights via social media, support coaching and player development, and better manage their facility. The app makes it easy for users to not only see the whole game, but to save, trim, zoom and share their Moments That Matter™ in clips or highlight reels.

HiCast operates with a robust network of partners (venues) and promoters (sporting leagues and event organizers) with which they cultivate win-win relationships. In 2018, HiCast Sports Network users from around the world have watched more than 2 million game minutes featuring hundreds of thousands of athletes playing on more than 100 baseball and softball fields at premier venues in Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina and Texas.

About Rawlings

Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of sporting goods worldwide. Founded in 1887, Rawlings is an authentic global sports brand, trusted by generations of athletes of all skill levels. Rawlings’ unparalleled quality, innovative engineering and expert craftsmanship are the fundamental reasons why more professional athletes, national governing bodies and sports leagues choose Rawlings. Rawlings is the Official Ball Supplier and Batting Helmet of Major League Baseball®, the official baseball of Minor League Baseball™ and the NCAA®, and the approved baseball, basketball, football and softball of the National High School Federation®. For more information, please visit Rawlings.com or by phone at (314) 819-2800.


Prizes Provided by:

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Top 3 Best Defensive Play Winners

Rawlings Custom Glove ($459.95 value) – Winners choose your leather, fit, size and pattern, and customize everything from stitching, laces, color, liner, break-in and more. Create your custom glove just like the pros!

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Top 3 Best Offensive Play Winners

Rawlings 2019 Quatro Bat ($349.99 value) – Winners choose your certification, size and drop. More pop. More distance. There are no trade-offs with the NEW Quatro Pro. Hitters can be confident at the plate with the longest barrel in our lineup, an even larger sweet spot for more pop and now, incredible balance for faster swing speeds. Add the newly redesigned, stiffer handle-collar to reduce vibration and eliminate barrel drag and you have everything you need to Light 'Em Up! Check out the details.

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Top 10 Finalists for Best Offensive Play & Top 10 for Best Defensive Play

Rawlings New Mach Batting Helmet ($64.99 value) – Winners pick Junior or Senior size and two-tone or tone-on-tone design in your choice of color with or without an EXT flap. Today's pitchers throw harder, and shots off the bat are faster than ever. As the industry leader in protective our engineers could not sleep until our gear matched the speed of the game. Engineered to perform. Check ‘em out!


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Top 25 Semi-Finalists for Best Offensive Play & Top 25 for Best Defensive Play

Rawlings Sackpack ($29.99 value) – This player's drawstring-closure sackpack is the perfect bag to carry your must-haves to and from the ball field. It features an interior valuables pocket and an exterior zip pocket. Fits two water bottles and sunflower seeds, of course.