HiCast Sports 2019 MVP Awards Presented by Rawlings
December 11, 2019 – We began the HiCast Sports 2019 MVP Awards Presented by Rawlings with more than 2,300 eligible highlight entries from athletes across our network and on December 1, 2019 at midnight ET, the polls closed with nearly 9,000 votes cast by fans for our Top 25 Semi-Finalists determining our Top 10 Finalists in each category. Our incredible judges, Legendary Hall of Fame Shortstop Ozzie Smith and 2020 USA Olympic Softball Player Keilani Ricketts Tumanuvao selected the Top 3 Winners in each category. See the grand prize winners, their highlights, judges comments, judges’ bios and all finalists below.
Baseball MVP Winners
Winners in order of appearance and judge Ozzie Smith’s comments…
Offensive MVP: 8-yr-old Fenton Morrissey homerun. Morris County Cubs 10U at Diamond Nation shared by @CowboyFen – “Fast little guy. Gets taken out but still scores. Fun to watch this play.”
Offensive MVP: Jace Robison 2-run homerun. Utah County Steel 12U at Ballparks of America shared by @Jrob1414 – “Great hit and good sportsmanship shown here by the catcher.”
Offensive MVP: Tyler Marcus walk-off 2-run homer. Oil City Bandits at Baseball Heaven shared by @Dmarcus34 – “Walk off to win a championship, nothing better than that.”
Defensive MVP: SS Landen Derouen w/throw to Carson Massey w/stretch for the out at 1st . Traction Canes Black 10U at Traction Sportsplex shared by @deezyderouen – “Both the shortstop and 1st baseman showed athletic ability with backhanded catch by ss and great stretch by 1st . Teamwork.”
Defensive MVP: Pitcher Paul Quattropani with catch and throw to 1st for DP. Team Steel Black 15U at Baseball Heaven shared by @Krribry – “Good quickness and awareness by the pitcher”
Defensive MVP: Pitcher Richie Paltridge with 360 spin & throw to 1st for the out. Frozen Ropes 16U at Baseball Heaven shared by @Richiepltrdg – “Agility on both ends of the play.”
Softball MVP Winners
Winners in order of appearance and judge Keilani Ricketts Tumanuvao’s comments…
Softball MVP: Gabby Burroughs with a walk-off 3-run homerun for Carolina Thunder 18U to win the championship. USA Softball at Tyger River Park shared by @jburroughs153 – “With runners in scoring position it’s tough to be the one to get the clutch hit but to do it in the championship game as a walk off 3 run homer?! Doesn’t get more clutch than that.”
Softball MVP: CF Hailey Watson diving catch for Carolina Crush 16U. USA Softball at Tyger River Park shared by @Christy1981$ – “Not only was it a diving catch, but the range to get there and being a deep ball to the fence was what was so impressive. As a pitcher, I love when outfielders, the last line of defense, saves me from a huge hit to give the other team momentum!”
Softball MVP: Aaliyah Williams inside-the-park homerun for SC BadKatz 16U at Shipyard Park shared by @bluphi85 – “Reading the title I was thinking of the only inside the park homerun I can recall in high school and college being from slappers or from defenders overthrowing the ball. Neither happened from Aaliyah! It was just pure athleticism from the right side, not to mention not even needing to slide in at home plate like it was no big deal.”
Baseball Offensive & Defensive Play Judge
Legendary Hall of Fame Shortstop Ozzie Smith – Former MLB player for the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals from 1978 to 1996, Ozzie set MLB 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 and to the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 2014. See his infamous back flip and inspiring career highlights.
Fast Pitch Softball Play Judge
Keilani Ricketts Tumanuvao – 2020 USA Olympic Softball Team member, Pro All-Star left-handed hitting softball pitcher and former collegiate All-American. Keilani is a 2018 WBSC World Championship Gold Medalist and 2012 WBSC World Championship Silver Medalist. As a member of the United States women's national softball team she won the 2011 World Cup of Softball. Keilani plays for the USSSA Pride in National Pro Fastpitch. She was the starting pitcher and helped to lead the University of Oklahoma Sooners to the 2013 NCAA Division I national softball title.
Top 10 Finalists
Offensive Most Valuable Plays
Jace Robison's 2-run homerun. Utah County Steel 12U at Ballparks of America shared by @Jrob1414 – Top 3 Winner
Vincent Roman's run. Team All Stars 14U at Baseball Heaven shared by @Reneroman25
CJ's homerun. Long Island Outlaws 11U at Baseball Heaven shared by @papa24
Michael Friello's grandslam. Capital Renegades at Sports at the Beach shared by @aaf324
Ryan Maida's walk-off homerun. Long Island Hurricanes 11U at Baseball Heaven shared by @Paulmaida1
8-yr-old Fenton Morrissey's homerun. Morris County Cubs 10U at Diamond Nation shared by @CowboyFen – Top 3 Winner
Gage Saresky's 3-run homerun. Nor East Clippers 12U at Baseball Heaven shared by @linabean3
Tyler Marcus walk-off 2-run homer. Oil City Bandits at Baseball Heaven shared by @Dmarcus34 – Top 3 Winner
Defensive Most Valuable Plays
Pitcher Paul Quattropani's catch and throw to 1st for DP. Team Steel Black 15U at Baseball Heaven shared by @Krribry – Top 3 Winner
SS Ulisses diving catch & throw to 1st for the DP at Diamond Nation share by @Jax61904
CF Erick Diaz's diving catch at Diamond Nation shared by @Heriberto
Pitcher Richie Paltridge w/360 spin & throw to 1st for the out. Frozen Ropes 16U at Baseball Heaven shared by @Richiepltrdg – Top 3 Winner
Fast Pitch Softball Most Valuable Plays
Gabby Burroughs with a walk-off 3-run homerun for Carolina Thunder 18U to win the championship. USA Softball at Tyger River Park shared by @jburroughs153 – Top 3 Winner
CF Hailey Watson's diving catch for Carolina Crush 16U. USA Softball at Tyger River Park shared by @Christy1981$ – Top 3 Winner
Kellie Langa's RBI triple for Rebels 08 12U at Baseball Heaven shared by @klanga
Aaliyah Williams's inside-the-park homerun for SC BadKatz 16U at Shipyard Park shared by @bluphi85 – Top 3 Winner
Audriana Bates' 3-run homerun. USA Softball Tourney at Tyger River Park shared by @AKB22
Awesome Prizes by
Top 3 Best Defensive Play for Baseball 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!
Top 3 Best Offensive Play for Baseball Winners
Rawlings 2020 Quatro Bat ($349.95 - $449.95 value) – Winners choose your bat for baseball or softball, 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.
Top 3 Plays for Fastpitch Softball
Rawlings Quatro Bat for Fastpitch ($349.95 value) or a Rawlings Custom Glove for Softball ($459.95 value) – Winners choice! The second generation of Quatro™ Pro does not disappoint. Proven on-field at the professional and collegiate level, the combination of an outer barrel and a suspended inner barrel offers the perfect balance of pop and speed every hitter desires. See the bats.
Top 10 Finalists for Each Category
Rawlings Covert Duffle Bag ($49.99 value) – This player's duffel bag is the perfect size for carrying all of your equipment. This bag features 2 side bat sleeve compartments for quick storage and access. The durable vinyl bottom and ventilated shoe compartment allow for moisture protection. Your pick of color: black, navy, royal blue or red
Top 25 Semi-Finalists for Each Category
Rawlings $25.00 Gift Card – Choose your own prize! We’ll send a unique winner’s promo code your way after we announce the 75 Semi-Finalists (25 in each category) on November 1. You’ve got until December 31, 2019 to choose a prize valued at $25 or less or apply your $25 toward any Rawlings gear.