HiCast Sports Network, a leading video streaming platform for youth and amateur sports, will continue to build on its advertising success with Rawlings Sporting Goods Company Inc.® and expand new sponsorship opportunities in 2025. These offerings provide family-friendly brands substantial reach and engagement in the $37.5 billion youth sports industry, allowing national, regional and local advertisers to engage with athletes and their families through more than 250 livestreams at elite sports venues nationwide.
HiCast Sports Network’s platform has enabled brands like Rawlings to connect directly with families, athletes and coaches through targeted advertising campaigns. Since launching earlier this year, Rawlings has executed seven campaigns across the HiCast Sports Network, reaching thousands of viewers and effectively engaging youth sports audiences. HiCast’s ads have contributed to over 81 percent year-over-year growth in referral traffic and engaged users on Rawlings' site, with a 17 percent increase in revenue from connected TV activities.
“We are committed to continuing to enhance our digital fan experience while ensuring that subscription pricing remains affordable for families,” HiCast Sports Network Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Calabrese said. “Building a robust advertising engine within our platform gives us and our venue partners the opportunity to collaborate with sponsors in a new way that enhances digital ad impressions and conversions.”
Rawlings’ Perspective on Partnership Impact:
Rawlings Digital Marketing Director Mike Poepping said HiCast Sports Network enabled Rawlings to achieve core marketing goals that align with its brand mission. “Our goals are always to immerse ourselves in the athletes’ backyards to help them see where our equipment can help them succeed and grow their passion for the game of baseball or softball,” Poepping noted. “HiCast Sports Network allows us to reach those athletes and decision makers while they are enjoying their favorite pastime, so we can match them up with the correct gear for their needs as they arise.”
Poepping highlighted that video advertising performance on the HiCast Sports Network has been highly effective, describing it as “equally beneficial to other CTV (Connected TV) and live-streaming ad networks we’ve used because we’re able to target specific ages and skill levels of play with products that suit those athletes in that moment dynamically as [Rawlings] scales. More well-targeted messaging and offers lead to more interest and buy-in from consumers, which is why this relationship has been great.”
Furthermore, Poepping emphasized his appreciation for the advanced targeting capabilities that HiCast provides, stating, “I appreciate the targeting of fields/complexes, athletes/teams, and the different ad types to make sure we’re effective in marketing and sales, but more importantly so we don’t annoy or upset end users/consumers while they try to watch their athlete blossom.”
Reflecting on future plans, Poepping noted that partnering with HiCast has influenced Rawlings’ marketing strategy for 2025. “HiCast has helped us see the need to stay immersed at the local, field level to ensure we’re meeting our athletes and their families where they are at, and as their needs for equipment arise,” he shared.
Advanced Advertising Features
HiCast Sports Network’s platform offers brands customizable options for flexible, targeted advertising:
- Campaign Versatility: Brands can choose from network-wide, venue-specific or sport-specific campaigns, strategically reaching audiences by event type, user group and location.
- Interactive Video Ads: Clickable ads provide a direct link to brand landing pages, exclusive offers or promotional codes, giving audiences immediate access to products or services.
- Comprehensive Reporting: Brands receive detailed monthly reports with insights on ad impressions, click-through and view-through rates, enabling them to monitor and refine their campaigns for maximum engagement.
Supporting Venue Partners through Sponsorships:
In addition to delivering effective brand connections, HiCast Sports supports venue partners through a revenue-sharing model. This arrangement generates valuable revenue for participating venues, allowing them to reinvest in youth sports programs and enhance their offerings to athletes and communities.
Developing Future Brand Partnerships:
As the youth sports industry grows, HiCast Sports Network is committed to working with brands whose goals align with its family-friendly, community-focused mission. This expanded approach reinforces HiCast’s commitment to delivering meaningful brand engagement opportunities while supporting the ongoing growth and enrichment of the youth sports ecosystem.
“Historically, banners on fences or in gyms have been the primary way for brands and businesses to gain in-park exposure when sponsoring youth sports,” Calabrese said. “Our platform supports venue partners by offering digital sponsorship opportunities that reach a broader yet more targeted audience, allowing viewers to connect directly and immediately to products and services of interest. Working with brands like Rawlings allows us to make meaningful connections at the heart of the game, and we’re excited to keep building on that shared commitment to support our viewers and the sport they love.” For sponsorship inquiries and more information on HiCast’s advertising solutions, visit HiCastSports.com.
About HiCast Sports Network:
HiCast Sports Network is a leading live and video-on-demand streaming platform and subscription-based service for amateur and youth sports, utilizing its patented technology to put games and the Moments That Matter™ in the hands of fans everywhere. HiCast partners with top-tier sports venues including the Jackie Robinson Training Complex, Ripken Baseball, and A5 Volleyball Sportsplex to deliver a premium viewing experience to families, coaches, athletes and scouts. HiCast Sports Network users from around the world have watched thousands of youth sports events encompassing nearly eight million game minutes year-to-date across more than 250 livestreams in Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
About Rawlings Sporting Goods Company Inc.®:
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 Baseball, Helmet, Face Guard, Fielding Base and Glove of Major League Baseball® and the Official Baseball of Minor League Baseball™.
Rawlings Moment of the Month Winner for September 2019
Great hit down the first base line, but Delaware Wolfpack 12U right fielder gets the ball in to 11-year-old catcher Ryan Perkins for the tag at the plate! Wolfpack advanced to the Play It Forward tourney championship game at Sports at the Beach on 9/1/19. Congratulations to our winning HiCast User: @Catcher247 Marissa scored the Rawlings bat of Ryan’s choice.
HiCast Sports Network selected one winning moment from highlights shared in our app’s HiCast Feed each month all summer long. Winners scored their pick from an incredible lineup of Rawlings Sporting Goods bats. Learn more our Rawlings Moment of the Month contest and see the winners.
This month, we kick off our 2nd Annual MVP Awards Presented by Rawlings so now’s the time to share your highlights to our app’s HiCast Feed to get them eligible to win!
Rawlings Moment of the Month Winner for August 2019
Congratulations to HiCast User @dmf423 Darren M. Fullone II, left fielder for the South Shore Sharks 15U team for sharing the winning Rawlings Moment of the Month for August 2019.
South Shore Sharks were top-seeded in the Bash at the Beach tourney at Sports at the Beach. In this semi-final game, Sharks were up 1-0. Richmond Titans came back w/a 2-run home run, so the game is tight… 2-1 and the Sharks are down. Bottom of the 7th and it’s the Sharks last opportunity to score. First batter strikes out. Next batter, Mikey Furst walks, so one man’s on base when Justin Delgado walks up to the plate. Strike one… then Justin nails it to center field over the fence! Two runs score for the South Short Sharks securing the win and trip to the championship game, which they won decisively on 8/18/19.
HiCast Sports Network has selected one winning moment from highlights shared in our app’s HiCast Feed each month all summer long. Winners score their pick from an incredible lineup of Rawlings Sporting Goods bats. Learn more our Rawlings Moment of the Month contest. We’ve got one more winner to be named in September, then on to the 2nd Annual HiCast Sports MVP Awards in October.
Justin Delgado hit the game-winning home run for South Short Sharks
HiCast User and South Shore Sharks Left Fielder, Darren Fullone II
Rawlings Moment of the Month Winner for July 2019
Congratulations to HiCast User @kbcokratts for being our Rawlings Moment of the Month for July 2019. Chase Kratts for Olean Bombers 16U nails it with his very first grand slam contributing to the Bombers 10-1 win in the Sizzling Showdown Tournament at Sports at the Beach on 7/28/19. This was the team's first grand slam of the season.
HiCast Sports Network selects one winning moment from highlights shared in our app’s HiCast Feed each month all summer long. Winners score their pick from an incredible lineup of Rawlings Sporting Goods bats. Learn more our Rawlings Moment of the Month contest.
Enter Our July 4th Holiday Home Run Derby
Are you playing ball this weekend? In honor of Independence Day, we're running a Home Run Derby beginning Thursday, July 4th through Sunday, July 7th! Share your HiCast home run highlights to our app's HiCast Feed and you're automatically entered in our drawing to WIN the Rawlings BAT of your choice! Tag 'em #homerunderby
UPDATE: Winner to be announced by Thursday, July 18th. Find the Rawlings bat that's right for you!
This Week’s Tourney Lineup – July 4 - 8, 2019
Baseball Heaven hosts Independence Weekend Championship
Sports at the Beach hosts Clash of the Titans
Diamond Nation hosts Garden State Invitational & DN Youth World Series
Ballparks of America hosts Hometown Heroes Salute & Stars & Stripes Showdown
Tyger River Park hosts USA Softball of SC & Senior Softball USA
The Shipyard Park hosts CABA Tourney & Greater MidWest Baseball
East Cobb Baseball Complex hosts Perfect Game 17U & 16U WWBA
Baseball USA Powered by Marucci hosts USSSA of TX Fireworks Festival & High School Showcase Series #5
See Our Complete Network Schedule of Events
Rawlings Moment of the Month Winner for May 2019
Congratulations to HiCast User @Baby12 for being our Rawlings Moment of the Month for May 2019. About the moment: Richard Becher Memorial Tournament at Baseball Heaven on 5/19/19. It’s the 10U Championship game between Brooklyn Falcons vs. Madison Tigers. Two outs, two balls, and two strikes... runners on 2nd and 3rd. Joshua Diaz crushes it sending in teammates Christian and Ulysses to score, contributing to their big win!
HiCast Sports Network selects one winning moment from highlights shared in our app’s HiCast Feed each month all summer long. Winners score their pick from an incredible lineup of Rawlings Sporting Goods bats. Learn more our Rawlings Moment of the Month contest.
We've Teamed Up with Rawlings to Bring You Some Big News and a Crack at Winning a Rawlings Bat
We're proud to announce that Rawlings Sporting Goods has joined our team as an Official Network Sponsor. What's in it for you? Awesome prizes, player tips, and great visibility for your Moments That Matter™! We'll award a Rawlings Moment of the Month starting this month and all summer long. Each monthly winner receives your pick from the Rawlings lineup of bats. Woo hoo! Check 'em out.
Who's eligible?
All HiCast Sports Network users. You must have a HiCast Sports account tied to a valid email address as this is how we'll communicate with you. If you don't respond to our winner notification email within 48 hours, we'll pick another winner, so be ready!
How do I enter?
Using your HiCast Sports account, tag, save and share your HiCast highlights (baseball or softball) to our app's HiCast Feed. We'll review all highlights and select winners from the HiCast Feed. Provide details like player's name(s), team name and age division in your caption as we'll ask for this information if you're selected as a winner.
Who gets the prize?
The HiCast User who shared the winning highlight in the HiCast Feed is the prize winner. The winner is welcome to gift the prize to the player featured in the highlight, but that's at the winner's discretion.
What's the monthly deadline?
We'll review highlights throughout the month up through the last day of each month. The date of your highlight share determines the month's eligibility. For example, if your highlight occurred on April 28th, but you shared the highlight to the HiCast Feed on May 1, your highlight is eligible to be a May winner. The monthly winner will be announced on the 11th of the following month. For example, our May eligibility will run through May 31st and we'll announce the winner on June 11.
Announcing Our Hot Highlight Weekend Winners
We were blown away by your highlights submitted April 11-15 for our first 2019 Hot Highlight Weekend Contest. It was tough to pick just three winners, so we decided to award four! Each of our HiCast Users will receive a Rawlings Sackpack thanks to Rawlings Sporting Goods.
HiCast User: @cora for an over-the-fence home run by #1 in the USA Softball of SC tourney at Tiger River Park on 4/13/19
HiCast User: @adam.haber27 for Adam Saber’s diving catch at center field at East Cobb Baseball Complex on 4/11/19
HiCast User: @Paulmaida1 for Ryan Maida’s walk-off home run for the Long Island Hurricanse 11U in the Baseball Heaven Swing Into Spring Championship game on 4/14/19.
HiCast User: @Eagles007 for a fantastic double-play featuring two tags by the catcher on Field 6 at Diamond Nation on 4/14/19
Congratulations to our winners! Stay tuned for our next contest and keep sharing your Moments That Matter™ to our app’s HiCast Feed as it’s the source for our contest entries including our second annual 2019 Most Valuable Play Awards coming at the end of the year.
Announcing the Winners of Our 2018 HiCast Sports MVP Awards Presented by Rawlings
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
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.”
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.”
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
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.”
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.”
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.
Learn more about our 2018 HiCast Sports MVP Awards Presented by Rawlings and be sure to save your highlights in our app’s HiCast Feed throughout 2019 to be automatically entered in our contests and chances to be featured this year.
Announcing the Top 10 Finalists for Best Offensive and Defensive Plays in the HiCast Sports 2018 MVP Awards Presented by Rawlings
On December 1, 2018 at 12:00am ET, the polls closed for the online voting phase of the HiCast Sports 2018 MVP Awards for Youth Baseball Presented by Rawlings. The Top 25 Semi-Finalists (selected from more than 4,000 eligible highlights shared in the HiCast Sports Network from venues across America) representing the Most Valuable Plays for Offensive and Defense that received the highest number of votes secured their spots as Top 10 Finalists and now move on to the judging phase of our contest.
The contest is now in the hands of our 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 Smith 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. He will select our Top 3 Best Offensive Plays and Top 3 Best Defensive Plays and we’ll announce the winners on Monday, December 10.
All prizes are provided by Rawlings Sporting Goods. Offensive MVP Winners receive custom gloves and Defensive MVP Winners receive the new 2019 Quatro bats. All Finalists receive the new Mach batting helmet.
Congratulations to our HiCast Sports 2018 MVP Award Finalists! Tap to view each award-winning highlight covered by the HiCast Sports Network.
Top 10 Best Offensive Plays
Jared Scharlat inside-the-park grand slam at Baseball Heaven shared by HiCast user caryscharlat
Kyle Urban Grand Slam. Bethpage Eagles 17U at Sports at the Beach shared by HiCast user kylurban
Connor's Grand Slam at Sports at the Beach shared by HiCast user lorjas
Erick Diaz's 2-Run Home Run. Jersey Storm 12U at Diamond Nation shared by HiCast user heriberto
Kingsten Davis' Grand Slam. Houston 24K at Traction Sportspex shared by HiCast user Kingsten8
Top 10 Best Defensive Plays
We’ll announced the winners right here on Monday, December 10!
Legendary Hall of Fame Shortstop Ozzie Smith to Judge HiCast Sports 2018 MVP Awards Presented by Rawlings
We’re honored and thrilled to announce that one of the greatest pro ballplayers of all time, Ozzie Smith, will judge our HiCast Sports MVP Awards for Youth Baseball. Former MLB player for the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals from 1978 to 1996, Ozzie Smith 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.
On November 5th, we selected the Top 25 Semi-Finalists for Best Offensive Play and Top 25 for Best Defensive from more than 4,000 highlights shared across our HiCast Sports Network of venues. On that day, the online voting phase of our contest began as we invited the general public to cast their votes for one or more of their favorite plays to help determine the Top 10 Finalists in each category. This Friday, November 30th is our final day to cast votes, and on December 1st at 12:00am, the Top 10 Plays in each category with the most votes will go before our judge, Legendary Hall of Fame Shortstop Ozzie Smith. He will award our Top 3 Winners for Best Offensive Play and Best Defensive Play on Monday, December 10.
This contest wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our partner, Rawlings Sporting Goods. They’ve provided an incredible lineup of prizes for our winners including new 2019 Quatro Bats for the three Best Offensive Play winners, custom gloves for the three Best Defensive Play winners; new Mach batting helmets for the finalists; and sackpacks for all semi-finalists.
HiCast Sports Network Partners with Rawlings® to Award the Most Valuable Plays in Youth Baseball
ATLANTA – November 19, 2018 – HiCast Sports Network, a game-changing, subscription-based social broadcast company which allows youth athletes, their coaches, families and friends to view and engage with sporting events at top venues across the nation anywhere, anytime, on any device, is proud to host the HiCast Sports 2018 MVP Awards recognizing the most valuable offensive and defensive plays in youth baseball in partnership with Rawlings. From more than 4,000 video highlight entries saved and shared by HiCast Sports mobile app users from top ballparks across the country, the HiCast Sports team selected and announced the Top 50 Semi-Finalists on November 5th. These impressive plays include a runner’s leap over the catcher to score, diving catches, first home runs, stellar base stealing, an unassisted double play, a game-winning grand slam and more. Featured youth baseball players range from age eight to 18 and reside across America.
The contest is currently in its online voting phase, whereby anyone can cast a vote for one or more of their favorite plays from the 50 Semi-Finalists by November 30, 2018 at: http://www.hicastsports.com/vote. Highlights receiving the most votes secure spots among the Top 10 Finalists for Best Offensive Play and Top 10 Finalists for Best Defensive Play on December 1, 2018. Finalists will go before a professional ballplayer judge, provided by Rawlings. He will choose three winners in each category, and winners will be announced on the HiCast Sports website on December 10, 2018.
For the HiCast Sports MVP Awards, Rawlings provides a powerful lineup of prizes. These include the new 2019 Quatro Bats for the three Best Offensive Play winners and custom gloves for the three Best Defensive Play winners; new Mach batting helmets for the finalists; and sackpacks for all semi-finalists.
“We really value the opportunity to celebrate these young players and their Moments That Matter™. We’ve enjoyed watching and sharing their highlights in our app and in social media all year long, and felt that this contest would be a really fun and meaningful way to elevate some of their most memorable moments with a broader audience and to reward them. Teaming up with Rawlings took our initial idea for the contest to the next level, and we’re thrilled with the response we’ve had from our users and the general public’s support of these youth athletes. Tens of thousands of fans have viewed our Semi-Finalists’ highlights within the first week of the online voting phase of the contest,” said Stephanie Calabrese, HiCast Sports Network Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer.
“Youth sports is important to us. Teaming up with the HiCast Sports Network to honor these young athletes and reward their achievements on the playing field is exciting. Capturing and sharing memorable moments like these 50 Semi-Finalists’ highlights not only builds confidence for these kids, but it brings people together around a game we love. We’re happy to be a part of that,” shared Mark Kraemer, Director, Sports Marketing for Rawlings Sporting Goods.
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.
Find HiCast Sports online at: www.hicastsports.com and cast your vote for the HiCast Sports 2018 MVP Awards Presented by Rawlings at: www.hicastsports.com/vote.
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.