youthsports

Time's Running Out to Save Your Summer Season Moments That Matter™

Did you know that your summer season games are available to watch anytime on-demand? All recorded games are accessible for three months from date of play, so now's the time to replay your games and save and share your best game highlights before they're gone! Here's how...

First, find your game – You'll need to know the venue name, field name/number, date and time of your game to find it in our archive.

  1. Login here: https://watch.hcst.me and search for or select the venue name on the home page.

  2. Select the field name/number and tap the "View On-Demand" tab above the video.

  3. Tap on the date to reveal a calendar and select the date of your game. The video will update. Then select the hour start time of your game. Then just tap play! You can drag the play bar to move within the hour time segment. 

Then, TAG your highlights – You can save as many 1-minute highlights as you like. Any highlights you save remain accessible to you after your subscription is cancelled or expires.

  1. While watching on-demand, tap the TAG button.

  2. Drag the orange start and end points to define the duration of your highlight up to 60 seconds. Add a name to help identify your highlight, then tap the Save button. Your highlights will be saved to the "My Highlights" page so you can access them anytime.

  3. To view, share or download a highlight, go to the "My Highlights" page and tap on a highlight to open it. Then tap the orange (...) icon and select "Copy Link" to quickly share a link to your highlight, or select "Request Download" to download your highlight to your computer or mobile device. And don't forget to "Submit to HiCast" so we can consider featuring your highlight on the "Featured Highlights" page within our product and in social media!

We Want to Feature Your Best HiCast Highlights

You might have noticed that we added a FEATURED link to the top navigation in our product today! Here, we’ll feature the best highlights shared by subscribers across our nationwide network. Our latest share will always appear at the top of the list, but you can search featured highlights by venue, date or sport and sort your results. We’ll also share our favs to our social media accounts in Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to give you even more exposure, so follow us to see if you or your teammates get featured! Just follow these steps.

First, setup your Player Profile – This gives us information about your player(s) including their name, team name, age division, sport, position(s) and social media handles so we can tag your player. You can create as many player profiles as you like and update them anytime.

  1. Go to your profile menu and select Edit Profile.

  2. Tap on the Player Profile tab.

  3. Fill in the blank fields to tell us about your player. This information will be saved on your user profile so anytime you submit a highlight to us, you can select the player profile associated with the highlight so we can better promote your player.

Then, submit your Saved Highlight to HiCast 

  1. Go to your My Highlights page and tap to select and open the highlight you want to submit.

  2. Tap on the orange more icon (...) on the right and select Submit to HiCast.

  3. Select your Player Profile to identify the player featured in your highlight and add any additional information in the About The Moment text field so we can get a feel for how the highlight impacted your game. Then tap Submit.

We review and share highlights daily in our Featured section so check back often. Let’s see your best plays so we can help you celebrate them!

HiCast Sports Network Expands Partnership with The Ripken Experience™ to Provide Video Coverage for Its Aberdeen Ballpark

Photo Courtesy of Ripken Baseball

HiCast Sports Network, a game-changing, subscription-based social broadcast company has expanded its partnership with Ripken Baseball to provide live and on-demand video coverage for its nine-field baseball complex in Aberdeen, Maryland.

Amanda Shank, Vice President, Business Development for Ripken Baseball, shares, “HiCast has streamed games at The Ripken Experience™ Pigeon Forge for over two years, giving our teams the opportunity to clip and relive the biggest moments of their tournament experience. We’re excited to bring their best-in-class technology to our guests in Aberdeen and Myrtle Beach.”

This year, The Ripken Experience Aberdeen will host 39 baseball tournaments attracting more than 1,700 9U-16U teams from mid March through late November, in addition to summer camps for teams ages 7U and up.  General Manager Lauren Morris shares, “Our complex is a little bit different from the other Ripken Experience parks largely because of our location, which is right off the I-95 corridor making it a convenient weekend destination for a broad region of travel baseball teams. Beyond Maryland, we attract teams from all over the East Coast throughout the year. For us, it’s not just about baseball, it’s about creating a big league experience – from providing a well-run facility, to experienced umpires, to game announcers and music, to water in the dugouts.” While the tournaments are organized and led by the complex, they also host college games including McDaniel College (MD) and Montclair State University (NJ), as well as local high school and home school games.

Photo Courtesy of Ripken Baseball

General Manager, Lauren Morris, born and raised in Harford County, Maryland, grew up playing softball, lacrosse and soccer. She went on to play soccer in college and interned with the Aberdeen IronBirds, a minor league baseball organization, before going on to work for Ripken Baseball to lead its signature Ripken World Series and other events for the next ten years. Now, she’s one of the few female general managers for a nationally-recognized youth sports complex.

Photo Courtesy of Ripken Baseball

More than 125,000 guests will visit The Ripken Experience™ Aberdeen in-person this year under Lauren’s leadership, but now so many more can share the big league experience from anywhere in the world using the HiCast Sports Network. “Being able to provide an experience for guests who are unable to travel to our complex is a huge benefit because they can still be in the action and live those moments while they are happening live. For parents to be able to clip and post highlights of their players’ big moments… that’s pretty cool! Players and families are creating these lifelong memories at our complex and we want them to be able to share them. Our older 16U players can save in-game moments to share with college recruiters who are often not able to watch all the players they’re following in-person. I wish we had that when I was playing sports.”

Photo Courtesy of Ripken Baseball

The Ripken Experience™ Aberdeen was established in 2003 by legendary former professional baseball players Cal Ripken, Jr. and brother Bill Ripken in their hometown. The complex has nine replicas of iconic professional ballfields found across the country so youth players can have the experience of what it feels like to play under the lights at Camden Yards or to hit a home run off the Green Monster at Fenway Park. Lauren shares, “We have six all-turf fields and three natural fields with a dedicated team putting down new lines, watering the field, and grooming the infield after each game just like you’d see at a big league game. Our goal is to deliver a ‘can’t wait’ experience for every athlete.” HiCast Sports Network now provides video coverage on seven of the nine fields at The Ripken Experience™ Aberdeen with plans to add video coverage on the two newest fields (Citi Field and PNC Park) this summer.

Photo Courtesy of Ripken Baseball

HiCast Sports Network users from around the world have watched more than five million game minutes featuring more than 500,000 athletes playing on more than 200 fields and courts at premier baseball/softball and indoor court venues in Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. HiCast Sports subscribers have saved and shared nearly 250,000 game highlights, the Moments That Matter™ with the people who matter most.

About Ripken Baseball 

Ripken Baseball brings teammates, coaches, and families together through its Big-League Experiences, while teaching the values of the game, and how to play it the right way – the Ripken Way. Recently expanding the best experience in youth sports to satellite locations through Ripken Select Tournaments, Ripken Baseball continues to innovate the game through tournaments, camps, clinics, and spring training at their state-of-the-art baseball and softball facilities – The Ripken Experience™ Aberdeen (Maryland), The Ripken Experience™ Myrtle Beach (South Carolina), and The Ripken Experience™ Pigeon Forge (Tennessee).

HiCast Sports Network Extends Viewership for The Ripken Experience™ Myrtle Beach, One of the Hottest Sports Tourism Destinations in the U.S.

Photo Courtesy of Ripken Baseball

HiCast Sports Network, a game-changing, subscription-based social broadcast company has expanded its partnership with Ripken Baseball to provide live and on-demand video coverage for its nine-field baseball complex in Myrtle Beach, SC, one of the most popular sports tourism destinations in the country.

Amanda Shank, Vice President, Business Development for Ripken Baseball, shares, “HiCast has streamed games at The Ripken Experience™ Pigeon Forge for over two years, giving our teams the opportunity to clip and relive the biggest moments of their tournament experience. We’re excited to bring their best-in-class technology to our guests in Aberdeen and Myrtle Beach.”

“We pride ourselves on delivering a big league experience for our players and we’re constantly re-investing in our complex,” shares General Manager Matt Ensworth who’s worked with The Ripken Experience™ Myrtle Beach for the past 15 years. This year, The Ripken Experience™ Myrtle Beach will host approximately 27,000 players and 93,000 visitors. “Live streaming is very important for us, especially for those family members and friends who can’t make the trip. They still get to be a part of the live experience. The video on-demand feature lets our players and families capture and relive their experiences and memories, the ability to replay video is a great learning tool and will ultimately help improve the overall experience. Our staff is looking forward to saving and sharing highlights from our tournaments to spotlight players on our social media,” adds Matt.

Photo Courtesy of Ripken Baseball

One of the original privately-owned sports complexes in the country built in 2006, The Ripken Experience™ Myrtle Beach spans 50 acres just minutes from the beach. It offers nine replica all-turf fields of historic Major League ballparks, each featuring unique field dimensions and playing experiences every game. The complex hosts play year-round which spans 10 week-long experiences and a 5-week collegiate league for 24 teams each summer. “In my 15 years here, we’ve hosted teams from all 50 states,” adds Matt.

Photo Courtesy of Ripken Baseball

During the Spring and Fall seasons, the complex hosts three and four-game youth tournaments attracting teams from across the country. The complex has also become one of the most popular collegiate and high school spring training destinations from February through April, attracting teams that are looking for warm weather, rain-resistant all-turf fields, and competitive play. When traveling teams arrive at the complex, they’ve got plenty of space to warm up on Training Island which features 17 batting cages and infield training circles to help them prepare for tournament play. When teams are ready for a break, the Big League Grill offers a comfortable space to cool off in the air conditioning, where they can watch games in progress at the complex on big screen TVs thanks to coverage from the HiCast Sports Network.

Photo Courtesy of Ripken Baseball

HiCast Sports Network users from around the world have watched more than five million game minutes featuring more than 500,000 athletes playing on more than 200 fields and courts at premier baseball/softball and indoor court venues in Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. HiCast Sports subscribers have saved and shared nearly 250,000 game highlights, the Moments That Matter™ with the people who matter most.

About Ripken Baseball 

Ripken Baseball brings teammates, coaches, and families together through its Big-League Experiences, while teaching the values of the game, and how to play it the right way – the Ripken Way. Recently expanding the best experience in youth sports to satellite locations through Ripken Select Tournaments, Ripken Baseball continues to innovate the game through tournaments, camps, clinics, and spring training at their state-of-the-art baseball and softball facilities – The Ripken Experience™ Aberdeen (Maryland), The Ripken Experience™ Myrtle Beach (South Carolina), and The Ripken Experience™ Pigeon Forge (Tennessee).

Ballparks National, the Premier Fast-pitch Ballpark Destination in the Midwest, Joins the HiCast Sports Network

Photo Courtesy of Ballparks National

HiCast Sports Network, a game-changing, subscription-based social broadcast company is proud to announce Ballparks National as a new venue partner. It is the first premier fast-pitch softball venue, and the second ballpark in Missouri to join the HiCast Sports Network. HiCast Sports puts the game in the hands of youth and amateur athletes, their coaches, families and fans to view sporting events live or on-demand at top venues across the nation anywhere, anytime, on any device.

Ballparks National, a new privately-owned fast-pitch softball and baseball ballpark located minutes from Lake of the Ozarks, opened their gates in 2021. Founded by former sports broadcasters, Jeff Vernetti and Bob Ramsey, the venue has been a long-time in the making and currently selling out tournaments for the 2022 Spring and Summer season. HiCast Sports Network provides video coverage on all five all-turf fields for travel tournaments attracting fast-pitch softball teams for all age groups and baseball teams up to 13U. From the beginning of March through end of October, Ballparks National will host about 30 tournaments, 800 teams, and 40,000 patrons this year from 15 different states, as well local high school and college softball games, clinics and state-wide tournaments.

“We’re a family-friendly destination facility,” shares Keith Lucas, Assistant General Manager. “Lake of the Ozarks is hailed as the best recreational lake in the midwest. People come from all over to vacation and play here, and having the HiCast Sports Network gives extended family members the chance to share the game-day experience from home, or anywhere in the world.” Ballparks National delivers creative guest services and theme-based tourneys; fun activities including a radar-speed pitch zone, bounce houses for young siblings, and fireworks; and an expansive deck overlooking the park with a full-service bar and grill to provide a unique and enjoyable experience for the whole family.

Photo Courtesy of Ballparks National

“Even our local teams traveling from Jefferson City, Columbia and Springfield, or even farther from St. Louis and Kansas City want overnight stay options for our weekend tournaments. The Lake of the Ozarks region offers a wide range of options for different budgets from campgrounds to home vacation rentals to 5-star hotels,” adds Jeff Vernetti, General Manager. “We work with our sponsors, from boat dealers to water parks and restaurants, to offer special promotions to our families to help them plan a fun vacation for the whole family both on and off our fields.”

Understanding the importance of video coverage from a fast-pitch softball recruiting perspective, Ballparks National initially attempted to set up and manage their own video streaming solution. Keith shares, “It was challenging. We had to turn cameras off and on, keep batteries charged, and make sure cameras didn’t overheat out in the summer sun. There’s a lot of elements involved in video streaming and it was just a hassle.”

Photo Courtesy of Ballparks National

Jeff adds, “In the end we wanted to go with a really good company who knew what they were doing and could take that aspect of video streaming technology off our plate so we could focus on doing what we do best – creating a great tournament experience. HiCast Sports Network was the best choice in a partner. We can now stream games from all five fields to our concession area and to viewers anywhere in the world, and I liked HiCast Sports covers other top ballparks around the country. It makes it easier for our teams to have one login, and use one solution from an established brand. ”

HiCast Sports Network users from around the world have watched more than five million game minutes featuring more than 500,000 athletes playing on more than 200 fields and courts at premier baseball/softball and indoor court venues in Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. HiCast Sports subscribers have saved and shared nearly 250,000 game highlights, the Moments That Matter™ with the people who matter most.

HiCast Sports Network Extends Viewership for Youth Court Sports in Middle Tennessee in Partnership with Alliance Volleyball Club

Photo courtesy of Alliance Volleyball Club

HiCast Sports Network, a game-changing, subscription-based social broadcast company which allows youth and adult amateur athletes, their coaches, families and fans to view sporting events live or on-demand at top venues across the nation anywhere, anytime, on any device, is proud to announce Alliance Volleyball Club as a new venue partner. It is the first multi-sport indoor sports venue to join the HiCast Sports Network.

Alliance Volleyball Club, a non-profit organization formed 12 years ago, established its home base at the TOA Sports Performance Center, a hub for middle Tennessee youth indoor sports, in October 2020. This week, HiCast Sports Network begins video coverage on all 12 volleyball courts that convert to 6 basketball courts in partnership with Alliance Volleyball Club, the anchor tenant for hardwood courts at the Center. HiCast Sports Network will provide video coverage for all Alliance Volleyball Club practices, clinics and tournaments, which attract teams beyond the Tennessee region, across the country and into Canada; as well as coverage for Alliance partners, Stars Basketball Club and Music City Pickleball, and their events on the courts year-round. 

Caleb Norton, Alliance Tournament Director & Facility Manager, shares, “We are committed to using technology to improve youth sports. One of the biggest things for hosting events is giving everyone the ability to watch their players. Streaming is a way to keep more and more people involved and interested. It can generate revenue and also provides added security on our courts. It’s a benefit as far as recruiting too. Our kids can always have footage available so they can make a highlight reel for college recruiters. HiCast Sports Network benefits are multi-faceted and we want to provide the best experience we can for our customers.”

Photo courtesy of Alliance Volleyball Club

One look at their list of college recruits and alumni is evidence of their commitment to player development. Within the past 4 years, Alliance has sent 65 athletes to play at the collegiate level. In 2021, 14 of the Tennessean's Top 25 High School Volleyball Players to Watch play for Alliance. Thirteen Alliance athletes made the Tennessean All-Midstate Team this past season, and three earned State MVP awards. Alliance Volleyball Club offers programming to girls age 5-18 years old, the largest recreational youth volleyball fall league in the state, and 42 competitive club teams for ages 11U through 18U at its primary TOA Sports Performance Center location and three satellite clubs (Murfreesboro, Airborne and South).

Photo courtesy of Alliance Volleyball Club

“Partnering with HiCast is going to help us support our mission of transparency in training and development along with enhancing our regional and national leadership in recruiting by increasing the value of recruiting events and driving increased access to our athletes pursuing college opportunities,” shares Abbey West, Managing Director and 18s Head Coach for Alliance Volleyball Club. 

Photo courtesy of Alliance Volleyball Club

For most youth sports organizations like Alliance Volleyball Club, relying on HiCast Sports Network as a technology solution provider for live and on-demand video coverage make sense. Caleb shares, “Being a technology person, I’m comfortable with hardware and networking, but once we got into the cloud-based video management, hosting and an easy-to-use portal for distribution to our viewers, it was just beyond our area of expertise. We didn’t want to absorb that responsibility and technical complexity as it would distract us from our core business which is training and developing youth athletes. We felt it was better to find a professional partner we could trust and found that in HiCast.”

HiCast Sports Network users from around the world have watched more than five million game minutes featuring nearly 500,000 athletes playing on more than 184 fields and courts at premier youth sports venues in Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Using the HiCast Sports mobile app for iOS, users have saved and shared nearly 250,000 game highlights, the Moments That Matter™ with the people who matter most. 

Signup here to watch TOA Sportsplex - Alliance live or on-demand.

HiCast Sports Network Delivers Video Coverage for the Nation’s #1 Volleyball Club

Southern Volleyball Showcase on December 5, 2020

Southern Volleyball Showcase on December 5, 2020

HiCast Sports Network is proud to announce a partnership with the #1 nationally-ranked A5 Volleyball Club (out of ~5,000 clubs in the U.S.) and the addition of live and on-demand video coverage for the A5 Sportsplex in Roswell, Georgia. We kicked off coverage on Saturday, December 5 for the 2020 Southern Volleyball Showcase, a 12-year running annual exposure event that attracted more than 350 registered college coaches to watch 546 of the best volleyball players from 25 states demonstrate their skills.

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Due to the extended Division I (DI) dead period and travel concerns imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, on-site attendance at the A5 Sportsplex for D2 and D3 coaches was limited this year. Less than 30 coaches (down from 100-150 last year) attended the event on-site, but thanks to live-streaming provided by HiCast Sports Network, more than 2,100 viewers tuned in to watch the event live safely from home. Livestream access and effective marketing by A5 this year contributed to a 45% increase in showcase player participation, attracting them to the A5 Sportsplex from more than double the number of states over 2019.

On the decision to partner with HiCast Sports Network, A5 founder and chairman of the board, Bob Westbrook, shares, “With everything being colored by the turbulent landscape that we currently operate on, the first question we had to answer was ‘Are we going to have a showcase?’ and the next question was, ‘If we did, how will it look?” That lead us to the fact that it had to be digital, so the next question was ‘Who can do that?’ We talked to a couple of companies and made a leap to work with HiCast who had never done anything to this magnitude. Very little of this had been done in the volleyball club sports world. It was a leap of faith on all of our parts that these were the right people, that we had the right facility, that we could employ the technology and make the grid interactive and that it would work for the college coaches and parents. We knew that if we did it well, it would set the standard for a platform we’d continue to use in the future, but if we failed, we’d miss that opportunity. Everybody knocked it out of the park. HiCast and our team did a remarkable job.”

Photo Credit: A5 Volleyball

Photo Credit: A5 Volleyball

To provide comprehensive coverage on all 11 courts at A5 Sportsplex, HiCast Sports Network installed two automated, fixed cameras discreetly over the baselines on each court, providing optimal views for all players. For the Southern Volleyball Showcase, HiCast Sports worked with A5 to create a custom web-based user interface, giving college coaches a player directory with quick links to find and follow individual players (wearing numbered jerseys) through three waves of play (9am, 12pm and 3pm) across the 22 views on 11 courts. A5 had the ability to immediately update player data through the event with support from the HiCast Sports team. The pace and tempo of the showcase and the simplicity and efficiency of the interactive functionality HiCast Sports created really set this A5 college showcase apart from others. Couple that with on-demand access to the event for up to three months to attract even more college coaches who can view the results roster provided by A5 and study video footage whenever it’s most convenient for them, and the solution is a win-win.

A5 Club Director and coach, Gabe Armamian, shares, “It was revolutionary. Nothing like this had really been done before at this level and all the feedback that we got from players to families and college coaches was just outstanding. It was definitely a turning point for us and the way showcases can be done.”

Beyond access for college coaches, HiCast Sports introduced the start of live coverage for A5 Sportsplex to families and fans as a free trial on the day of the event, and now offer subscribers the option to view that footage on-demand, as well as all upcoming practices and events live or on-demand at A5 Sportsplex. Gabe goes on to share, “The ability to watch from your home is so impactful. Kids have relatives that live in different states and even countries, and now they can watch them perform. HiCast will have a profound impact for our families. It’s extraordinary.” Using the HiCast Sports mobile app for iOS, subscribers can save and share highlights from the footage for personal use and work with A5 to create custom highlight reels for college recruiting purposes.

At A5, Gabe envisions coaches watching HiCast footage on-demand with players to help improve their game. “Being able to review and see what players need to change is paramount to their development. They have to do it when they get to college. Watching film is about a quarter of all time spent when it comes to developing your skills so learning that at an early age is important. Having the ability to go back and review their practice or game is a critical aspect of how they continue to find success with their technique and skill set,” shares Gabe.

“Volleyball is among the fastest growing youth sports in the country and it’s an honor for us to partner with A5 Volleyball Club. While our coverage has been focused on baseball and softball thus far, we’re excited to expand our solution across a variety of playing fields and surfaces to meet the increasing demands of remote viewers,” shares Stephanie Calabrese, co-founder and chief brand officer for HiCast Sports Network. The 2020 State of Play report by Aspen Institute Project Play states that there are 2M+ volleyball players ages 6-17 who participate in the sport on a regular basis and shows 8% growth in 2019 participation for youth ages 13-17 over 2018. There are 1,000+ NCAA volleyball teams across Division I, II and III colleges.

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A5 Volleyball Club, formed in 2004 as a 501-C(3) organization, coaches more than 1,000 players ages 7-18 spanning ~90 number of teams (excluding the sand volleyball program) across three locations in Georgia including Roswell, Suwanee and Tyrone. Several players travel in from out-of-state to play on A5 teams because the demand to play at A5 is so high. “Every one of our girls that have come through our 18s program who wanted to play in college, got that opportunity,” shares Gabe.

What makes A5 Volleyball Club unique? Gabe shares, “We stay true to our mission statement, ‘Teaching Life Lessons Through the Sport of Volleyball.’ It’s not always about the #1 ranking. The amount of kids that we have come back after they’re done with their volleyball college career to work or spend time with us is one of the most satisfying things that happen for us. And we are fortunate to have one of the strongest coaching staffs in the country and we believe it’s the crux of our success.”

Bob adds, “We don’t spend a lot of time thinking we’re good. We spend a lot more time thinking about what we can do to get better. We’re in the business of families and each individual family matters. You can’t pay lip service to that. You have to know what they need and what they want and we have to help them achieve that – and sometimes it’s different from what their athlete can actually achieve. We want to create an experience… for the people who work with us, the athletes who train with us, and the families who support us… that changes their lives in a way that is meaningful.”

A5 will host their first season of volleyball tournaments at the new 13-court A5 Sportsplex in Roswell beginning in January 2021 with families, college coaches and fans watching from all over the world. It represents a significant milestone for A5 and particularly its founder, Bob, who came to Atlanta 44 years ago to start junior volleyball. Bob shares, “To know that we started (girls volleyball) at Sutton Middle School in 1976 with three girls… and then to stand in a 13-court facility with every court filled with all ages is mostly cathartic to have played some small part in that vision.”

Read the A5 Press Release: https://www.einpresswire.com/article/532754208/being-seen-the-college-volleyball-recruiting-process-is-on

Watch A5 Volleyball live or on-demand weekdays 4:45pm - 10:15pm and anytime on Saturday and Sunday. Sign up now: http://www.hicastsports.com/a5

Remote Viewing Surges for Youth Ballparks During Covid-19 Global Pandemic

When America’s favorite pastime was indefinitely paused at the start of Spring season in March, it changed everything for youth athletes and families across the country. Tournaments were cancelled. Venues closed their gates. By the end of June, the majority of ballparks in the HiCast Sports Network across nine states established return-to-play polices and welcomed teams back on their fields, but limited spectators in the stands and encouraged family members and fans to watch from home thanks to an automated video coverage solution provided by the HiCast Sports Network, a game-changing, subscription-based social broadcast company which allows youth athletes, coaches, families and fans to view live sporting events at top ballparks across the nation anywhere, anytime, on any device.

Todd Yancey, General Manager for Elizabethtown Sports Park in Kentucky, shares, “We had to go back to the drawing board like so many other people in terms of our operations. We were able to launch some of our baseball season. Our bleachers are closed, and spectators have to bring their own chairs and social distance around the diamonds. Now that we have HiCast in place, we’re excited to share the best view behind home plate with fans here at the park and watching from home.”

Field at Elizabethtown Sports Park in Elizabethtown, KY. Now during Covid-19 pandemic, bleachers are closed to spectators, but they can bring their own chairs and social distance along the fence line. Having the HiCast Sports app in hand, all fans  …

Field at Elizabethtown Sports Park in Elizabethtown, KY. Now during Covid-19 pandemic, bleachers are closed to spectators, but they can bring their own chairs and social distance along the fence line. Having the HiCast Sports app in hand, all fans can get a view behind the plate.

Co-founder and Chief Brand Officer for HiCast Sports Network, Stephanie Calabrese shares, “We’ve seen a rapid surge in viewership. Looking at 2020 vs 2019 game minutes viewed across our network, we saw a 20% increase in July and more than 100% increase in August. While our coverage has been a nice-to-have amenity for our ballpark partners, it’s now become a necessity. Fans expect to have remote game access and we’ve proven our ability to provide reliable video coverage for ballparks over the past several years. We’re poised to grow.”

The HiCast Sports Network was founded by two creative-minded parents and entrepreneurs, Robert Stribling and Stephanie Calabrese, located just outside the metro Atlanta area. Inspired to cover and preserve the moments that matter for their own young athletes, they teamed up with friends and family to invest in product development, acquired U.S. utility patents, and have steadily grown their network and user base to cover more than 100 ballfields and about 300,000 ballplayers across 11 states. They’ve finalized agreements with two more venues in Michigan and Colorado for installation prior to the start of spring season 2021 and expect more to follow as demand for their coverage increases.  

While parents and grandparents appreciate the ability to watch games live from home, their use often follows the lead of their players who use the HiCast Sports mobile app to watch their games back on-demand and save their favorite plays or hits from the game in the form of clips and highlight reels. HiCast subscriber and baseball dad Carlos Tariche’s son Tommy, a senior in high school who plays varsity and travel ball aspires to play for a D2 or D3 college, discovered HiCast initially. Carlos shares, “Tommy told me about the HiCast Sports app. When I took a look, I couldn’t believe how easy it was to figure out. I had a situation where I was working and my son had a game during the week, so I was able to air-play it to my Apple TV and watch the game. The quality was amazing. I’ve actually used some of those highlights to send to a couple of college coaches who were looking for film of him. It’s a valuable tool. We play in so many different places, it makes me wish that more venues had it.”

Bases loaded and a solid DP here. 3rd baseman Tommy Tariche to catcher Patrick Bartoletta to Christian DeRisi at 1st for Batting 1000 Seminoles 17/18U on 9/1/20 at Baseball Heaven. Shared by HiCast User and proud dad, Carlos Tariche.

While NCAA Division 1 coaches remain in their extended dead period for in-person recruiting through Jan 1, 2021, nearly 100 colleges from across the country including Columbia University, Princeton University, Rutgers University, University of Virginia, Vanderbilt University, and Yale University tuned in to watch players at Diamond Nation in New Jersey using the HiCast Sports Network. Diamond Nation General Manager Nick Massari shares, “We knew we had to do something to make sure kids playing in our tournaments had the best opportunity available for exposure. We created virtual roster packets for ten of our events this summer, and emailed them out with game schedules to our scouting list which includes coaches from colleges nationwide (mostly Division 1 schools) and all of the professional baseball teams to let them know we were streaming our games live and on-demand.”

At the ballpark, Diamond Nation shares listing of college and pro scouts watching players on-site  and online through the HiCast Sports Network. Photo courtesy of Diamond Nation

At the ballpark, Diamond Nation shares listing of college and pro scouts watching players on-site and online through the HiCast Sports Network. Photo courtesy of Diamond Nation

Former professional ballplayer, Coach David Whigham, founder and owner of travel ball organization Delmarva Aces comprised of 42 teams across three states, and associate scout for the Baltimore Orioles, uses HiCast to support his players. He’s helped secure 99 college commits from his Aces program since 2016. David shares, “Because of my communications background, we do a lot with social media and video. For our kids, having social media followers watching their home run videos mean so much to them. You’d be surprised how many kids save those videos and will keep them forever to relive moments like that. The way everything is going, venues are going to rely on HiCast Sports even more than ever to try to capture the moments.”

COVID-19 Pauses Live Play, So We've Unarchived All of Your 2019 Games

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Spring tournaments across our network came to an unexpected close by March 15, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At present, most our ballparks have paused play indefinitely with a common hope to resume sooner than later. It’s a difficult time for all of us right now, but coming together as a country to help slow the spread of this virus, flatten the curve for our healthcare system, and to support one another as one team is what’s most important right now.

But we know you need some good news while you’re homebound, and a way to stay connected to the game you love, so we've unarchived ALL of your games from 2019, so you can replay the Moments That Matter™ on-demand! Take advantage of this time you have with your family to dive into the archives together and watch your favorite games from ballparks across our network. Be sure to use our mobile app to tag highlights as you watch... We've got a contest coming soon! 

We couldn't have made this happen without our ballpark partners: Baseball Heaven, Sports at the Beach, Diamond Nation, Baseball USA "The Yard" Powered by Marucci Elite Texas and Texas USSSA Baseball, The Shipyard Park, Tyger River Park, Ballparks of America, East Cobb Baseball Complex, Buckhead Baseball, and JockJive Sports. Thanks for standing by us as we all wait this out together as a team.

Rawlings Moment of the Month Winner for September 2019

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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!

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Duryea Twins Double the Home Runs for Hudson Valley Renegades

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Nicky Duryea (9) plays third, short stop, and pitcher. Nicky is a righty.

Danny Duryea (24) plays left field, first base, and relief pitcher. Danny is a lefty.

These twin brothers play for Hudson Valley Renegades 14U Blue and they have never been on a team without each other. During the East Coast Nationals tourney at Baseball Heaven on August 10, they each hit a home run in the same game, contributing to the Renegade’s win!

Nicky pushes Danny mostly on the practice field or in the batting cage. Nicky will point out the areas that Danny needs to tweak to improve, such as his swing. Nicky admires Danny’s ability to stay calm and focused in the most high-stake situations. He often will say that Danny has ice in his veins because he can handle any situation with a focused and intense approach.

Danny pushes Nicky with their competitive approach to everything. Danny admires Nicky’s pitching ability, his never-give-up approach, his ability to get out of very difficult situations, and his intense competitive nature.

Their mom shared that the boys were arguing over who’s ball went further and who’s home run had more significance. But their Aunt Diane (watching the game at home on our HiCast Sports Network) noted that the first person out of the dugout to congratulate each batter was his brother. These are the Moments That Matter™!

Bottom of the 7th, game’s tied... Danny Duryea w/a walk-off Grand Slam HR for Hudson Valley Renegades 14U Blue for the W. East Coast Nationals at Baseball Heaven on August 10, 2019.

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

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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.

Central Georgia Umpires Are Improving Their Game with the HiCast Sports Network

Central Georgia Umpires, lead by founder John Turner, is using HiCast Sports Network technology at East Cobb Baseball Complex to improve their game. We sat it on their annual Barry Suttle Memorial Camp for umpires to learn more about how they were using our solution to train new umpires and coach more experienced umpires. John uses our mobile app to make sure that his umpires are in place on the fields and reviews game footage as needed when tournament directors express issues or concerns. He shares highlights to visually communicate issues and positives to his team of umpires for coaching purposes.

The first person that I watched when I turned the cameras on was myself. It was a huge eye opener. It’s a great way to get yourself back in the groove... and a great tool to be able to show (my team of umpires) what they look like. Having the ability to see ourselves on TV really gives us a huge advantage on looking more professional and doing it the right way.
— John Turner, Founder of Central Georgia Umpires

John started playing baseball at age five. His father, JP Turner, an umpire for youth and high school baseball for more than 40 years helped foster John’s appreciation and understanding of the game. At age 15, John transitioned from player to umpire, following in his father and older brother’s footsteps. He’s been an umpire for the bulk of his career and founded Central Georgia Umpires to share his love for baseball and improve the quality of umpires in Georgia. The Central Georgia Umpires team of 100 umpires officiates all games at East Cobb Baseball Complex including Perfect Game and Triple Crown tournaments, and ECB-hosted events. They also umpire southeast regional collegiate showcases.

John shares that the most difficult part of being an umpire is similar to that of most leaders in that the role requires one to take full responsible for moving the game forward and communicating direction to the teams, while maintaining a good rapport with players, coaches and fans.

Most of us played the game with the same goal, which was to hit the game-winning run in the final game of the World Series. These kids today are trying to live that same dream. For some kids they’re going to get as close to that dream as they ever will, so they deserve to have every game officiated like it’s game seven of the World Series. That’s what I like doing. I feel like I’m giving back to the game when I’m out there.”
— John Turner, Founder of Central Georgia Umpires

His advice to parents and fans on how to better support the game? “Read the rulebook and understand how it’s applied to the game. Some people look for loopholes to gain an advantage, but it’s our job to make sure neither team gains an advantage so that the game can be played fairly by everyone.”

HiCast Sports Network Partners with Rawlings® to Award the Most Valuable Plays in Youth Baseball

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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.

View the release on PR Wire.

Our Hottest Week of 2018 National Baseball and Softball Tourneys

Today marks the start of three important national championships in play with our partners throughout our HiCast Sports Network this week. We're proud to be covering these important games so teams' family members and friends back home can share in the excitement, and players and coaches can replay and share their Moments That Matter™ after they leave the playing field. Competing in a national championship creates memories these young players and their families will cherish for a lifetime.

July 22 - July 29 – USA Softball Girls Fast Pitch Class A 12U National Championship at Tyger River Park in Spartanburg, SC where 41 of the best girls fast pitch 12U teams from across America will compete for the national title!

July 23 - July 29 – National Youth Baseball Championship Week at Baseball Heaven in Yaphank, NY where 1,025 10U-14U teams from 26 states competed in qualifier tourneys all spring and summer long to earn the top 70 spots in this year's national matchup. Select games will be televised on CBS Sports, but we've got 'em al covered live and on-demand in our HiCast Sports Network.

July 24 - 28 – Triple Crown US Club Nationals at East Cobb Baseball Complex in Marietta, GA where 1,000 athletes from 13 premier baseball organizations from around the country will compete for the crown! Select games will be televised on ESPN3, but we'll have 'em all live and on-demand in our HiCast Sports Network.

We'll be sharing highlights and tagging teams from these tourneys in our HiCast Feed and in our social media feeds, so give us a follow in Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to follow along in the excitement.

Atlanta Tech Edge to Feature HiCast Sports Network

We’re pretty darn fired-up to be featured on 11Alive's Atlanta Tech Edge with host Cara Kneer this Sunday, July 1 at 1:30am and 11:30am ET and online. Co-founder and chief brand officer, Stephanie Calabrese, will be rep’ing HiCast and joined by other leading women in tech in this episode. Hope you join us!

Charleston Press Spotlights HiCast Sports Network & Shipyard Park

Big thanks to NBC News 2 (WCBD) Sports anchor/reporter Brianne Welch and Charleston Post & Courier Sports Reporter Jeff Hartsell for sharing stories about our partnership and coverage for The Shipyard Park is the southeast's only waterfront ballpark. Along the Wando River in Mt Pleasant, SC, you'll find teams from all over the country coming to play in tournaments and showcases organized by the ballpark and event organizers including Game Day USATop Gun Sports, Prep Baseball Report, Carolina Prospects, and Atlantic Coast Baseball

Watch the Story - https://www.counton2.com/sports/local-sports/hicast-sports-network-comes-to-shipyard-park/1254437662

Read the Story – https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/can-t-make-junior-s-baseball-game-there-s-an/article_80d38fb0-7589-11e8-8b90-3b233a28f499.html

The Shipyard Park Joins the HiCast Sports Network

HiCast Sports Network, a game-changing, subscription-based social broadcast company which allows youth athletes, their coaches, families and friends to view sporting events at top venues across the nation anywhere, anytime, on any device, is proud to announce Shipyard Park as a new venue partner.

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Shipyard Park is the Southeast’s only waterfront baseball complex.  The 20-acre facility includes five fields located in Charleston, South Carolina.  The premier athletic facility, built by Harbor Contracting and owned by Detyens Shipyards, sits on the banks of the Wando River at the company’s old shipyard site that was shuttered in 2006.  Shipyard Park includes a 17,500 square foot climate-controlled training facility containing retractable batting cages, and basketball &  volleyball court capabilities.  Other highlights include three youth-size fields and two collegiate-size fields and top-of-the-line AstroTurf® specifically designed for baseball play, true bounces and natural speed of the game. The fields are also to host soccer, field hockey, and lacrosse games.

HiCast Sports Network, a game-changing, subscription-based social broadcast company which allows youth athletes, their coaches, families and friends to view sporting events at top venues across the nation anywhere, anytime, on any device, is proud to announce Shipyard Park as a new venue partner.

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Shipyard Park is the Southeast’s only waterfront baseball complex.  The 20-acre facility includes five fields located in Charleston, South Carolina.  The premier athletic facility, built by Harbor Contracting and owned by Detyens Shipyards, sits on the banks of the Wando River at the company’s old shipyard site that was shuttered in 2006.  Shipyard Park includes a 17,500 square foot climate-controlled training facility containing retractable batting cages, and basketball &  volleyball court capabilities.  Other highlights include three youth-size fields and two collegiate-size fields and top-of-the-line AstroTurf® specifically designed for baseball play, true bounces and natural speed of the game. The fields are also to host soccer, field hockey, and lacrosse games.

HiCast 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 HiCast Sports Network installs and maintains a fixed, remote-monitored video camera solution that delivers games live and on-demand. Users get to experience game content not covered by traditional media outlets, and delivered through the HiCast Sports mobile app or web viewer. 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 the form of clips or highlight reels in the HiCast youth sports social network and beyond. 

“In today’s fast paced instant gratification world, HiCast Sports Network has solved the age old problem of time and space,” said Bradley J. Kerr, Sales & Marketing Director, Detyens Shipyards. “While we can’t always be there for every ballgame our loved ones play, HiCast and their venue partners have made the virtual viewing experience priceless and emotionally gratifying. Now, nobody has to miss out.”

“We’re bringing families and friends together around sporting events no matter where they are located. With HiCast, no one has to miss that great catch or grand slam and we now have a platform to build up our young athletes and celebrate these Moments That Matter™ together,” said Stephanie Calabrese, HiCast co-founder and chief brand officer. 

HiCast Sports Network operates with a robust network of partners (venues) and promoters (sporting leagues and event organizers) with which they cultivate win-win relationships and share up to 25% of net revenue. Currently, the HiCast Sports Network covers 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.