Jan 5, 2023 | Baseball, Be The Best News, Community, Other, Partnerships and Opportunities, Softball
Wilmington, NC – We are excited to announce the upcoming Be The Best Baseball and Softball Convention, taking place on January 13-15, 2023 at the Wilmington Convention Center. This is a unique opportunity for players, coaches, and industry experts from across the country to come together and learn from top coaches in the industry.
The Be The Best Convention is hosting its 50th-anniversary staple event, and we are honored to have several high-profile coaches presenting on a variety of professional development topics, including leadership, culture building, and branding. Speakers include UNCW‘s legendary baseball coach Mark Scalf (’92-’19), Carol Hutchins (Michigan Hall of Fame Head Coach 85-’22), and Tyler Gillum (Head Coach of the Savannah Bananas).
“I am a long-time fan of Be The Best and am excited to see old friends in a new home,” says Carol Hutchins. “It’s always a special weekend with a perfect balance of fun and learning. Wilmington is a great place for this convention!”
The Savannah Bananas baseball team, led by Head Coach Tyler Gillum, is also making waves in the industry with their innovative branding strategy. They have been praised for their unique approach to building a successful team and fan base, and attendees of Be The Best will have the opportunity to learn from their success.
Local businesses focused on growth will want to take advantage of this opportunity to learn from these notable speakers. And, as an added bonus, local businesses are also invited to take part in a business-centered Power Breakfast on Saturday, January 14th, 2023.
In addition to being an excellent opportunity for attendees to learn and grow, Be The Best will also be a boost for the Wilmington economy. Sports events like this have the ability to bring in significant tourism and support local businesses.
Sponsorship opportunities, and Power Breakfast tickets are available for local businesses and organizations looking to support Be The Best and be a part of this exciting event.
Students with a valid ID can get a reduced rate of just $10 admission using code: ‘student’. For those looking to volunteer or work the event, email: info@bethebest.com. For more information, please visit our website at www.bethebest.com or call (910) 839-7131.
Nov 20, 2022 | Be The Best News, Community, Exhibitors, Partners, Partnerships and Opportunities, Softball
Wilmington, NC – Be The Best is excited to announce a promising partnership with USA Softball (USAS) as Tim Doby takes over as Commissioner in North Carolina.
“We are thrilled to join forces with Be The Best,” says Tim Doby. “Be The Best offers a great networking opportunity with an impressive speaker line-up that translates to an invaluable learning experience for coaches and players at all levels. This year with so many Little Leagues attending, there will be quite a draw for youth as well as coaches of younger players.”
USA Softball is a volunteer-driven, not-for-profit organization that serves as the governing body for the United States national softball team and oversees more than 120,00 amateur teams nationwide. Now representing a membership of more than 2,000,000, USAS is responsible for adopting softball’s first universally accepted rules of play and for implementing consistent and fair competition across the country. USAS sanctions competitions in every state through a network of state/metro associations.
As well as being the primary funding source and pipeline to the USA Softball National teams, USAS provides opportunities for people of all ages to play softball at a variety of levels. USA Softball offers recreational, league, tournament, and national championship play for fast pitch, slow pitch, and modified pitch and conducts over 100 national championships a year.
“The convention’s move to Wilmington complements our efforts at USA Softball to make the southeast region a strong player for years to come,” says Doby. “I can’t wait!”
As the nation’s longest-running baseball and softball coaches convention, Be The Best is committed to the education and development of youth in sports. Hundreds of coaches, players, and sports enthusiasts from across the country attend this annual event. Known for its interactive and casual format, Be The Best levels the playing field, giving attendees an opportunity to connect with the speakers that include college coaches, professional coaches, former Olympiads, and sports specialists. Topics range from skills and drills to conquering the mind game and building your best brand.
“I can’t think of a more relevant partner than USA Softball,” says Lindsay Mayer, CEO of Be The Best. “Our visions are perfectly aligned in that softball’s accessibility to all is of paramount importance. And we are both committed to assuring that players, coaches, and fans all experience the best of the sport they love.”
For 50 years, Be The Best Baseball and Softball Coaches Convention has preserved the founding concept of providing an affordable, accessible convention created for coaches, by coaches. Now run by Alphas Alliance, a woman and minority owned and operated business, Be The Best will be held for the first time in Wilmington, NC from January 13-15, 2023.
For more information, please email info@bethebest.com or call (910) 839-7131.
Nov 3, 2022 | Be The Best News, Coaching, Community, Partnerships and Opportunities
Wilmington, NC – Be The Best is excited to announce that due to growing support and unprecedented interest, it will cost only $50 to attend the three-day baseball and softball coaches convention in Wilmington this January.
The price was established to reinforce the significance of the number 50 at the annual event which celebrates 50 years of Title IX, as well as the 50th anniversary of Be The Best Baseball and Softball Coaches Convention.
“We wanted to give back to fellow coaches and sports enthusiasts by making our convention affordable for everyone,” says Lindsay Mayer, co-owner of Be the Best. “We couldn’t think of a better way to honor these past 50 years than to lower our ticket prices to $50.”
Speakers at the January 13-15, 2023 event include softball’s winningest coach, Carol Hutchins; Patrick Anderson of the St. Louis Cardinals; USA Baseball’s Andrew Bartman; USC softball’s Josh Bloomer; Darren Fenster of the Boston Red Sox; VA Tech softball coach, Doug Gillis; CJ Gillman from the Seattle Mariners; Savannah Bananas coach, Tyler Gillum; Team Canada Olympian and mindset expert, Joey Lye; Cheryl McCormick of Gravitational Performance; former UNCW softball coach, Kristy Norton; the 2022 D3 NCAA championship softball coach, Keith Parr; Georgia Gwinnett baseball’s head coach, Jeremy Sheetinger; Tony Short of Starz Gold softball; Mount Olive Baseball’s Rob Watt and John Tschida from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota softball.
“The athletes these coaches interact with on a daily basis will not only represent our county in some of the most hallowed stadiums and competitions on the planet but will also develop into skilled entrepreneurs, business leaders, elected officials, and coaches themselves. We are excited Wilmington gets to play a small role in that development process,” says Josh Hallingse, VP of Small Business Development and Business Retention, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce.
For 50 years, Be The Best has preserved the founding concept of providing an affordable, accessible convention created for coaches, by coaches. Now run by Alphas Alliance, a woman and minority-owned and operated business, Be The Best will be held for the first time in Wilmington, NC from January 13-15, 2023. The convention traditionally attracts about 1,500 attendees who come together each year to interact with former professional and Olympic athletes, college coaches, and other baseball and softball professionals who share their experience and expertise. Speaker topics include everything from how to build a championship program and making sense of the mental game to pitching mechanics and defense skills.
“Hosting the longest-running baseball and softball coaches convention in the country for its 50th anniversary is an honor,” says Kim Hufham, CEO of New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority. “We look forward to welcoming attendees and sharing with them all our destination has to offer, from Wilmington’s pedestrian-friendly Riverwalk and historic district to our three colorful island beaches.”
For more information and tickets, please email info@bethebest.com.
Oct 30, 2022 | Be The Best News, Coaching, Partnerships and Opportunities
Wilmington, NC – Be The Best is pleased to announce Carol Hutchins as a key presenter at the annual baseball and softball coaches convention, held in Wilmington, NC from January 13-15, 2023.
As head coach at the University of Michigan, Hutchins solidified the school as one of the top softball programs in the country during her 38-year tenure at the helm. Hutchins retired this past August with the distinction of being the winningest coach in NCAA softball history as well as holding the record of winningest coach – male or female – in Michigan’s athletic history.
Having never suffered a losing season, Hutchins has a plethora of skills, stories, and inspirations to share not only with players and coaches, but with the world at large. A high school athlete when Title IX was passed in 1972, Hutchins has advocated for women’s equality in sports ever since.
“I am a long-time fan of Be The Best and am excited to see old friends in a new home. It’s always a special weekend with a perfect balance of fun and learning. Wilmington is a great place for this convention,” said Hutchins.
To celebrate fifty years of Title IX – the passing of the landmark law that prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance – coupled with the convention’s 50thanniversary, Be The Best is dropping its general admission price to $50.
Now operated by Alphas Alliance, Be The Best takes on a new vibrancy. As a minority- and woman-owned company, co-founders Diego Ibarra and Lindsay Mayer are fully committed to supporting women in the workplace, as well as on the field; and welcome sponsors and partnerships with other like-minded organizations and businesses.
“We thought it was important to recognize the impact both Title IX and Be The Best have made over the past 50 years,” said Mayer, in reference to the newly lowered ticket price. “Title IX blazed an important path without which some of us wouldn’t be where we are today. We are so looking forward to making new connections with the Wilmington community. ”
Be The Best traditionally attracts about 1,500 attendees who come together each year to interact with former professional and Olympic athletes, college coaches, and other baseball and softball professionals who share their experience and expertise. Speaker topics include everything from how to build a championship program and to make sense of the mental game to pitching mechanics and defense skills.
For more information on sponsorship opportunities, tickets, and general information on the convention and speakers, please contact info@bethebest.com
Oct 19, 2022 | Be The Best News, Partnerships and Opportunities, Softball
Wilmington, NC – Be The Best is excited to announce the addition of Carol “Hutch” Hutchins, to the speaker line-up at their annual baseball and softball coaches convention, held in Wilmington, NC from January 13-15, 2023.
Hutchins served 38 seasons at the helm of the University of Michigan softball team, solidifying the school’s spot as one of the top programs in the country. She retired this past August as the winningest coach in NCAA softball history with a career record of 1,707-55-5 (.755). She also holds the distinction of being the winningest coach – male or female – in Michigan’s history. She was the first collegiate coach to reach 1,500 wins in 2017 and two years later, the first to 1,600.
“We are so honored that Hutch chose to share her expertise and insights with us at Be The Best,” says Diego Ibarra, co-founder of Be The Best and Alphas Alliance. “I guarantee that every person who hears her speak will pick up something that will help them in life as well as in the game. Hutch is the best of the best.”
As head softball coach at the University of Michigan, Hutch led the team to the NCAA Women’s College World Series 12 times. In 2005, Michigan became the first program east of the Mississippi River to claim the NCAA Championship when they defeated UCLA. As a coach, Hutch boasts 22 Big Ten regular season titles, 10 Big Ten Tournament championships and qualified for the NCAA Tournament 29 times.
With Hutch at the helm, Michigan received 69 All-American citations (23 being first-team), while 14 earned Academic All-American honors. Also granted under her tutelage were 20 Big Ten Player of the Year awards, 16 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year awards, 13 Big Ten Freshman of the Year awards, 202 Academic All-Big Ten awards, 212 All-Big Ten citations, and 154 All-Midwest or All-Great Lakes Region certificates.
However, Hutchins confesses that her “greatest joy and the ultimate reward has not been measured by wins and championships. Success is measured by the many, many people who fill your life.”
Former players have gone on to excel at the international and professional levels, medaling in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, WBSC World Championship, World Cup of Softball, Japan Cup, U.S. Pan American Games, Junior Pan American Games, Junior World Championship, Canada Cup, International Cup, and World University Games.
Inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006, Hutchins earned 18 Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year honors, eight NFCA Regional Coach of the Year awards, and two NFCA National Coach of the Year honors. In 2016, she was named the inaugural recipient of espnW’s Pat Summitt Coaching Award, presented to the coach who “exemplifies the character and courage” of the late University of Tennessee women’s basketball coach.
A strong advocate for gender equality in sports, Hutch is a recipient of the Nell Jackson Award, considered the highest honor the Michigan State Varsity “S” Club can give a female alumna for professional accomplishments and community service. She was inducted into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021, the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2011, and the Greater Lansing Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.
“There’s so much more to softball than teaching skills,” Hutchins says. “Developing strong women who can go out into the world and make a difference is even more important than winning championships.”
On October 10, it was announced that Hutchins would receive a WeCOACH Lifetime Achievement Award. This prestigious award is presented to women in sports who succeed at the highest levels in their respective careers, while also displaying an unwavering commitment, pioneering spirit, and trailblazing leadership to empower and pave the way for girls and women in all sports and levels to break through for many generations to come.
Hutch is no stranger to Be The Best. She has shared her inspirations at the convention many times over the years and recognizes the value of the interactive format that allows connections to be created and relationships solidified.
Be The Best, now owned and operated by Alphas Alliance, traditionally attracts about 1,500 attendees who come together each year to interact with former professional and Olympic athletes, college coaches, and other baseball and softball professionals who share their experience and expertise. Speaker topics include everything from how to build a championship program and making sense of the mental game to pitching mechanics and defense skills.
For sponsorship opportunities, tickets, and general information on the convention and speakers, please email info@bethebest.com
