Dec 28, 2022 | Baseball, Be The Best News, Community
Wilmington, NC – Be The Best is excited to announce the addition of Mark Scalf, the all-time winningest coach at UNCW, to the speaker line-up at their annual baseball and softball coaches convention in Wilmington, NC from January 13-15, 2023.
Following the 2019 season in which UNCW baseball brought home a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championship and advanced to the NCAA Regionals, Mark Scalf gave up his spot at the helm.
Scalf’s storied career includes the coaching of 83 UNCW players who went on to play professionally, including first-round selection Brad Holt in 2008 who was drafted by the New York Mets. Under his tutelage, 134 players have earned All-CAA honors with five named as CAA Player-of-the-Year. He owns 941 career wins, nine CAA regular season titles, six CAA tournament championships and 10 trips to the NCAA Regionals.
“The number of wins is not what’s most important to a baseball coach,” Scalf says. “The real joy is in the lessons learned, the relationships formed and the gratification you get from seeing the men your players become. There’s nothing like it in the world.”
He will be forever immortalized with his induction into the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame on May 7, 2023. The GWSHOF honors people who, by their excellence in the world of sport, have brought recognition and esteem to themselves and the Greater Wilmington area.
“Connections, camaraderie, and collaboration – this is exactly what community is all about,” says Wilmington Mayor, Bill Saffo. “We welcome Be The Best with open arms and look forward to coordinating efforts as we foster our common visions for Wilmington.”
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 covered range from skills and drills to conquering the mind game and building your best brand. Coach Scalf will be a part of the Champions Q&A along with Carol Hutchins who is college softball’s winningest coach ever.
“We are beyond thrilled to have Coach Scalf join us at our annual convention. He’s an absolute icon, not only in the baseball world but in the community at large,” says Lindsay, co-owner of Be The Best. “He is accessible, knowledgeable and a truly engaging leader.”
For 50 years, Be The Best Baseball and Softball Convention has preserved the founding concept of providing an affordable, accessible convention created for coaches, by coaches.
Now powered 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.
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.
Aug 25, 2022 | Be The Best News
The country’s longest-running baseball and softball convention marks 50 years with show in Wilmington, NC on January 13-15, 2023.
Wilmington, NC – In celebration of Be The Best’s 50th anniversary, some of the country’s most esteemed coaches and experts will come together to share insights and instruction at the Wilmington Convention Center on Friday, January 13 through Sunday, January 15, 2023. Alphas Alliance, a software company that caters to coaches, is thrilled to announce their acquisition of Be The Best as well as the unveiling of this year’s exciting speaker line-up.
“The Wilmington and Beaches CVB and its travel partners are honored to be selected as the site of the convention’s 50th anniversary,” says Kim Hufham, President/CEO of the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority. “Our riverfront convention center is within easy walking distance of hotels, inns, and vacation rentals, as well as restaurants specializing in locally-sourced seafood and produce. Wilmington’s variety of museums, beaches, tours, cruises, parks, gardens, and sports facilities make it the ideal destination for attendees to bring along their families for a memorable convention and vacation.”
The site was specifically chosen for its affordability and versatility as well as its deep roots in the baseball and softball worlds.
“Wilmington’s vibrant collegiate and amateur level sports scene combined with our beautiful beaches and historic downtown have long been a draw for athletes of all skill levels to train, recover and refocus,” says Natalie English, CEO of Wilmington’s Chamber of Commerce. “We are so pleased that Be The Best has selected our city for this event.”
On the baseball side, speakers at the event include USA Baseball, Andrew Bartman; Savannah Banana’s Head Coach, Tyler Gillum; 2021 NAIA National Champions, Georgia Gwinnett College Head Coach, Jeremy Sheetinger; Seattle Mariners Hitting Coordinator, CJ Gillman; St. Louis Cardinals MiLB Head Coach, Patrick Anderson; Team USA Olympic Team / Boston Red Sox Coach, Darren Fenster; and University of Mount Olive Head Coach, Rob Watt.
On the softball side, speakers at the event include 2022 CAA Champions, UNCW, Retired Head Coach, Kristy Norton; 2022 D3 NCAA Champions, Christopher Newport University, Head Coach, Keith Parr; University of South Carolina Hitting Coach, Josh Bloomer; Virginia Tech Pitching Coach, Doug Gillis; 2x NCAA D3 Champions Head Coach, John Tschida from Saint Mary’s University; and Starz Gold Head Coach, Tony Short.
Also speaking at the event about elite mindset and mental performance are renowned speakers, Olympian, Joey Lye; and Cheryl McCormick from Gravitational Performance.
“Being around other people who want to learn and grow and get better just makes our game better,” says Andrew Bartman, Director of Coaching Development for USA Baseball. “Be The Best is a very high-level event that offers both intimacy and access to the presenters who are there to share ideas with other like-minded individuals.”
Now owned and operated by Alphas Alliance, Diego Ibarra and Lindsay Mayer bring a new vibrancy to Be The Best. As owners, coaches, and entrepreneurs, they explore out-of-the-box concepts and incorporate cutting-edge technology, yet are deeply committed to Be The Best’s original vision, which was put in place when it was founded back in 1972. Ibarra and Mayer recognize that the success of the longest-running baseball and softball convention is contingent on it being a show for coaches, created and run by coaches.
“I am beyond excited to move this event to Wilmington, NC,” says CEO, Lindsay Mayer. “It is a beautiful, affordable city right in the heart of the baseball and softball worlds. I look forward to connecting thousands of coaches and athletes as well as creating business opportunities that extend beyond the field.”
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 making sense of the mental game to pitching mechanics and defense skills.
“I see it as a journey,” VP, Diego Ibarra says. “And no matter where we are on our individual paths – whether it’s Little League, travel ball, college, or at the pro level – we can all learn from each other in our quest to Be The Best players, coaches, and selves we can possibly be. I am proud to be in a position to help empower so many individuals on their personal journeys.”
Registration is now open and can be accessed at www.bethebest.com.
If you are interested in a sponsorship or being an exhibitor at Be The Best Convention, please contact Lindsay Mayer or Diego Ibarra at info@bethebest.com or visit the website at www.bethebest.com.
Alphas Alliance is an innovative software company built to make coaches’ lives easier. For more information, please visit www.alphasalliance.com.
