THE INSIDE PITCH 2021
October Edition
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THE PERFECT GAME FOUNDATION® is a 501(c)(3) Non Profit that was created in April of 2011 to assist those who aspire to a working career in sports. |
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This edition features In Their Own Words by Mallory Cecil and Carleigh Solomon. We hope you enjoy them !
The Foundation also welcomes new Fellows Kyle Lynch (USF and Northwestern Masters), Jack Leonard (Clemson) and Ben Hoffman (Yorktown High School) (Not a typo – Go Ben getting an early start !!)
Editor Caleigh Stenger (South Carolina) has some thoughts to share and TPGF welcomes back Leon Brujis for another Podcast –
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TPC Potomac
Home Course of TPGF Annual Charity Golf Tournament: July 18th
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TPC Potomac
Host venue of the 2022 Wells Fargo Championship: May 2nd-8th
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Please Save The Date for TPGF Golf Tournament 2022 - July 18, 2022
A Perfect Time !
Here is a short highlight video of 2021 - with thanks to Bob Carpenter for his Welcome and to Kiley Bergin of Blue Ridge Drones for the video editing !
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Diversity Pipeline Scout Development Program |
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The Diversity Pipeline Scout Development Program (October 17-October 24) provided an opportunity for 29 candidates (14 men, 15 women) to learn the unique trade of scouting from a diverse staff of instructors and mentors with many different backgrounds within baseball. Each candidate brought their best self to the table in engaging, learning, and growing during the week watching games at different levels (Arizona Fall League, Instructional League, College) during the length of the program to gather their thoughts on players in the form of learning how to write up scouting reports and discuss their opinions. Each candidate worked in groups with an instructor/mentor who helped inform and share their unique perspective while providing guidance and support as the candidates expanded their knowledge of scouting and gained confidence in their abilities throughout the week. The candidates will have their information shared among the 30 MLB Clubs with the hope they will receive future opportunities and those already with MLB teams will be able to use their experience to expand their skill set within their respective organizations.
Tyrone Brooks, one of our great friends of the Foundation, lead this initiative from start to finish !
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Good Morning Friends of the Foundation! It has been a couple months since I did a write-up for the newsletter and I wanted to share some words. As most of you may know by now, I am a senior at the University of South Carolina studying Sport and Entertainment Management. As of last week, we are more than 25% through the year and that much closer to graduation.
Over the past couple of weeks, I have done a lot of thinking to prepare for my future and plans post-graduation. I also can't help but reminisce on my last four years at Carolina.
Last week I decided to visit an old teacher that I hadn't seen much of since Freshman year. The meeting had me feeling extra grateful for my program and the knowledge I've been exposed to in the last four years. Since then, I have been feeling emotional over my time dwindling down and my college experience coming to an end. Here is your monthly reminder to get that beer with friends and watch the football game, eat the slice of pizza after going out, say thank you to the staff that impacted your time at your university, ask for the follow up recommendation from your advisor, and apply for an intimidating job! You never know what may happen.
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Mallory Cecil
One of my favorite quotes is, “Get comfortable with being outside of your comfort zone. That is the only way to grow.” And in my experience, it is not just growth you experience, but more accurately, expedited growth!
After 6 years at my first job, I came to the realization that I was uncomfortable in my comfort zone. I actually did not like being comfortable and was hungry for new learning and new growth opportunities. Now, I do not want you to think that I always felt that way in my job. Rather, up until that point, I had gone through several challenging growth spurts where I had been thrown out of my comfort zone and had to rise for the occasion. And though I did not know it at the time, reflecting back, I can see how each new challenge that I was presented during my time there was actually a strategically placed stepping stone that was preparing me to handle a future promotion and new challenges.
In my previous “In Her Own Words”, I shared how I was going through a current transition in my sports career and found myself gravitating towards the world of Technology and Project Management. Never would I have imagined myself having a career in tech, but I was open to exploring the unknown. With zero experience, I jumped in with both feet. I was committed to serving my colleagues and the business with excellence, and working hard to learn as much as I possibly could to succeed. The competitor in me thrives in the sink or swim situations. And turns out, I really love working on software development projects!
Fast forward several months, and I am now 6 weeks into my new job at a sports tech company, called Universal Tennis, serving as their Director of Product Operations, and let me tell you, it is anything but comfortable. I am being stretched in significant ways, but at the same time can already feel how much I have learned and grown in just a short 6 weeks. I am challenged by the people I work with and the goals that are set before me. Yet, I am incredibly happy. I know I am my best self when I am learning and growing outside of my comfort zone. Pushing myself to expand my mind and come up with new and creative ways to help others and achieve my goals.
Never stop learning and never stop looking for new ways to get outside of your comfort zone! Because that is truly where the magic within yourself happens.
A huge thank you to The Perfect Game Foundation and Del for always encouraging my pursuits and helping me in whatever way possible!
Be Blessed!
Mallory
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Carleigh Soloman
My name is Carleigh Solomon and I am a Junior at the University of South Carolina studying Sport & Entertainment Management with a minor in Law and Society. My first experience as a Fellow of The Perfect Game Foundation was assisting with the annual fund raiser golf tournament at TPC Potomac, where now I help collaborate on the Newsletter each month.
After my time at Carolina, my plan includes pursuing law school to become a successful artist and athlete representation lawyer.
Here at UofSC, I currently hold two leadership positions. I serve as an Ambassador for the college of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management to represent and teach prospective students all about what the program has to offer. Secondly, I work as a Peer Leader to assist freshman with acclimating to their new college environment.
Working with TPGF helped form an internship connect with Jersey Sponsor, where the work revolves around Athlete Recruitment on campus for their program. I have developed a Gamecocks platform here for replicability across campuses all over the country where athletes can learn how to obtain sponsorships and grasp branding opportunities. Connecting with student athletes has been great fun, with equally great experience.
I am thrilled to announce that I will be continuing my studies at the American University of Paris for the spring semester of 2022. With my knowledge of the French language, I am so excited to immerse myself into this rich culture and grow individually, academically, and professionally. In Paris, I will be able to take Law courses and learn about the history of the world, whilst deepening my knowledge of French cuisine, art, pop culture, and much more.
Many thanks to The Perfect Game Foundation and Del for the inspiration and encouragement to succeed, and for the vast support and networking opportunities !
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A Bucket List Trip, and Other Fun Stuff
By Bob Wilber
People talk about “bucket lists” all the time, and I personally believe that has a lot to do with the 2007 hit movie starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. I had never heard of a bucket list until I saw the movie “The Bucket List.” A great flick, too.
I have a few items in my bucket, but I feel extraordinarily fortunate to have lived a very rich life, full of travel, adventure, and incredible experiences. I mean, who among us has been to Cuba? Thanks to one of the many fantastic jobs I’ve had, I’ve been there. The red beans and rice were phenomenal and the 1956 Chevys were everywhere.
Let’s see… There really aren’t many places I want to go. When you spend anywhere from a couple weeks to a month on Kauai almost every year, what beats that? I’ve been all over the US, Canada, and Mexico thanks to baseball and the shoe biz. Maine and Alaska are the only two states I’ve never set foot in, so maybe that’s something I have to correct. I’ve been to many European countries, so those boxes have been checked. I’d like to go to Germany and Austria, but I wouldn’t consider those bucket worthy. Those are just places I’d like to go. Maybe see Bayern Munich play a Bundesliga game. South America doesn’t interest me and Asia is too far and too complicated. But maybe a trip to Fiji or Tahiti would qualify. One of those thatch-roof huts out over the crystal clear ocean water. Yeah, that would work. Put that in the bucket. Australia and New Zealand? Yes, there’s two more destinations in the bucket.
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