OUR MISSION

Hit The Mitt strives to be the best youth player development program serving Saint Petersburg; “a place to play for all”.

Our main emphasis will be on training and conditioning of young players by engaged and knowledgeable coaches. Our players will achieve more success because we will educate them in athlete self-care (mentally and physically), skill-building excellence, good sportsmanship, and proficiency in the game. This will take place in a fun, pressure-free environment where the love of baseball will be nurtured.

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About Our Founder

Hi, I’m Catherine Nelke

Baseball mom, St. Pete native, people-person,  AND community advocate. 

Volunteering and organizing community groups has always been a passion of mine; executing ideas might just be my superpower. 

So when I realized that the St. Pete area doesn’t have a local year-round training and conditioning clinic or baseball academy to support our younger players who want to learn or improve their existing skills, Hitt The Mitt happened. 

Summer camps are available in the summer (not consistent) and other training facilities are too far away. We needed a place locally where our kids can come and train throughout the year.

My son has been playing youth baseball since he was 5. I noticed that the skills required to transition from AA to AAA, for example, are a big jump and differ in many ways. I also noted that the kids in spring ball, who are not drafted for Travel Ball, Club, or All Stars have nowhere to go consistently during the summer to practice and be ready for the fall season. This is perhaps how baseball loses players to other sports.



Our Purpose

Our ultimate purpose at Hit the Mitt is to help young players who want to learn to play baseball and current players who want to improve.

THESE kids will be encouraged to play the game they love in a stress-free environment, and improve at it, so that they can return to their teams better-prepared. Hit the Mitt can be the place for them to hone their skills over the summer and through exciting sessions and clinics throughout the year, so they will be ready for league play during the regular season. 

Our players will be assets to their teams and will be drafted because of our core values. Hit the Mitt will also “ fill in the gaps” of coaching during the regular season, allowing our players to have more focus on the skills with which they need help, but might not have time to focus on during regular practice.

good catch

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HEALTHY Competitive Excellence and Motivation

Community Engagement

Skill Development

Integrity and Focus on Sportsmanship

Player Self-Care and Awareness

Natural Leadership Development

Accountability and Respect for Oneself and Others

Values

our players learn

we work hard and play hard

Hit The Mitt’s Mission to 

Support Families

Hit The Mitt and their goal to help youth baseball players succeed is just the beginning to our calling to support our community. Scholarships will also be given at every session. Hit The Mitt will be organizing several upcoming community events, such as Home Run Derbies and Hit-a-Thons to raise money for local children’s charities.

We’re in the beginning stages of starting a nonprofit foundation called ON DECK FOR KIDS. This will be for children who suffer from ADHD whose families cannot afford treatment, therapies, or medications. Continue checking back here on our website for updates on our nonprofit launch.

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Don't wait another season to improve your skills.

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APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP

We are currently accepting new players to join this seasons' trainings!

SPONSORS & FRIENDS

A Thanks to Our

Myla Iskander

Matt beck

jennifer boyd

Lindsey Germann

Northwestern Mutual

Island Fin Poke

House Calls For Kids

Stroll Magazine

Sophie Bell

Coach Chris Wilson

Beyond Beauty Studio

The Yard Baseball Training

clearwater threshers

Melody Stang

Baseball Team

Melody Stang Realty, Inc.

Ruthenia Kinsey-George

Stephanie Carmack

Glamorize Yourself

Brenda Avila

Shannery Barnes

Brenda Avila Designs

 Next Home Beach Time Realty

SPONSOR PACKAGES

Largo Plumbing

Vince Chapman

Dancing Umpire for the Savannah Bananas