Charlotte and Kannapolis host HBCU all-star baseball 

MINORITY PROSPECTS BASEBALL

The annual Black college baseball and softball showcase returns for games, fastest-man and fastest-woman competitions and a symposium June 4-6 in Charlotte and Kannapolis.

Black college all-star baseball and softball are returning to the Charlotte area.

Minority Prospects, Carolina Metro Reds, Knothole Foundation and Atrium Health Ballpark are collaborating for HBCU All-Star Weekend, a showcase of games and fan engagement on June 4-6. The goal is to shape a community event centered around HBCU student-athletes. 

The calendar of events include:

June 4 

Beyond the Game Symposium at the Knothole Foundation, 4:30 p.m.

This event sponsored by Carolina Metro Reds brings together the student athletes with leaders in business, finance and community development. The aim is to help prepare the student athletes for life after baseball and softball. 

“We had a great life after sports seminar where we talk to kids, we talk to the athletes, their parents, about a lot of different things,” said Jeff Johnson, the showcase’s lead marketer. “When you hang the cleats up, what are you going to do? We've got leaders from the financial world, leaders from the business world, from the sporting world, and they come and they just talk to the kids straight up. And these guys and all the athletes have opportunities to ask questions in small groups together. We rotate around, and it's just a great, great event.”

June 5 

HBCU Softball All-Star Event at the Knothole Foundation. Gates open at 6 p.m.

The event game women athletes at the forefront. The event has been moved to the Stick Williams Field of Dreams in Charlotte for additional seating and an overall better experience. 

“We’re taking it over to the big field,” Johnson said. “That field has given us more of an arena type atmosphere, more of a big-time event type atmosphere, better sound system, better visuals; the lighting is better. There is a lot more space for people to sit. That change alone has helped elevate it and putting the young ladies out front in the arena they need to be in.”

The event will include a fastest prospect race, home run derby and the game. Johnson C. Smith president Valerie Kinloch will throw first pitch. The HBCU All-Star Alumni band performs in the middle of the fourth inning. 

“Right now, we’ve got about 40-45 band members from various HBCUs all over the Southeast …and really all over the country coming in to be a part of it,” Johnson said. “They’ll be performing in both the softball and baseball games.”

June 6 

HBCU Baseball All-Star Event at Atrium Health Ballpark starts at 3:30 p.m.

There’s a free Minority Baseball Prospects Helping Hands Youth Clinic that lets children engage directly with HBCU athletes and coaches on the field. 

Batting practice will take place from 3:45 p.m. to 5:05 p.m. and at 5:30 field level fan access opens. There’s a fastest man competition, home run derby and the all-star game.
The HBCU alumni band will perform a 10-minute pregame show as well. 

Growing the community

Minority Prospects president Reggie Hollins said the showcase is for everyone. He wants people of all backgrounds, races and walks of life to participate.

“We want everybody,” Hollins said. “HBCU is an inclusive community. We want to make sure that everyone knows that. … This is year six on the baseball side and our impact reports say we have had more than 30% of other ethnicities other than African American participate and on the softball side it is close to that. We are right about 23% on the softball side. This is year four on that side and they are continuing to grow as well.”

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