WHITEHALL, Pa. — A Lehigh Valley entrepreneur and community figure – best known as the owner of 7 Deadly Spins Fastpitch and The Hitter’s Edge sports training facility in Whitehall Township – is debuting her most personal venture to date.
Alexandra MacLean Valenzuela, a former star pitcher at Northampton Area High School (’09) who continued showcasing her softball chops at Bucknell University (’13), is launching CHAMP Academy — a credentialed early childhood enrichment program for infants through age 6 — at The Hitter’s Edge.
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CHAMP Academy
CHAMP Academy will host an open house 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, June 10, at The Hitter’s Edge, 3679 Eberhart Road, Whitehall, according to a news release.
Guests will be able to tour the facility, meet the educators, try a sample class and lock in a founding member rate. All families are welcome, and no registration is required.
CHAMP Academy delivers seven distinct weekly classes built around five developmental pillars: Confident, Holistic, Academic, Mindful, and Play.
Every membership includes access to all seven classes, taught by credentialed early childhood educators in a purpose-built movement space.
CHAMP Academy is the program that Valenzuela wishes existed when she was building her business and her family simultaneously.
As a Lehigh Valley native who has spent years serving the local sports community through The Hitter’s Edge and 7 Deadly Spins, she identified a consistent gap: “robust programming for older athletes, and very little of substance for the youngest children in those same families,” the release states.
CHAMP Academy is her answer to this void.
“Big kids have practice,” Valenzuela said.
“Now little kids have CHAMP. I’ve been in this community a long time — I know these families. They want more than just drop-off play. They want real programming, real teachers, and a place that takes their youngest kids as seriously as their older ones. That’s exactly what we built.”
Every CHAMP Academy membership includes access to all seven weekly classes — featuring seven different ways to learn through play:
Baby Champs: Gentle, sensory-rich experiences for infants that bond babies with caregivers and support early development.Messy Makers: Hands-on, sensory-rich art where open-ended creative stations let little hands get gloriously messy and big imaginations run wild.Mini MVP Play: Free play with a purpose — a rotating mix of toys, independent exploration, and connection with other kids.Quiet Moments: A gentle, calming class featuring soft crafting paired with a sensory wind-down in a dimly lit space with gentle music.Tiny Tastebuds: A multi-sensory food adventure where kids sniff, peel, stamp, and taste their way through flavors, textures, and curiosity.Story Explorers: Read-aloud adventures with songs, movement, and hands-on play — kids sway, wave, and breathe their way through every story.Rhythm & Rhyme Music: A joyful, high-energy music class where little ones sing, shake, drum, and dance.Sing-alongs, hands-on instruments, and full-body movement build early language, listening, coordination, and confidence.
Founding member pricing, available on the first 15 spots per tier, locks in for life as long as the membership stays active.
Memberships feature no long-term contract – “just real programming, on your schedule,” the release states.
Founding rates include:
4x a Month: $89/month – Best for single child, one consistent weekly routine.Unlimited: $149/month – Best for single child, 2–3 visits per week.Family Unlimited $189/month – Best for families with 2–3 kids, ages 0–6.
Classes, 45 minutes each, are led by a credentialed educator and assistant, and class sizes are limited to a maximum of 15 children.
For the latest Champ Academy updates, follow the business’ pages on Facebook and Instagram. Info: champacademykids.com.