Lake Zurich Lightning player wins Pitch, Hit and Run Championship
Saturday, June 14, was an exciting day for one of Lake Zurich's homegrown players.
Leyden Atlas, catcher for the 14u Lake Zurich Lighting, competed for the team championship of the Pitch Hit & Run contest, the official skills competition of Major League Baseball.
Participants in the Pitch Hit & Run compete to test the three basic skills of the youth baseball or softball player ages 7-14 against their peers in age and gender.
Contestants hit three times from a tee, compiling the total distance of the hit at the point of the first bounce.
The speed test consists of a timed running heat from second base to home plate, a distance of 160 feet.
Throwing accuracy is measured by throwing six softballs at a target.
From an initial pool of over 600,000 players nationwide, the skills competition began at the local level.
Leyden advanced from the Lake Zurich local competition to compete at the sectional level in Waukegan on May 31.
She won the sectional, achieving one of the three highest scores from among all seven sectionals throughout Illinois and Indiana.
Competing against the other top scorers in the sectionals, 13-year-old Leyden put her skills on display at U.S. Cellular Field prior to the Chicago White Sox game vs. Kansas City on June 14.
Leyden brought the crowd to applause with her towering shots into the outfield of the White Sox home arena. Leyden's running speed and throwing accuracy landed her on the field prior to the White Sox game with a first-place trophy in the competition.
The awards ceremony was broadcast on the Jumbotron, as Leyden's name was announced by the public address announcer as the winner in her age and gender group.
A total of 30 Team championships are held in June at each of the 30 Major League ballparks.
The top three scores in each age and gender group out of all 30 MLB Team Championships will advance to the National Finals.
Those fortunate enough to be in this group will receive an all-expense paid trip to the Major League All-Star Game in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Finalists will participate in an array of festivities upon arrival, including a special reception for winners, an MLB brunch, and All-Star FanFest.
Finalists will compete on the field prior to shagging fly balls during the Home-Run Derby and attending the All-Star Game.
• To submit Your news with one photo, go to dailyherald.com/share. To submit Your news with multiple photos, send it to nbrcalender@dailyherald.com.