MLB Pitch, Hit & Run back April 24 in Northbrook
Austin Mats is not a pro baseball player (he’s only 12) but he knows what it’s like to stand on the mound, ready to pitch, at Wrigley Field, Rate Field and American Family Field.
Four years in a row, Austin placed first in his age group at the MLB Pitch, Hit and Run competition, a free event for softball and baseball players ages 7-14 hosted by the Northbrook Park District.
This year, Austin will try out for his fifth consecutive win at the event on Friday, April 24, at Techny Prairie Park and Fields in Northbrook. His younger sister Skylar, who last year placed second in the 9-10 years old category for softball, will also give it another shot.
The local winners go on to compete at the regional level (called team championships) before a Major League Baseball game. The regional winners get an all-expenses paid trip to compete in the finals during a World Series game.
Playing in an MLB stadium is an awesome experience, Austin said.
“Once you step onto the field you get the view of all the stands, and you can see how it’s such a big stadium,” he said. “You look up and see you see a bunch of stands, and you’re like, ‘whoa.’”
Northbrook Park District Recreation Supervisor Dan Catron described the MLB Pitch, Hit and Run competition as “a mini-Olympics for baseball and softball fans in one afternoon.”
“This is a great (and free) opportunity to throw like a pro, swing for the fences and sprint to the finish line. Perfect for building confidence, making memories, and having a blast on the field.”
Last year, Valerie Lee took first place in the 9-10 years old category for softball at the Northbrook Park District event. She couldn’t make the next level of competition at Rate Field because she had a softball game, but that was OK, she said.
“It was really fun because everyone gets a chance to try their best and cheer each other on,” Valerie said. “It made me like softball even more.”
The competition doesn’t take long, as players are done after they go through the three stations for pitching, hitting and running, she said.
Her advice for new competitors? “Just relax and take deep breath. I had a strategy: I did the hardest ones first, pitching and hitting, before the running, so I could use my energy for the hardest ones.”
This year, Valerie’s brothers, Camden, 11, and Trevor, 5, will also compete at the Northbrook event on April 24. Their mother, Angela Lee, said she tells her children that there is no pressure to perform.
“Being in the competitive environment helps build their confidence to be more comfortable for games,” she said.
The key to doing well at the MLB Pitch, Hit and Run competition is to treat it like a regular game, Austin said.
“I try not to think about what doing this could lead to. I just think of it as a normal baseball game, like I am playing with my team, and not think of it as a competition,” he said. “It helps me be more relaxed and not feel any pressure. That leads to me playing my best game.”
Watching Austin play in the finals is a family affair with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins all cheering him on, said his mother, Stephanie Mats.
“I absolutely encourage other families and kids to participate in MBL Pitch, Hit and Run. It’s absolutely no pressure; and it’s a lot of fun.”
Registration for MLB Pitch, Hit & Run at Techny Prairie Park and Fields, 1750 Techny Road in Northbrook is open at nbparks.org/event/mlbphr through April 23 and onsite the day of the event.
Established in 1927, the mission of the Northbrook Park District is to enhance the community by providing outstanding services, parks and facilities through environmental, social and financial stewardship.