Des Plaines parks to host pitch, hit & run competition

The Des Plaines Park District will host a free Aquafina Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run Competition 10 a.m. Saturday, May 15, at the Prairie Lakes Field, 515 E. Thacker Street. Registration begins at 9 a.m. The competition is free for all participants; boys and girls ages 7-14 are welcome.

Pitch, Hit & Run is the official skills competition of Major League Baseball. This grass-roots program is designed to provide children with an opportunity to compete, free of charge, in a competition that recognizes individual excellence in core baseball/softball skills.

The pitch portion of the program will test how accurately a competitor can throw strikes to a designated "Strike Zone" target. The hit portion of the program will test a competitor's ability to hit from a stationary tee for distance and accuracy. The run portion of the program will measure a competitor's speed in a sprint from second base, around home, and across home plate.

Competitors are divided into four age divisions 7/8, 9/10. 11/12, and 13/14 (as of July 2010) and have the chance to advance through four levels of competition, including Team Championships at Major League Ballparks and the National Finals at the 2010 MLB All-Star Game. The individual Pitching, Hitting and Running champion, along with the All-Around champion in each age group and gender group at the local competition will be awarded and advance to the Sectional Level of competition.

Participants will be asked to provide a form of age verification (birth certificate), and all participants must sign a registration/waiver form.

For more information, call Josh Cantres, (847) 391-5711, jc@desplainesparks.org, or visit desplainesparks.org.

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