The Catskill Mountain Little League will host a free MLB Pitch, Hit & Run skills competition for all youth, ages 7-14, in four divisions for either baseball or softball from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday June 21. The event will be followed by final regular season games of majors division baseball and a barbecue fundraiser. The event will conclude at Damaschke Field with an Oneonta Outlaws game. Free tickets for CMLL families will be provided at the gate.
According to a news release, last year was the first time CMLL hosted the PHR event and four young ballplayers from the region went on to compete in the team championships at Yankee Stadium, Citi Field and Williamsport, Pennsylvania before the Little League World Series.
Annalynn Trimbell of Hobart won the 7-8 year old softball division and followed it up with a performance before the New York Mets vs. Boston Red Sox game at Citi Field on Labor Day. Trimbell won that competition and received a trophy before the game. She later narrowly missed a shot at a trip for four to compete before the MLB World Series — the ultimate award for over 65,000 children that competed across the country last year, the release stated.
The event will take place on Robinson Field at the CMLL complex on the outskirts of Stamford. Each participant will throw five balls at a target the size of an MLB strike zone, take five swings off a tee and complete a 90 foot dash twice, recording the best of both times. Scores are tallied based on points awarded for each skill. Participants are encouraged to watch and cheer for the other participants throughout the event, the release stated.
The event will conclude with an awards ceremony after all participants have competed and scores have been tallied. PHR participants need not be enrolled in CMLL programs to participate, and any child is welcome regardless of ability.
All pre-registrants will receive a complimentary subscription to MLB.TV. On-site registration will be accepted, but CMLL will require a copy of the child’s birth certificate for proof of age. More info and registration can be found at www.mlb.com/pitch-hit-and-run/parent-information.