TIFTON — Temperatures soared at Eve Park Tuesday, June 27, but those gathered only sought out shade, not daring to leave. They had to know who was advancing in the MLB Pitch, Hit & Run competition.
So they waited and stayed. Finally, calculations were complete and they learned who advanced in the baseball and softball divisions.
Darrien Teals, who organized the local event through PRVLGD Athletics, said he was impressed with the turnout, not just with the audience’s anticipation for winners, but at the level of interest.
Eighty-five signed up to participate, said Teals.
Cars in the parking lot were not just from Tift County. “One lady drove from Jacksonville,” he said. Youth donned rec uniforms Tifton, Fitzgerald, Pierce County and Cook County, among other places.
Pitch, Hit & Run has age divisions of 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14 for baseball and softball. Six of those divisions had winners at Eve Park and no softball players signed up in the 9-10 and 11-12 categories.
Softball winners, and their total points were, in the 7-8 division, Kynnleigh Johnson (775 points) and in 13-14, Madylyn Hart (1055).
For baseball, the 7-8 winner was Jayce Cato (820 points); 9-10, Bowman Hall (1,055); 11-12, Jake Clements (1,260) and 13-14, Kelvin Streeter (1,110).
The champions earned a trophy, certificate and gift card to local restaurants. From here, they will have to wait to see if their scores make to the team championship level. Atlanta is one of a few MLB clubs to not have announced when their championship will be.
Teals thanked the Tift County Recreation Department for helping set up the event. Tift County High baseball players assisted as well, he said, shagging balls in the outfield.
Several businesses helped sponsor the event: Olive Garden, Sonny’s BBQ, Surcheros Fresh Mex, McDonald’s, attorney Patrick Kunes and Golden Environmental.