TORONTO -- Baseball's future was on display on Saturday morning at Rogers Centre as 24 youth baseball and softball players, ages seven to 14, participated in the Scott's Pitch, Hit & Run competition.
Devon MacDonald won the 11-12 baseball division, going 6-for-6 against the strike zone target in the pitching portion. The 12-year-old from London, Ontario, plays for the London Tecumsehs and channeled his inner Josh Donaldson, his favorite Blue Jays player, in the hitting competition.
"I'm a third baseman and I've always watched him play," MacDonald said. "I really like him."
Port Colborne's Carly Niece took first place in the 13-14 softball division, her second win in two years. A member of the Niagara Falls Thundercats, Niece, a big Kevin Pillar fan, was excited for another chance to take the same field as the Blue Jays.
"It's just the whole experience," Niece said, "getting to play in the Rogers Centre"
Other winners included Hunter Maas of Bradford in the 7-8 softball division, Matthew Wood of Ayr in the 9-10 softball division, and Jack LeBlanc of Ayrin the 11-12 division. On the baseball side, Brantford's Colin Walker won the 7-8 division, while Caledonia's Lachlan Litman placed first in the 9-10 group and Belle River's Zach Verzosa took the 13-14 group.
The eight winners were recognized on the field prior to Saturday's game against the White Sox, and one winner was selected to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Alumni of the Pitch, Hit & Run National Finals include Eric Hosmer of the Royals and Matt Wisler of the Braves. Former Blue Jays infielder Andy Burns, who now plays for the Korean Baseball Organization's Lotte Giants, also participated in 1999.
The top scorers from this competition will be ranked with the winners from the events held at other Major League ballparks. Of the 30 winners in each division, the top three competitors will be chosen to compete during All-Star Weekend in Miami.