DETROIT -- The Tigers hosted a group of kids at Comerica Park on Saturday morning to participate in the Scotts Pitch, Hit and Run competition. Twenty-four boys and girls, ages 7-14, who pitted their baseball and softball skills against one another, were finalists of the contest in Michigan.
The day began with hitting. Kids took turns smacking baseballs and softballs off a tee in right field, seeing who could loft the ball the farthest.
Then they were timed one by one as they ran down the right-field line and turned at the warning track for a straightaway dash toward center to simulate rounding third and sprinting home in a game. The kids darted past their parents and siblings in the nearby stands to shouts of, "Sprint," and, "Hustle." Dads moved back and forth to relay times to one another so everyone could know where their kids stacked up.
The kids then lined up the right-field line to warm up for their final contest of the day: pitching. No attention given to speed -- the goal was to be as accurate as possible in hitting the target that was placed in the middle of the net.
First-, second- and third-place winners were recognized in four age groups for both baseball and softball. The winners could qualify for the national competition at the 2018 MLB All-Star Game in Washington, D.C.