OAKLAND -- The A's hosted the Team Championship round of the Scotts Pitch, Hit & Run competition on Sunday at Oakland Coliseum, with 24 kids ages 7-14 competing in their age groups.
The participants threw at a strike-zone target, hit balls off a tee at home plate and ran from second base to home in the competition.
In addition to being recognized during a pregame ceremony before the A's game with the Angels, the winners will be ranked nationally -- with the top participants in each age group advancing to the Scotts MLB Pitch, Hit & Run National Finals during MLB All-Star Week.
Kabir Faiz, an account manager for MLB Pitch, Hit & Run who helped run the event, said the highlight for him was the chance for kids to experience playing on a big league field.
"Being able to step on a Major League field -- competing on a field that some of their heroes, some of their favorite players get to compete on -- it's a great reward for them," Faiz said. "It's amazing, and they're all smiles. It's an awesome experience for all the families alike, so it's great."
The participants on Sunday each won at their local and sectional competitions -- with 650,000 kids in the country competing every year.
"These are the elite of the elite that make it to this level," Faiz said.
In its 22nd year, the program is free for all hosts and participants and is part of the Play Ball initiative between Major League Baseball and USA Baseball that seeks to promote youth participation in baseball activities.

Results

7/8 Softball Division

1. Logan Paredes (Rancho Cordova, Calif.)
   
2. Emmelyn Goodpasture (Wilton, Calif.)
   
3. Addison Rizzio (Marysville, Calif.)
   9/10 Softball Division
   
4. Sophia O Quelly (Woodland, Calif.)
   
5. Kendall Bridgeford (Shasta Lake, Calif.)
   
6. Jaelee Hammes (Sun Valley, Nev.)
   11/12 Softball Division
   
7. Aila Cordell (Gold River, Calif.)
   
8. Ava Goodpasture (Wilton, Calif.)
   
9. Lilly Snider (Marysville, Calif.)
   13/14 Softball Division
   
10. Emily McCalla (Galt, Calif.)
    
11. Azaria Sanchez (Fresno, Calif.)
    
12. Lydia Rigby (Sun Valley, Nev.)
    7/8 Baseball Division
    
13. Andres Reyna (Merced, Calif.)
    
14. Zach Clifford (Rocklin, Calif.)
    
15. Braden McCormack (Marina, Calif.)
    9/10 Baseball Division
    
16. Jayden Wong (Rancho Cordova, Calif.)
    
17. Aidan Cruz (Sun Valley, Nev.)
    
18. Brodie Ogden (McArthur, Calif.)
    11/12 Baseball Division
    
19. Matthew Lewis (Elverta, Calif.)
    
20. Kaden Sackett (Rancho Cordova, Calif.)
    
21. Weston Deboer (Reno, Nev.)
    13/14 Baseball Division
    
22. Thomas Meyer III (Rio Linda, Calif.)
    
23. Daniel Lewis (Rocklin, Calif.)
    
24. Wesley Simpson (Carson City, Nev.)