Pitch, Hit & Run finalists announced

It all started in March with about 625,000 youth around North America, competing in more than 4,400 events and each dreaming of the chance to play on the field prior to Gatorade All-Star Workout Day on July 13 at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

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The 24 national finalists in the 2015 Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run program presented by Scotts were announced today by MLB, enabling two dozen boys and girls to compete at the National Finals and participate in activities during MLB All-Star Week in Cincinnati.

The competition will take place at 3 p.m. ET on Monday, July 13, prior to Gatorade All-Star Workout Day featuring the 2015 Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders.

Two former Pitch, Hit & Run National Finalists -- Eric Hosmer of the Royals and Chris Parmelee of the Orioles -- have reached the Major Leagues.

• Pitch, Hit & Run program presented by Scotts

Here are the National Finalists:

7-8 Girls: Giavonna Minton of Glenshaw, Pa. (Pirates); Mya Bartlett of Las Vegas (Padres); and Kayla Stephens of Henrico, Va. (Nationals.)

7-8 Boys: Jackson Marshall of Hooksett, N.H. (Red Sox); Ryan Madsen of Scottsdale, Ariz. (D-backs); and Ren Devereux of Denwood, Md. (Orioles).

9-10 Girls: Lilly Stewart of Greenfield, Ind. (Reds); Olivia Shaw of Flowery Branch, Ga. (Braves); and Abby Braby of California, Mo. (Cardinals.)

9-10 Boys: Ethan Manock of Wahpeton, N.D. (Twins); Gregory Palamountain of Lafayette, Calif. (Giants); and Trevor Cogley of Hayden, Idaho (Mariners).

11-12 Girls: Lauren Mirtoni of Roseville, Calif. (Giants); Daci Hier of Kewanee, Ill. (White Sox); and Kylee Holderied of Fairfield, Conn. (Mets).

11-12 Boys: Elijha Hammill of Oakville, Ontario (Blue Jays); Josh Nielsen of Womelsdorf, Pa. (Phillies); and Chase Jans of Overland Park, Kan. (Royals).

13-14 Girls: Haley Loffer of Hayden, Idaho (Mariners); Madison Hayes of Ooltewah, Tenn. (Braves); and Emma Kleinsek of Fitchburg, Wis. (Brewers).

13-14 Boys: Andruw Criswell of Trenton, Tenn. (Reds); Kaul Kleeman of Miller, Mo. (Royals); and Drake Jackson of Texas City, Texas (Astros).

Pitch, Hit & Run invites youth to demonstrate their skills by competing in pitching, hitting and running competitions. Participants advance through four levels of competition, beginning at the local level, which is hosted by organizations, leagues, or volunteers within a community, and continuing through sectional and team competitions.

All 30 MLB clubs hosted team championships at their ballparks on weekends from May 30-June 28. The top three competitors nationwide from each age group (7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14) advanced to the National Finals.

The skills competition is part of the Play Ball initiative between MLB and USA Baseball, which encourages widespread participation in all forms of baseball activities among all age groups, especially youth.

Scotts, the sponsor of the official youth skills competition of MLB, is in its third year sponsoring the grassroots program, and Aquafina also is a supporting sponsor.

MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of All-Star Week festivities.

The 86th All-Star Game will be televised nationally on July 14 by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.