Baseball in full swing at Pitch, Hit and Run

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It is officially baseball season in Maricopa as the city hosted the annual Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit and Run competition on Wednesday.

The wind was howling and the temperature kept dropping, but nothing was going to stop the young baseball and softball enthusiasts of Maricopa from competing in the Pitch, Hit and Run competition at Copper Sky Recreation Complex Wednesday night. Young athletes ranging from 7 to 13 years old came in high numbers to compete in the annual skills competition.

Parents were able to take their mind off of tax day as they watched their kids compete in pitching accuracy, base-running speed, and hitting distance. The athletes were split into four age groups (7-8 year olds, 9-10 year olds, 11-12 year olds, and 13-14 year olds), and each group had their own awards.

Participants were able to win an award for pitching champion, hitting champion, and running champion. The all-around champion was decided by the amount of points each participant earned across all aspects of the competition.

After the scores were tallied, a few athletes stood out and won in multiple categories. However, 21 participants received awards.

7 and 8 year old girls:
–    All Around: Olivia O'Dell
–    Hitting: Olivia O'Dell
–    Running: Tiffany Ortiz
*No winner for the pitching competition

7 and 8 year old boys:
–    All Around: Brayden Hill
–    Pitching: (Tie) Shaun Powers, Brayden Hill and Sein Suchite
–    Hitting: Diego Diaz
–    Running: Brayden Hill

 9 and 10 year old girls:
–    All Around: Emma Etzel
–    Pitching: Tie between Emma Etzel, Alyssa Etzel
–    Hitting: Emma Etzel
–    Running: Jessica Taylor

9 and 10 year old boys:
–    All Around: Christian Compian
–    Pitching: Christian Compian
–    Hitting: Gavin Smith
–    Running: Gavin Smith

11 and 12 year old girls:
–    All Around: Zeya Suchite
–    Pitching: Zeya Suchite
–    Hitting: Alexis Ortiz
–    Running: Zeya Suchite

11 and 12 year old boys:
–    All Around: Tyler Damron
–    Pitching: Tyler Damron
–    Hitting: Gannon Jaeger
–    Running: Curtis Manges

13 and 14 year old girls:
–    All Around: Daisy Guzman
–    Pitching: Ariana Reinbold-Rodriguez
–    Hitting: Daisy Guzman
–    Running: Daisy Guzman

***ADVERTISEMENT***13 and 14 year old boys:
–    All Around: Brett Hogan
–    Pitching: Bodin Lay
–    Hitting: Brett Hogan
–    Running: Parker Hunsaker

Follow the reporter on Twitter at @Adam_Wolfe

Adam Wolfe
Adam was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but spent the majority of his young life in Lakeside, Arizona. After graduating from Blue Ridge High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. He has been working in the field of journalism since 2010. Adam has worked in a wide range of fields including professional sports and international media relations. He has also been a breaking news reporter, sports columnist, government reporter and community reporter. He spent a year in Denver, Colorado before coming to Maricopa in 2015. In his spare time, he will often be found enjoying the great outdoors. If he isn’t hiking or fishing, he is likely hopelessly cheering on his Arizona sports teams. Adam was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but spent the majority of his young life in Lakeside, Arizona. After graduating from Blue Ridge High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. He has been working in the field of journalism since 2010. Adam has worked in a wide range of fields including professional sports and international media relations. He has also been a breaking news reporter, sports columnist, government reporter and community reporter. He spent a year in Denver, Colorado before coming to Maricopa in 2015. In his spare time, he will often be found enjoying the great outdoors. If he isn’t hiking or fishing, he is likely hopelessly cheering on his Arizona sports teams. Adam was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but spent the majority of his young life in Lakeside, Arizona. After graduating from Blue Ridge High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. He has been working in the field of journalism since 2010. Adam has worked in a wide range of fields including professional sports and international media relations. He has also been a breaking news reporter, sports columnist, government reporter and community reporter. He spent a year in Denver, Colorado before coming to Maricopa in 2015. In his spare time, he will often be found enjoying the great outdoors. If he isn’t hiking or fishing, he is likely hopelessly cheering on his Arizona sports teams.