Local Athletes Advance in Pitch Hit & Run Competition

On Thursday, April 21, Santa Clarita Youth Sports hosted a free Scotts Major League Baseball Pitch Hit & Run competition at Chesebrough Park where local youth competed in a variety of baseball and softball activities.
Pitch Hit & Run is the official skills competition of Major League Baseball. This grassroots program is designed to provide youngsters with an opportunity to compete free of charge, in a competition that recognizes individual excellence in core baseball and softball skills.
Kyler Freude, a ten year old from Canyon Country, had scores from the Local competition at Chesebrough Park that advanced him to the Sectionals at Hart High School and from there he proceeded to compete at the Team Championships at Dodger Stadium.
At Dodger Stadium, Kyler received first place in the 9/10 Baseball Division. He is one of ten kids from across the country that received first in his age group. After MLB analyzes scores from across the country, the top three in each division will move on to compete at the National Finals during MLB All-Star Week at Petco Park in San Diego on July 10-12, 2016. All age group finalists will be announced on Monday, June 27 on the MLB Network.
Kyler is a student at West Creek Academy and a Santa Clarita Youth Sports participant. His favorite professional baseball player is Bryce Harper from the Washington Nationals because he is a dedicated player and they share the same number (34). When asked what he wanted to be when he grows up, Kyler responded, “I want to be a Major League Baseball pitcher in the National League, but no matter what I want to grow up to be happy and humble.”
Other local youth placing at the Team Championships include Sophia Parra who placed third in the 9/10 Softball Division, Logan Feldman who placed second in the 7/8 Baseball Division, Aaron Gonzales who placed second in the 11/12 Baseball Division and Ian Sockett who placed third in the 13/14 Baseball Division.
For more information on the City of Santa Clarita’s Youth Sports Program, contact the Youth Sports Office at 661-250-3756 or visit www.santa-clarita.com/YouthSports.