Area youths won honors in the Aquafina Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit, and Run Competition on April 18.
Ninety-four participants competed in the event, hosted by the Allentown/Upper Freehold Little League at the Upper Freehold Regional Elementary/Middle School fields. The Aquafina Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit, and Run is a baseball skills competition that allows youngsters to showcase their talents in pitching, hitting and running, with scores determined by individual performances in each skills event, according to a press release from the Allentown/Upper Freehold Little League.
In the age group 7-8, the overall champion was Robert Buecker, who earned 450 points. The pitching champions of that age group were Michael Barletta, Robert Buecker, Carleigh Delaney, Franklin Ford and William Hassett, who had a five-way tie, scoring 150 points each. Robert Buecker was also the hitting champion of that age group with 188 points and R.J. Weise was the running champion with 165 points.
The overall champion of the age group 9- 10 was Raymond Mills, who scored 528 points. The pitching champions of that age group were Raymond Mills and Brandon Gaul, who had a two-way tie with 225 points each. Dan Hulit earned the hitting champion title of that age group with 264 points, and Robert Frascella was the running champion with 276 points.
In the age group 11-12, Hal Shaw, who scored 898 points, earned the overall champion title. He was also named pitching champion of that age group with 375 points and hitting champion with 306 points. Jane Kalm earned the title of running champion with 336 points.
Kyle Golla was named the overall champion of the age group 13-14. He scored 953 points. He also earned the title of running champion with 382 points. The pitching champion of that group was Ryan Shaw with 300 points, and Mark John Duffy was hitting champion with 410 points.
The winners will get a chance to participate in the sectional competition later this spring. Sectional all-around champions become eligible to qualify for the team championship round.