Program Facts

 Scotts Major League Pitch Hit & Run program is the "Official Youth Skills Competition of ". Scotts MLB Pitch Hit & Run invites youth to demonstrate their skills, competing in pitching, hitting and running abilities in baseball or softball.

 Participants can advance through four levels of competition, beginning at the local level, which can be hosted by organizations, leagues, or volunteers within a community, and continuing through sectional and team competitions. All 30 MLB Clubs held team championships at their ballparks on weekends from May 28 through June 26.

 In order to make it to the National Finals, players won at their Local, Sectional, and Team Championship competition. Their scores were then compared to other Team Championship winners in their age group/division and the top three from each age group/division are invited to the National Finals.

 In 2016, over 625,000 youth participated in PHR across the United States and Canada with over 4500 local competitions held.

 24 National Finalists will compete on field at during MLB All-Star week to determine the national Pitch Hit & Run Champions for 2016. All finalists receive an all- expense paid trip for two to , will shag balls during the Home Run Derby, and attend the 2016 MLB All-Star Game, amongst other VIP activities.

 2016 is the 20th year of the Pitch Hit & Run program

 Scotts, the "Official Lawn Care Company of Major League Baseball," is in its fourth year sponsoring the Pitch, Hit & Run grassroots program.

 The competition is part of the "PLAY BALL" initiative between Major League Baseball and USA Baseball, which encourages widespread participation in all forms of baseball activities among all age groups, especially youth. The program highlights the many ways baseball can be played, including outside of the traditionally organized baseball leagues and tournaments, ranging from playing catch, stickball and Wiffle ball to participating in skills competitions like Pitch, Hit & Run. The initiative also provides players, parents and coaches with information and resources to help find events and leagues as well as proper play and instruction through PlayBall.org.

2016 Scotts MLB Pitch Hit & Run National Finalists

7-8 Year Old Softball Division Name Hometown MLB Team Rylee Kalocay Upper St Clair, PA Pittsburgh Pirates Mariah Harrison Fort Mitchell, AL Atlanta Braves Brittyn Bruns Rockford, OH Cleveland Indians

7-8 Year Old Baseball Division Tyler Reinhart Lebanon, PA Philadelphia Phillies Alexander Smith Miami, FL Miami Marlins Tyler Witazek Slingerlands, NY New York Yankees

9-10 Year Old Softball Division Kate Verhoef Aliso Viejo, CA LA Angels of Anaheim Mylia Perez San Ramon, CA Sophia Gregory Alliance, OH Cleveland Indians

9-10 Year Old Baseball Division Russell Haswell Hubert, NC Atlanta Braves Elias Bosang Santee, CA Luke McInelly Mesa, AZ Arizona Dbacks

11-12 Year Old Softball Division Kaiea Higa Maple Valley, WA Seattle Mariners Lauren Mirtoni Roseville, CA San Francisco Giants Amanda Lieberman Jupiter, FL Miami Marlins

11-12 Year Old Baseball Division Elijha Hammill Oakville, ON Toronto Blue Jays Drake Flowers Jupiter, FL Miami Marlins Woodrow Foster Fulton, MO St Louis Cardinals

13-14 Year Old Softball Division Abby Larson Marlborough, MA Boston Red Sox Ciara Herbert Riverside, IL Chicago Cubs Zoey Gross Mays Landing, NJ Philadelphia Phillies

13-14 Year Old Baseball Division Jack Bulger Bowie, MD Baltimore Orioles Michael Downtain Perris, CA LA Angels of Anaheim Samuel Long Gage, OK Texas Rangers