Pitch, hit and run competition April 21

LYNN – Major League Baseball’s Pinch, Hit & Run competition will come to Fraser Field from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, with the Boys & Girls Club of Lynn sponsoring the event.Much like the National Football League’s Pass, Punt and Kick competition, youngsters ages seven to 14 years old will get to test their skills in three events with the winners moving on to the next level with the ultimate prize a trip to the MLB All-Star game in Minneapolis where they’ll compete during the Home Run Derby.Paul Barker, athletic director at the Boys & Girls Club, is trying to get the word out about the vacation week competition. He has been contacting various youth baseball organizations and is hoping to get a good turnout. He said approximately 30 youngsters from the Boys&Girls Club will take part in the competition. Barker said there will be separate boys and girls competitions with participants separated into four age groups,, 7-8 years, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14. In the pitching competition a cutout of a strike zone will be attached to a fence. Baseball and softballs will be used with each participant allowed six pitches.The next event is running. Players will go go from second base to home plate and based on their time, will be awarded a certain number of points. Each participant will get three chances to record his or her best time. In the hitting competition, players will hit off a tee with the distance of the hits measured and converted into points depending on how far they go.This will be the Boys & Girls Club’s first time hosting the event. Barker said he and other staffers will run the events with volunteers from the Boys & Girls Club helping out as well. The competition is free. Those interested can register in advance at mlb.com/phr or register the day of the event. A birth certificate is required. Barker said a youngster who doesn’t have a birth certificate will be allowed to compete, but if he or she wins, one will be needed to go on to the next level.?This gives the kids something to do during vacation,” Barker said.For more information those interested can call Barker at the Boys & Girls Club, 781-593-1772, or email him at [email protected].