In an annual rite of spring, it was bat-a-thon day in Ridge Meadows Minor Baseball on Saturday.
It was the fifth year for the annual fun competition of baseball skills, that sees kids not just hit for distance, but also speed around the bases, pitch against the radar gun, and play long toss at the greatest possible distance.
And it is also a fundraiser designed to keep baseball an affordable sport for families.
The association’s special events coordinator said some of the fundraising was out of the park.
“One of the Tadpole teams this year actually did their own Krispy Kreme donuts fundraiser, they raised $300 together,” she said. “A great result and a great team-building exercise.”
The on-field results were:
Rally Cap bat-a-thon:
1. Benjamin De Santis - Waves 118ft.
2. Karter Rutledge - Tigers 110 ft.
3. Brody Sharpe - Mariners 104ft.
Super-T bat-at-hon:
1. Riley Kauhane - Cubs - 125 ft.
2. Nolan Dingwall - White Sox - 115 ft. 3. Dylan McNab - White Sox - 106 ft.
Tadpole bat-a-thon:
1. Ben Van Den Hoven 164’10”
2. Brayden Schulte 152’
3. Owen Toothill 147’
Skills competition winners:
Around the Horn - Cardinals
Dragon Race - Blue Jays
Shuttle Relay - Cubs
Furthest hit
1. Ben Van Den Hoven
2. Zachary Rowand
3. Chris Evans
Furthest throw
1. Tory Hutchinson
2. Logan Maxwell
3. Braeden Fotheringhame
Mosquito bat-a-thon:
1.Kody Davey - Blue Jays 209 ft.
2. Beau Benedictson - Phillies 204 ft.
3. Mason Lemmen - Pirates 203 ft.
Skills Day:
Fastest Around the Bases
1. Cooper Crowe - Red Sox
2. Jake Tanaka - Mariners
Pitching accuracy
Alex Dumoneceaux - Pirates
Hardest pitch
Second year (2005 birthdays)
1. Payton Godwin - Pirates
2. Beau Benedictson & Ben Leslie (tie)
First year (2006 birthdays)
1. Cooper Crowe - Red Sox
2. - Liam Sampson - Giants
Closest to cone
1. Ethan Cormack - Pirates
2. Sean Nisbet - Yankees
Around the horn
1. Blue Jays
2. Mariners
Two-man long toss
1. Beau Benedictson & Ben Leslie, Phillies
2. Carter Germain & Max Griffith, Mariners
Home Run competition
Second Year (2005 birthdays)
1. Mason Lemmen - Pirates
2. Payton Godwin - Pirates
First year (2006 birthdays)
1. Kaden Johnson - Rangers
Peewee bat-a-thon
1. Sebastian Wagner - Blue Jays 240 ft
Skills Day:
Fastest Pitch
Carson Hebert - Blue Jays
Pitching Accuracy
Shamus Horebec - Expos
60 Yard Dash
Nocholas Squeo - Yankees
Around the Horn - Expos
Three-man relay - Orioles