Baseball skills contest in St. Marys Saturday

Boys and girls ages 7-14 will be given a chance to show their wares Saturday in the Aquafina Hit, Run and Throw competition.

The competition, to be held at Rotary Field at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, will see four champions from four age categories advance to a regional showdown, possibly moving on to compete at the Rogers Centre. Winners could move on to the North American Championship Finals at the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star game at Yankee Stadium.

Hayden Moore, of St. Marys, won the All-Canadian competition at Rogers Centre last summer.

There is no cost to participate, but players must register by calling 284-1838 or emailing baseball@baseballhalloffame.ca. Players should check-in that morning at 9:30 a.m. at Rotary Field and must hand in a copy of their birth certificate.

The four age categories are 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14 as determined by the child's age as of July 14, 2008. The three competitions involve the players' ability to throw strikes, a timed-run segment and hitting for distance and accuracy.

Winners advance to the regional showdown, which is also slated to take place at the Baseball Hall of Fame on May 24. Winners of the regional will be invited to compete at the Rogers Centre on June 15.

"To be named as host for both the local and then the regional events further demonstrates that we are so much more than just a wonderful museum," said Tom Valcke, Hall of Fame president and CEO, in a press release.