Diamond Action

Byram Kids Pitch, Hit and Run for fun BYRAM - Baseball fever hit Byram Township on Sunday May 7, when the recreation commission, along with Major League Baseball and Pepsi, sponsored a Pitch, Hit, and Run competition for local athletes. Members of the American Legion baseball team assisted the young competitors who attended the event to test their skills in all three phases of the game. The winners were determined by how many times they hit a target in the strike zone, how far they batted the ball, and how fast they ran the bases. “I like helping out with the little kids, to see them learn how to play and to watch them grow as players,” Patrick Doran, who along with Mike Groome, Robbie Klinck, Todd Leister, and Dan Pregno, and recreation director Janet Meisner, helped run the contest and provide the young athletes with suggestions on how to improve their baseball skills. Divided into age groups, The overall winner in the 11-12 year olds was Elizabeth O’Brien. Kevin Fernley won the 9-10 year group, and Sean Miller was best of the 7-8 year olds. The second phase of the competition will take place at Byram’s C.O. Johnson Park on June 4 where winners from all over northern New Jersey will battle for a spot in a national contest.