Article Contributed on: 6/24/2009 5:39:35 PM
The kids who showed up June 23 at Panorama Park in Wheat Ridge were put to the test.
Boys and girls brought their mitts and baseball savvy to try out at the Rockies Skills Challenge.
Organized locally by Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, the tests were recorded and tested distance and accuracy on the pitch and batting and running skills. Kids were tested by age groups.
Robin Lufton, with Wheat Ridge Rec Center said she knew of 40 who signed up but an additional 20 turned out.
For boys and girls ages 6-13, the event tests skills in base running, batting, and throwing. Local competitions are conducted with the top boy and girl finisher in each age group advancing to a sectional competition. The top sectional boy and girl finishers in each age group (see below) advances to the state championship on Aug. 8 at Coca-Cola All Star Park in Lakewood.
Lufton said participants can enter from other metro areas, but they are only allowed to participated once. She said there were normally at least 75 percent of players from Wheat Ridge, however, this year only 52 percent were from Wheat Ridge.
"It could be a result of having postponed the competition due to weather. We almost doubled our numbers this year," Lufton said.
Lufton said winners at the next level will earn tickets to a Rockies game for their families.
"What I like about it is that it's free. We do a similar program for basketball and football later in the year," she said.
Sectionals are for the group will be July 18 at 11 a.m.
Englewood Centennial Ball Field
2501 W. Union Ave. 80110
• State Final: Aug. 8, 10 a.m. at Coca-Cola All Star Park in Lakewood
Winners in their divisions
Age group Name hometown
Boys 6-7 Kade Church, 7 Golden
Girls 8-9 Alix Bailey, 9 Wheat Ridge
Boys 8-9 Jared Blair, 8, Westminster
Boys 10--11 AJ Ramer, 11 Lakewood
Girls 12-13 Erin Dalton,12 Golden
Boys 12-13 Jesse Gonazales, 11 Arvada