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Pepsi Major League Baseball PITCH, HIT & RUN provides youngsters across the country the opportunity to participate in an exciting baseball skills competition. PITCH, HIT & RUN is a free national program that gives boys and girls ages 7 to 14 the chance to showcase their baseball abilities.

PITCH, HIT & RUN is intended to encourage youth participation and emphasize the fun element of baseball. There is no registration fee. Boys and girls compete together in four different age groups: 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14. Age is determined as of July 17, 2002.

PITCH, HIT & RUN is designed to test three of the most fundamental aspects of baseball: pitching, hitting & running:

PITCH
The participant is tested throwing strikes to a designated "Strike Zone" target.
HIT
Allows the youngster to hit a ball off a stationary tee for distance and accuracy.
RUN
The youngster is timed, starting from second base, touching third and then home.

Skill events are individually scored and converted to a total point score through the use of conversion tables. Each participant will compete in each of the three components of PITCH, HIT & RUN and accumulate a total score based on his or her performance.

Levels of Competition:

There are four levels of competition that exist for PITCH, HIT & RUN: Locals, Sectionals, Team Championships and the National Finals.

1. Local Competitions
All participants must first compete at this level of competition. Over 3,000 competitions will be held nationwide with the pitching, hitting & running and all-around champions in each age group advancing to the Sectional.

2. Sectional Competitions
Approximately 250 Sectional Competitions will be conducted with the youngsters competing in the same individual skill events. Only the Sectional all-around champions in each age group will have the opportunity to advance to the PITCH, HIT & RUN Team Championships.

3. Team Championships
Each Major League Baseball team hosts a Team Championship for the top scorers within their geographic market. The all-around champions in each age group will have their scores nationally ranked to determine the top performers advancing to the National Finals.

4. National Finals
Hosted during the All-Star Week, these 16 youngsters (four in each age group) compete in the All-Star festivities and are exclusive guests of Major League Baseball. A National Champion is declared after the National Finals Competition on Workout Day.