These boys and girl were among the winners Saturday at the Local-level competition of the nationwide Pitch, Hit & Run contest sponsored by Major League Baseball and Aquafina and held at the Nike Site Playing Complex in Swansea under the sponsorship of the Swansea Independent Baseball League. Shown here, from left, are: 1^st row, Ben Sears, Nathan Ladeira, Lacey Rubenstein and Brandon Medeiros; and 2^nd row, Nicholas Gerling, Jordan Larivee, Cody Julius and Noah Julius. (Photo courtesy of Swansea Independent Baseball League)

            SWANSEA – Twelve boys and girls advanced to the Sectional-level of competition Saturday after placing first overall in their age group or in any of the three phases of competition in a Local-level version of the nationwide Pitch, Hit & Run program hosted by the Swansea Independent Baseball League at the Nike Site Playing Complex in Swansea.

            More than 40 players of ages 7 through 14 years participated in the Local contest of the national competition sponsored by Major League Baseball and Aquafina. Nearly one dozen SIBL representatives, headed by President David Hadad, administered the contest.

            Advancing to the second level of competition – which will be staged May 22 in Berkley – were the following male contestants:

            7- AND 8-YEAR OLD DIVISION – Devyn Vezina and Brandon Medeiros.

            9- AND 10-YEAR OLD DIVISION – Nick Viveiros, Ben Sears, Nathan Ladeira,

            Nicholas Gerling and Brendan Carvalho.

            11- AND 12-YEAR OLD DIVISION  – Cody Julius and Noah Julius.

            13- AND 14-YEAR OLD DIVISION – Jordan Larivee and David Emerson.

            Also advancing were female competitors Zoe Janicki (7- and 8-Year-Olds) and Lacey Rubenstein (9- and 10-Year-Olds).

            According to Hadad, this year marked the first time in which the SIBL served as host for a Pitch, Hit & Run competition.