Cole Young of Franklin Park was the national champion in his division in the 2014 Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run competition, held in conjunction with the All-Star Game in Minneapolis, Major League Baseball officials said.
The competition was July 14 at Target Field.
Cole, 10, was one of three competitors in the national finals in the division for 9- and 10-year-old boys.
“It was really fun. The atmosphere was cool, and it was exciting,” Cole said.
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle surprised Cole in the dugout by coming up behind him and putting his arm around Cole's shoulder.
“He just asked how I did. It was really cool,” said Cole, who will be a fifth-grader at Bradford Woods Elementary School.
As part of the All-Star Game festivities, Cole shagged balls for eight batters during the Home Run Derby. Cole said he caught one, a ground ball into the outfield by the Miami Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton.
Cole and his father, Rick, got to watch the All-Star game July 15 from the upper deck.
Ed Phillips is a freelance writer for Trib Total Media.
