Tyler Brooks Of Canton To Compete At Aquafina Pitch, Hit And Run National Finals At 2011 MLB All-Star Game In Phoenix
DETROIT – Detroit Tigers Alex Avila, Miguel Cabrera, Jose Valverde and Justin Verlander will all be representing the club at this year's 2011 All-Star Game in Phoenix. One more representative from Michigan will be joining them at this year's festivities. Tyler Brooks, 14, of Canton, Michigan qualified to compete at the National Pitch, Hit and Run Finals Competition during the 2011 All-Star Game festivities on Monday, July 11 at Chase Field in Phoenix. Tyler currently plays on the Canton Cardinals 14-and-under travel baseball team in the Kensington Valley Baseball Association and has been playing baseball since he was three years old.
Aquafina Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit and Run is an exciting baseball/softball skills competition that provides boys and girls, ages seven to 14, the opportunity to showcase their pitching, hitting and running abilities and is free of charge to all participants. It is intended to encourage youth participation and emphasize the fun element of baseball and softball. All participants must begin by competing in a Local Competition, which is hosted by any organization, league, civic group or set of volunteers in the community. The top three finalists in each age group proceed to the Sectional Competition with the top three finalists from the Sectional Competition moving on to the Team Championship Competition held at each Major League Baseball stadium across the country. The winners from all 30 teams in all age groups are compared, with the top three finalists in each age group moving on to the National Finals at the MLB All-Star Game festivities. Of the 600,000 youth who participated in the competition nationally, only 24 make it to the National Finals.
This year, Tyler represents one of three National Finalists in the 13-14 year old boy's age group. In order to reach the National Competition, Tyler first competed in the Local Competition hosted at the Canton Softball Center. He then moved on to the Sectional Competition hosted by the Dearborn Heights Parks and Recreation department and finally onto the Team Championship Competition at Comerica Park hosted by the Detroit Tigers. This was his second Team Championship win at Comerica in the last three years. Tyler's scores at the Tigers Team Championship qualified him for the National Finals.
The National Finals will take place before the MLB Home Run Derby and winners of the competition will be recognized during the Home Run Derby later that afternoon.
19 youth ballplayers have represented Detroit at the National Finals of skills competition. Tyler is the 20th youth ballplayer to represent Detroit at the National Finals.
As a National Finalist, Tyler receives an all-expenses paid trip for two to the MLB All-Star week including tickets to the 2011 All-Star Game and the opportunity to shag balls in the outfield during the Home Run Derby among other special experiences.
