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Girl, 10, to compete before all-stars

  • Published
  • By Steve Berry
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Ten-year-old Elena Hipp really knows how to pitch, hit and run. Lt. Col. Katherine Hipp's daughter is so skilled in softball she has advanced in a national competition all the way to the Pitch, Hit and Run final competition Monday in St. Louis. The contest will take place before the Major League Baseball All-Star Game Home Run Derby held at Busch Stadium. 

Elena began the MLB and Aquafina-sponsored competition at the local level in her hometown of Chesterfield, Mo. She then advanced through sectional competition and the super regional competition held in Jefferson City, Mo. Her total scores in the pitching, hitting and running competition earned her an all expense paid trip to the MLB All-Star Game where she and her parents have the opportunity to attend pre-game festivities including a welcome reception, MLB brunch and All-Star Fan Festival. 

"I think it's really, really cool," Elena said. "It's going to be an honor to be there." 

She will be competing to win the skills competition in the 9-10-year-old age group, and win the title of All Around Champion. 

Elena already knows how it feels to be a champion. She recently led her Chesterfield Athletic Association team, The Crushers, to first place in their division, striking out more than 60 girls. 

Elena's mother, Colonel Hipp, is the Deputy Inspector General for U.S. Transportation Command. Her father, John, is one of The Crusher's head coaches. 

Pitch, Hit and Run is the official skills competition of MLB. The free baseball and softball competition is for youth ages 7 to 14.

Side bar:

Children and teens from the Scott Youth Center will be participating in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game pre-game festivities starting today in St. Louis. 

Amber Baker, 16, the Scott Youth of the Year will serve as the Youth Center's MLB representative. Cheryl Cochran, Youth Director, said she will be assigned to a MLB player and if the player wins the Home Run Derby, the Youth Center will be given $50,000 to renovate their building. 

In addition, Scott youth Dominic Smiley will have the opportunity to shag fly balls hit by the pros during the Home Run Derby.