10-year-old girl wins PH&R event
After barely missing out on a trip to last year’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Yankee Stadium, Brooke Lynn Ciccone simply wanted another chance to go as far as possible in the Aquafina Pitch, Hit & Run softball skills competition.
The 10-year-old Cape Coral resident got that opportunity last Saturday at a local event hosted by Fort Myers American Little League at Fleishman Park.
Ciccone won the all-around and running portions in the 9-10 year-old division and advances to the Super Regionals June 14 in Orlando.
Ciccone won the overall championship at the Super Regionals last year as a 9-year-old, competing in the same division. She was then eligible to be selected for the national finals, held at the All-Star Game, but only the top three nationally were selected based on overall scores from all the Super Regional competitions. Ciccone finished just outside the top three.
Ciccone competed last year in the event after a strong season at Cape Softball’s Burton Park, which included making the 9-year-old All-Star team.
This year, Ciccone was not allowed to compete in the Pitch, Hit & Run event in April at Burton Park. The event was held during the park’s Family Fun Day and a rule passed prior to the event allowed only current members of the league to participate.
Ciccone was playing travel ball this season for the Rampage fastpitch team. She was eligible, however, to participate in the contest at Fleishman Park, which was open to non-league members.