Henderson girl shows baseball prowess

Friday, June 20, 2003 | 9:19 a.m.

Becky Mann of Henderson became the first girl in the history of the Southern Nevada Major League Baseball Skills Competition to go all the way to the Team Championship Competition at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

Mann and eight other Nevada youths went to the Qualcomm competition on June 8 in conjunction with the San Diego Padres' game against the Minnesota Twins.

The MLB Pepsi Pitch, Hit & Run competition showcases the youngsters' abilities in pitching, hitting and running, with scores based on accuracy, distance and speed.

The youngsters received their bid to compete in the championship after competing in the sectional competition hosted by Nevada Youth Alliance, Boy Scouts Troop 159, Clark County Parks and Recreation, ARAMARK and the Las Vegas 51s AAA baseball team.

The Nevada competitors placing in the top five of their age groups:

Tyson Teerlink of Bunkerville, first in age 7 to 8 category; Mann of Henderson, third in age 7 to 8 category; Andrew Chaves of Henderson, second in age 9 to 10 category; Joey Joyce of Henderson, fourth in age 9 to 10 category; Joshua Hull of Las Vegas, third in age 11 to 12 categaory; Taylor Cole of Las Vegas, first in age 13 to 14; Curtiss Kelley of North Las Vegas, fourth in age 13 to 14 category; and Ken Preston of Mesquite, fifth in age 13 to 14.

The Las Vegas 51s and Nevada Youth Alliance will honor the eight sectional winners with Major League Baseball plaques at the July 19 game of the Las Vegas 51s.