The 2007 Pepsi Pitch, Hit and Run competition will get underway this week with the local competition being held at Beeland Park in Greenville Wednesday at 4 p.m.

This free, grassroots program is in its 11th year of existence and is designed to provide youth across North America with an integrated competition that recognizes individual excellence in core baseball skills.

Children can compete in four different age groups: 8-and-under, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14. Age is determined as of July 17, 2007.

All participants must provide a copy of a valid birth certificate or baptismal record.

Each participant may participate in only one local competition and competing in more than one local competition will result in disqualification.

Two of last year's winners, Chip Taylor and Todd Burkett, went on to compete in the Sectional and Team competitions, with Burkett making it all the way to Atlanta's Turner Field for the Team Championship.

Once winners advance to the Major League Baseball Team Championship, participants will compete at a Major League ballpark. From there, the top four competitors nationwide from each of the four age groups will win a trip to the National Finals to compete for the National Championship during All-Star week in San Francisco, Calif.

For more information, please contact Greenville Parks and Recreation Department Director Jerome Harris, Jr., at 382-3031.