Winners in Ruidoso's Junior Homerun Derby and Hit Pitch and Run contests announced

• Young sports enthusiasts had a chance to test their skills

Before opening ceremonies April 14  at the Eagle Creek Sports Fields, nearly 40 young sports competitors turned out to test their skills in a Hit Pitch and Run competition, before others joined them and moved on to the Junior Homerun Derby.

"It was a  lot of fun. These kids got to test their hit, pitch and run skills first moving from field to field cheering each other on," Hawk Scott with the Ruidoso Parks and Recreation Department said. "The Junior Home Run Derby kind of went over into the opening ceremonies (for regular ball games). Lots of kids and parents arrived and cheered for those batting. I think we will see more interest in years to come now that they were able to watch girls and guys trying to hit homeruns."

Live music also added to the celebration, he said.

The Hit Pitch and Run Winners advance to the Sectional Level on May 20, at Comanche South Park, 3713 Bryn Mawr Drive NE, Albuquerque.

The Junior Homerun Derby Winners advance to the Regional Competitions on May 5, at Salt River Fields @ Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Those taking home awards from the 36 boys and girls competing together in the Junior Homerun Derby were Logan Sandoval for 12 and under, and Ryley Duncan for 14 and under.

In the PItch, Hit, and Run, emerging on top from 34 competitors, with boys and girls competing in separate classes, were for Girls ages 9-10, Cambree West for pitching and Shaeleigh VanWinkle for Hitting, Running, and All-Around.

For Girls 11-12, Julianna Kennedy won for Hitting. Memphis Cardone for Pitching and Destiny Luevano for Running and All-Around.

In the Boys 7-8 class, Cayden Wilson won All-Around and Running, Sebastian Saucedo for Pitching and Malakai Rubio-Saenz for Hitting.

For Boys 9-10, the winner was Burley Johnson for Pitching, Hitting, Running, and All-Around

For Boys 11-12, Logan Sandoval came out on top for Running, Sebastian Lawrence for All-Around and Pitching, and Solomon Chavez for Hitting.

In the Boys 13-14 category,  Ryley Duncan won in Running, Thunder Vigil in Hitting and  Shaun Powers in All-Around and Pitching.