Carli Fraser has been working all summer to get to the final stage of the MLB’s Pitch, Hit & Run competition.
DES MOINES, Iowa —
A Central Iowa 8-year old’s softball skills are taking her from local Des Moines fields to the biggest stage in baseball.
Carli Fraser has been working all summer to get to the final stage of the MLB’s Pitch, Hit & Run competition.
Starting in June, she secured the title of the local champion, competing in Waukee. Then she took her bat and glove to Target Field in Minneapolis to represent the Minnesota Twins in the Team Championship, regional competition.
There she ended up placing 3rd out of a total, original pool of 40,000 participants across the country. But she’s not done yet.
Carlie’s mom, Katie Fraser says the family was jumping for joy when they watched her leaderboard results landed her an all-paid for trip to Game 2 of the World Series.
“She’s very competitive, she’s kind of just a little go getter,” Fraser said.
Carli, and 40 other children across four age groups, will take their talent to the final round of the competition at the National Finals to earn the title of World Series Champion of Pitch, Hit & Run.
She’s done an amazing job,” Fraser said. “It’ll be an experience of a lifetime. She’ll have this memory forever.”
Back home in Central Iowa, Carli competes on the 10 and under ADM Tigers softball team as an 8-year-old. Her Head Coach, Travis Hoover, says that her recent achievements are a true testament to the young athlete she is.
“For her to be in third grade, the rest of the girls on the team are in fifth grade, her maturity, willingness to step in at practice, we don’t treat her any different because of her age,” Hoover said. “It’s just impressive to see the work that she’s put in.”
Carli’s main position is catcher; however, she’ll fill in at short-stop and centerfield, while also batting at the top of the lineup.
Carli and her mom will be traveling to Milwaukee to watch the Brewers face either the Tampa Bay Ray’s or the Cleveland Guardians.
Once Game 2 wraps up, she’ll get to step onto American Family Field to show off her best hitting, throwing and running skills. She’ll face off against four other softball players her age.
“I just got to do good,” Carli said.
You can catch Carli Sunday, Oct. 25 on MLB TV, while she plays on the national stage, representing the Twins and the state of Iowa.