Thirteen-year-old Gracie Riccio of New Castle showed off her skills at Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Jr Home Run Derby competition in Los Angeles Saturday.
This local slugger has been a force on the softball field for the last five years, finishing the season with fourteen home runs with multiple teams and she sports a batting average of .519.
Eight of Riccio’s home runs came while playing with Middletown’s East Coast Panthers Fastpitch.
Riccio is in Los Angeles attending the MLB Home Run Derby as well as multiple other events hosted by the organization. Riccio’s mom, Jacki, said there is a host of amazing activities that JR MLB is putting on for these kids. “Super exciting opportunity that Gracie is going through.”
After a couple of events over the weekend, Gracie and mom will attend Monday night’s MLB Home Run Derby where Gracie will be in the outfield snagging balls for the big leaguers.
Despite her age, Riccio represented Delaware at Dodgers Stadium in the 16-year-old age group. She finished 5th with four home runs.
Riccio got the invite to Los Angeles after she qualified at the Adventure Sports New Jersey invitation back in April. She then moved to the regionals on July 1st at the Blue Rocks, which she won. That was her ticket to attend the LA events.
No time for rest once she’s back in the First State. When Riccio returns her Juniors Little League MOT team is going to fight for the regional crown for Delaware in Orange, Connecticut from July 20-27th.
