Sports

Castillo brings home team title in Pitch, Hit & Run

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When baseball players are measured by scouts, they often talk about how many tools a player has in determining his level of talent.

Cedar Park's Cameron Castillo has at least three of those tools. The 10-year-old from Cedar Park won the Aquafina Pitch, Hit & Run team championship in the 9-10 age group for the Houston Astros on June 15.

Castillo, who is heading into the fifth grade at C.C. Mason Elementary, is the third athlete in recent years to win a team title in Pitch, Hit & Run. Former Cedar Park baseball standout Taylor Silguero (now at San Diego State) won the 7-8 age group in 1998, while Michael Reed (now a sophomore at Leander) won the 7-8 age group in 2001.

“I am so very proud of him, I really didn't know kids could advance this far in this competition,” said Shonna Castillo, Cameron's mother. “I know that Cameron had a lot of fun doing this, especially getting to walk onto the field at the Dell Diamond and at Minute Maid.”

Cameron first qualified by taking first place in the running competition on March 30 here in Cedar Park. He then won the all-around title at the sectional competition on May 17 at the Dell Diamond.

That qualified him to go to Houston for the team title.

“I was so excited to get to go to where the Astros play,” Cameron said. “It was just a whole lot of fun to be on the field.”

The Castillo family got treated to a game against the New York Yankees. Cameron was also honored during the game on the jumbo-tron for his win.

Cameron even got to meet former All-Star pitcher Andy Pettitte after finishing the competition that morning, as well as current Houston relievers Doug Brocail and Wesley Wright.

“Andy Pettitte was very cool and I got to meet several others too and get their autographs,” Cameron said.

The win also put Cameron in the running to go to the All-Star game at Yankee Stadium, as the top three from each age group would get to go. He was in third going into the last week of competition, but was edged out by a late competitor for the final spot.

“We were just happy to have seen him get as far as he did,” said Michael Castillo, his father. “He's already talking about getting the cards and seeing what he needs to improve on for next year.”

The Cedar Park City Council is also planning to honor Cameron at their July 24 meeting.

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