GUILDERLAND — Guilderland Little League has a champ.

Tyler Witazek of Slingerlands competed at Yankee Stadium on June 25 in Major League Baseball’s Pitch, Hit and Run Competition and won for his regional age group — for 7- and 8-year-olds.

His score placed him in the top three finishers in the country in his age group, and he will next compete in the finals at the MLB All-Star Game celebration in San Diego on July 11. Across the country, just 24 youngsters have reached this level.

“When we heard the Guilderland Little League was hosting MLB’s Pitch, Hit and Run Competition, Tyler said, ‘I am going to San Diego’,” his mother, Maria Witazek, recalled.

Tyler’s father, Joe Witazek, agreed. “When he sets his mind on something, he gets it done,” he said.

Mr. Witazek also said, “I’m very proud of him. He has a lot of talent and he works hard...Every day, he wants to practice. He’s self-motivated.”

Tyler, who  is 8, has just completed the second grade at Westmere Elementary School. “He’s a delightful little boy,” said Beth Bini, Westmere’s principal. “PE is his favorite part of school. He always dresses like an athlete with sneakers and matching socks.”

She went on, “He is a polite and respectful student….He is well liked by his peers; he is such a good friend.”

This is the first year that the Guilderland Little League has hosted a local MLB Pitch, Hit and Run Competition, said Jeff Collins, secretary of its board of directors. The board filled out an application last winter, he said.

“It’s part of our commitment to develop fundamental skills,” collins said. “We’re not expecting to raise MLB players. It’s so our kids can have a lifetime love of the game.”

He added, “The whole point of Little League is to give something back to the community.”

The local competition was on May 1 at Keenholts Park in Guilderland. Collins recalled it was a cool and cloudy day; kids from across the Capital Region came to compete.

“Being able to play on the fields for Guilderland Little League makes you feel like you are in the major leagues,” Tyler said in a release put together by Collins.

From Keenholts Park, Tyler advanced to sectional competition in Wilton, New York and then he went on to regionals, Collins said. At each competition, he was scored on hitting the ball, both for distance and accuracy; on pitching to a small strike zone; and on running.

The competition at Yankee stadium was a high point. “It was very exciting,” said Mr. Witazek. “It was almost unreal to be there.” In addition to Tyler’s family — his parents and 7-year-old brother, Noah — supporting him, Tyler’s teammates were there to cheer him on.

“The Guilderland Little League has been like a family. Tyler had the biggest fan club at Yankee Stadium,” said Mrs. Witazek. She went on, referring to the Guilderland Little League Board president, “Jon Phillips and a bunch of Tyler’s teammates traveled to cheer him on. They have been so great.”

“He has two great coaches,” said Mr. Witazek, naming Phillips and Rob Scholz.

Tyler returns those sentiments. “I want to make my teammates proud and do my best to show all of the skills our coaches have worked on with us,” he said.

Collins, speaking for the Guilderland Little League, said, “It’s very exciting for us to have a kid make it this far.”

He described Tyler as “a good kid, very humble.” Collins concluded, “He loves baseball through and through.”

This year’s finals will take place at Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres, in advance of the T-Mobile Home Run Derby. Tyler will attend many of the All-Star festivities and get to be on the field to shag fly balls during the T-Mobile Home Run Derby.

It’s the 20th anniversary of the official MLB skills competition, and this year more than 625,000 participants competed in more 4,600 local competitions to reach the finals in San Diego.

Tyler has this advice for other Little Leaguers, “Make sure you practice hard. Every day. I love it. I can’t get enough baseball.”