More than 50 kids stepped up to the plate in Paterson on Saturday to put their baseball and softball skills to the test.

Major League Baseball put on its pitch, hit and run skills competition for players aged 7 to 14 at the historic Hinchliffe Stadium.

The event was free and is part of MLB’s National Play Ball initiative, designed to encourage everyone to show off their skills.

"Just to bring baseball to everybody, not just your typical baseball or softball player. Just introducing it to everybody,” says coordinator Frankie Roman. “We're teaching them how to hit, how to swing, how to throw, how to hit the target."

The city’s recreation department, MLB and the New York Mets organized the event.

Organizers say they are hoping to do it bigger and better next year.