The Glenside Youth Athletic Club will hold its home run derby for boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 12 on Saturday, May 26 at 10 a.m. at the field behind the former Glenside-Weldon Elementary School.

The winners of the contest, which is broken down into age groups, will advance to another regional derby — and those winners will have the opportunity to compete at a home run derby at Citizens Bank Park. 

According to Krishna Gilligan, a GYAC volunteer and a parent of one of the participants, the derby has been going on for several years — and it’s pretty popular.

“It’s a big thing here,” Gilligan said. “Everyone looks forward to it; a lot of the kids play for St. Luke’s, and Copper Beech.”

Gilligan added that the organization is entirely volunteer-run.

Last year, GYAC’s Kaitlyn Manero won the regional competition for her age group. 

In addition to the derby, there will be music, face painting, balloon animals from Confetti the Clown and the Weldon Fire Co. will bet there. The event is free and open to the public. 

According to its Facebook page, the GYAC is a local youth athletic organization that provides opportunities for Glenside-area children between the ages of 5 and 16 to learn about sportsmanship, athletics, respect and friendship while playing baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball and golf.

The organization is in its 53^rd year.

Feel free to send your pics of the event to mischa.arnosky@patch.com. We'll run them along with this story.