Sure, 10-year-old Clay Grady of Suffolk did not win the National Finals of the 2014 Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit and Run program in the boys’ 9- and 10-year-old division last week in Minneapolis, Minn.

“I came in third, but it really doesn’t matter,” Clay said. “I feel like I already won.”

His mother, Tracy Grady, said MLB and those contributing to the Pitch, Hit and Run program did a great job making the finalists’ experience of the MLB’s All-Star Week special and making it clear that getting to Minneapolis was the ultimate prize.

Making the trip happen for the entire Grady family was Clay’s strong performance in the program’s local-level event held in Suffolk, the sectional level event held in Norfolk’s Harbor Park and the team championship level event held at the Washington Nationals’ park in Washington, D.C.

Summing up what the MLB All-Star Week experience was like, Clay’s mother said, “It was really exciting for all of us, his brothers and sister. All of us were just really excited for him.”

“It was good,” Clay added. “I had a lot of fun, especially at the Home Run Derby.”

Following the Pitch, Hit and Run finals on July 14, Clay and the other finalists watched some of the All-Stars work out and later had the opportunity to chase down balls hit during the nationally televised 2014 Gillette Home Run Derby.

This was something Clay had longed to do after seeing the derby in previous years, and seeing him out on the field was a highlight for his mother.

Clay said he was pretty nervous while out there, because the balls were hit so fast, but he said he was so excited he didn’t care.

Yoenis Cespedes of the Oakland Athletics repeated as the winner of the event, and Clay successfully tracked down one of his hits.

“It hit off the wall, and then Clay caught it,” Tracy Grady said.

The family made a point to spot Clay on TV later that evening.

“When we got back to the hotel, ESPN did like the highlights, so we were able to see some of that, so since we watch him play all the time, it was easy for us to pick him out,” Tracy Grady said.

Clay said his favorite part of the trip was actually getting to watch the 85th MLB All-Star Game in person on Tuesday, rooting for the American League team, which won 5-3, with heroics from New York Yankees great Derek Jeter and Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout.

At the T-Mobile All-Star FanFest, the Gradys got autographs from Hall of Fame MLB players Dave Winfield and Rollie Fingers, while Clay’s older brother Ben got a ball signed by Minnesota Twins star Joe Mauer.

Clay’s mother also said it was exciting to see her son on Target Field’s big screen and to hear the announcers talking about him during the PHR finals.

And it could all happen again. One finalist, for instance, was on her third All-Star experience.