MARYSVILLE — As the seats at Cedar Field were filling up, more than 60 Little Leaguers were preparing for the highly anticipated Marysville Strawberry Home Run Derby and Fastest Base Runner Tournament, held Friday, June 10. “Our defending champion moved up in age,” tournament director Cully Preston said. “So, we will have a new champion tonight. It is going to be a lot of fun for the players and the fans.”
With the derby’s defending champion, Kyle Koree, out of the picture, thew eager batters had their sights set on the trophy that comes with winning the event, and of course, bragging rights.
When it was all said and done, it was Powerade’s Tristen Southard’s walk-off fourth home run in the championship round that clinched the derby. Batting last, Southard stepped up to the plate trailing Marysville’s Colin Montez by three home runs. With four outs remaining and two home runs to his name, Southard hit his third homer over the right-field fence. Two pitches later he slammed a pitch over the center-field fence to win the derby.
Each batter was given 10 outs — any swing of the bat that did not result in a home run was considered an out. The top five and ties from the first round reached the championship round. Among the leaders were Austin Hauck (Marysville Stayner Dental) with three first-round home runs, Colton Faddis with two homers, (Mill Creek Dodgers), Hunter O’Rourke with two homers (Marysville Cuz), and Michael Dugas with two homers (Mill Creek Dodgers).
Other participants who each had a home run in the first-round included Colby Evans, Noah Wallace, Jordon Luton, Nolan Lechner, Isaiah Valere, Jordan Brajcich, Avery Earnheart, Kaden Spinelli and Braydin Ash.
Montez might have lost out on the derby trophy, but he didn’t leave empty-handed. Montez beat out 40 base runners to capture the Fastest Base Runner event with a time of 11.51 seconds. Kyle Green finished second with a time of 11.87.
The fifth annual derby brought out more than family and friends.
“We’ve been coming out here ever since they started holding this derby,” said Allan Reinhardt, whose two grown sons grew up playing Marysville Little League. “Little League is in our bones, our sons played since they were eight years old. They’re all grown up and married now, but we (with wife Alice) still love coming out here and watching these kids compete.”
Teams began loser-out, bracket play on June 11. The championship game was played Tuesday, June 14, after The Marysville Globe went to press. Go to www.marysvilleglobe.com for the latest details.
