Home Run Derby kicks off All-Star Game festivities

The MCBL All-Star Game festivities kicked off Monday evening with the annual Home Run Derby, featuring five Cheyenne Grizzlies.

While, no Grizzly made it to the final round, the event was fun for all, and a great way to get fans excited for the All-Star Game, being played Tuesday night at Pioneer Park.

Mike Domenick put up the best first-round numbers among his teammates, and second overall, with five dingers. That put him in good position heading into Round 2, but Domenick went cold, failing to hit a home run and finishing with a total of five home runs.

The combined five home runs was good for fourth place, but only the top three moved on.

K.C. Judge also put up good numbers, hitting a pair of long balls in the first round to advance to the second round.

Fifteen hitters competed, with the top seven advancing before being cut down to three for the final round. Judge hit two blasts in the second round, but like Domenick, it wasn’t enough to make it to the final round.

He did, however, receive loud support and razzing from his teammates, who kept shouting for him to hit lefty.

Judge, who has been working on his switch hitting, moved to the left side for the final out of both rounds.

The loudest cheer, though, came when Mike Wido’s name was announced and bat boy Corey came up to the plate. When he made contact on the third pitch, the crowd gave him a standing ovation.

Wido went homerless, as did other Grizzly representatives, Jose Gonzalez and Rory Kolo.

Each hitter was given 10 outs, with any swing not resulting in a home run being considered an out. Hitters were allowed to use metal bats and, for the most part, had their coaches throw to them. Assistant Coach Luke Wetmore threw to the Cheyenne hitters.

Laramie’s Nick Smith was the leader going into the final round, hitting 14 home runs despite sitting down with four outs to go in the second round, saving his strength for the next round. Joining him in the round of three were Fort Collins’ Anthony Guglielmi and James Campbell.

Guglielmi hit one in the last round before Campbell knocked eight out of the park to take the crown over Smith, who cooled off and hit three in the final round. Domenick finished with five total home runs, followed by Judge’s four.