Hometown hitter wins Southern League HR Derby

MOBILE, Ala. -- The players of the short-term future matched up against the stars of the distant future in a unique Home Run Derby prior to the Southern League All-Star Game.

Six Southern League All-Stars competed against four local high school sluggers who advanced from a competition on Tuesday to see how they compared to the best power the league had to offer. In the end, it was hometown favorite Paul McAnulty who took home the Derby crown, but not before some humor, some theatrics and one heck of a show by a less-than-intimidated high schooler.

"We do have that short porch out there," McAnulty said before the contest about the dimensions to right field, just 310 feet down the line. "I'm going to lift and separate and try to hit the ball 500 feet over that wall, which probably isn't a good idea. I'm going to have fun and I'm also going to try to win."

The South Division got things going, with Jacksonville's Jon Weber, McAnulty and Montgomery's Delmon Young taking the first hacks. Weber was rather quiet, going deep just once, but then McAnulty and Young put on a bit of a show. The lefty-swinging BayBear hit six out of Hank Aaron Stadium. Young, who said prior to the contest he usually doesn't do well in such contests, matched McAnulty with a six spot of his own.

Then it was time for the high schoolers to show what they could do. Using metal bats, most couldn't match Young and McAnulty, with David Cramblitt and Eric Tasler going yard twice and Nelson Curry getting shut out.

But Kevin Orso, who was the most impressive hitter in Tuesday night's high school-only competition, drew oohs and aahs from the crowd and the All-Stars. Orso went deep nine times, many clearing the berm well beyond the left-field fence. Orso was so red-hot that McAnulty forced him to switch to a wood bat to even the playing field for a couple of swings. Orso was given a ball autographed by Hank Aaron for being the high school champion.

The North Division trio -- Jason Hill, Jeremy Hermida and Jesus Cota -- got a chance to beat their South counterparts, but fell short. Carolina Mudcats teammates Hill and Hermida hit four and three respectively, while Cota put up a goose egg.

In the final, McAnulty and Young got five swings apiece. Young went first, managing to lift just one out of the park. McAnulty tied him quickly, then lifted one deep to right, and flipped his bat in triumph.

The only problem was that the ball hit off the top of the wall, leading to an expolsion from both All-Star rosters. A bit sheepish, McAnulty got his bat, took a few pitches to collect himself, then deposited the next pitch onto the roof of the BayBears clubhouse beyond the right-field fence to win the contest. This time, he held onto the bat until the ball landed, flipping his bat in mock celebration.