HOME RUN DERBY PARTICIPANTS ANNOUNCED
Participants from each division were chosen based on their individual statistics in the categories of home runs, batting average, RBI, stolen bases and a wild card spot. Five players were chosen from each division and will compete along with one local media participant that will be rewarded for winning a Quad Cities media-wide home run contest.
The players selected are listed below with the category for which they were selected:
West Division Hitters (Team) - Category (Stat)
Mike Walker (Wisconsin) - Home Runs (10)
Greg Rohan (Peoria) - Average (.346)
Daniel Ortiz (Beloit) - Runs Batted In (41)
Travis Witherspoon (Cedar Rapids) - Stolen Bases (27)
Cody Stanley (Quad Cities) - Wild Card
East Division Hitters (Team) - Category (Stat)
Yazy Arbelo (South Bend) - Home Runs (16)
Marcus Knecht (Lansing) - Average (.341)
Derek Dietrich (Bowling Green) - Runs Batted In (33)
Michael Crouse (Lansing) - Stolen Bases (19)
Jake Blackwood (Fort Wayne) - Wild Card
The 2011 Midwest League Home Run Derby will differ from competitions of the past in that it will be more of a hitting display than simply a home run hitting contest. Sponsored targets will be set up around the outfield that will reward hitters with points and prizes for themselves and fans or charities when specific targets are struck. Players will still be heavily rewarded for home runs but will also receive points for different areas of the field, as well as having points deducted for hitting foul balls or not making contact with a pitch. In the end, total points will determine the winner in the three-round contest.
In addition to the hitting contest, fans will be entertained by the Russian Bar Trio and David "No Way" Burlet, two circus-style acts that are new to the Minor League Baseball circuit. The Home Run Derby will be emceed by Dave and Darren from Rock 104.9 and will treat fans to a party-like atmosphere with upbeat music, player interviews and much more.
The Midwest League All-Star Home Run Derby will take place on Monday, June 20 at Modern Woodmen Park at 7:00 p.m with gates opening at 5:30pm.
The Home Run Derby is the start of two full days of activities surrounding the Midwest League All-Star Game. The All-Star Fan Fest will be held at the River's Edge, directly across from Modern Woodmen Park, on both Monday and Tuesday from 2pm - 6pm, featuring inflatables, player autographs, ice skating and other interactive family activities. The All-Star Game itself will be on Tuesday, June 21 at 7:00pm.
UP NEXT: Now is the perfect time to lock-in your group outing for the 2011 season. Group packages start for groups as small as just 10 people. It's also not to late to pick out the ticket package that fits your schedule. Ticket plans start as low as $40 per seat. Ticket plans are a great way to ensure a seat for the 2011 Midwest League All-Star Game at Modern Woodmen Park on Tuesday, June 21.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: After three years of continuous ballpark improvements, the River Bandits and the City of Davenport are set to unveil some of the most impressive enhancements to Modern Woodmen Park yet. A brand new, state of the art, high definition 20' x 35' videoboard went live on June 7 and work continues on a new enclosure for the Sky Deck on the suite level of Modern Woodmen Park. Those improvements, in addition to new flood protection, a new front plaza, and a new parking lot directly across the street from the ballpark, are quickly making Modern Woodmen Park one of the premier facilities in all of Minor League Baseball.