Sluggers of all ages came out

to the Hosmer Field Complex

to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
By Terry Karkos
Staff Writer

RUMFORD – Seventy hitters of all ages showed off their batting prowess at Saturday morning’s premiere Home-Run Derby at the Hosmer Field Complex.

But for much of the three-hour event, they had to overcome a pitcher’s wind blowing in from left field that kept most long fly balls inside the fence.

“The weather didn’t help us because the winds were blowing in,” said volunteer records-keeper Bitsy Ionta, 68, who coached many of the adult hitters when they were younger, including Steve LaPointe.

Conducted by volunteers and LaPointe, who has coached Mountain Valley High School boys’ baseball for 24 years and plays in the local men’s league, the derby – run in conjunction with the Relay for Life – raised over $300 for the American Cancer Society.

“We figured this was going to take a couple of hours, so that’s a pretty quick $300,” Ionta added.

While the softball competition at 11:30 a.m. turned out to be a slugfest, homers were hard to come by during the combined adult and high-school ages, Babe Ruth (ages 13-15) and Little League classes.

By 9:30 a.m., half an hour into the derby, only one home run had been belted off LaPointe’s pitching. Five minutes later, a second one sailed over the fence. The first two were knocked out by Dave Duguay and Adam Hart.

Then, at 9:40 a.m., Tracy Jodrey, 28, of Rumford stepped up to the plate.

Jodrey, a Dirigo High School baseball coach who also plays in the local men’s baseball league, hit two homers back-to-back over the left field fence, and then added another for good measure.

But the second shot was all he needed to win the combined class trophy.

“The wind was blowing in so it didn’t help me any,” Jodrey said. “But Steve was giving up good home run balls, as usual, throwing them belt-high and inside.”

Other sluggers who each tallied one homer per $5 at-bat chance were Dave Duguay, Adam Hart, John Vitale, Joe Theriault and Randy Hall.

Some hitters like Hall, who tagged his longball in a second at-bat and Theriault, who belted a second shot on another go round, weren’t content with just one at-bat.

Each hitter got 10 outs, which is similar to the contest at the annual Major League All-Star Game. Any ball that was hit or swung at other than home runs counted as an out.

Entrants waiting their turn to hit during the inexpensive batting practice helped shag balls in the outfield, getting in some fielding practice as well.

In the Babe Ruth competition, the pitcher’s mound was used as home plate, lessening distance to the outfield fence by 60 feet, to give the younger batters a better chance.

At first, it didn’t look like any Babe Ruth hitter would bag a home run, but before long Justin Staires and Mike Turner each tagged one for a tie. Staires won the tiebreaker by hitting the longest ball.

At 11 a.m., Little League entrants got their turn on the Old Ball Grounds field.

First batter Anthony Vitale, 12, of Mexico, set the pace with a homer to left field. A short while later, Doug Nash, 11, of Turner tied Vitale. In the ensuing tiebreaker, Vitale homered the first pitch, winning the trophy when Nash failed to hit another longball.

Eight hitters entered the softball event. Mountain Valley High School baseball player Korey Staires won the trophy, belting 10 homers. He was followed by Aaron McPhee of Rumford with six; John Vitale with four; Tim LaPointe with three; and Skip Turner, Ian Venskus and Steve LaPointe, all with two apiece.

“It was a good event for the first time,” said Steve LaPointe, who pitched to every hitter. “There was good sportsmanship all around and it made for a good day. It was well worth it. We made over $300 today and that’s good.”

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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