About 30 of the Clarkston area’s ‘Home Run Heroes? will step to the plate at Clintonwood Park Friday night for the ninth annual Men’s Michigan Home Run Derby.
The Aug. 10 softball-launching contest offers the winner a $300 prize, $200 for second place and $100 for third. Admission is free for the event, which begins with player warm-ups at 7 p.m. and the home run derby at 8 p.m. A crowd of at least 200 is expected.
Rob Stafford of Waterford, who hit 10 home runs (three coming in a tie-breaking playoff), won the event in 2006. Stafford and two others hit seven dingers in the first round, forcing the extra at-bats.
‘Usually seven wins it, but it depends on the year and who’s in it,? Organizer David Miller said.
The record is nine home runs, set in the event’s first year, 1999.
Each batter gets 15 pitches and 10 swings during their at-bat, to keep the contest moving. Those restrictions can wreak havoc for a hitter if they’re not in sync with their appointed pitcher.
‘You’re going to have to have a pitcher who can throw strikes,? Miller said. ‘That’s the key, a pitcher who can put the ball where you want it.?
‘If he doesn’t put it in the spot you like, you can only waste five pitches and then you have to swing at whatever,? contestant Eric Jenks said.
Jenks, of Springfield Township, will make his third appearance in the contest. He is a member of the Title Source softball team through Independence Township Parks and Recreation and competed in 2003-04.
Jenks is hoping for a repeat top-10 performance, which he achieved in his first attempt with six homers.
‘It’s a chance to see the local area players and it’s fun to see who can hit the most (home runs),? Jenks said.
‘To do it consistently, it’s tough. After you hit the first, you get relaxed, but it’s a lot of pressure.?
Despite the relative closeness of the fences on the softball diamonds at Clintonwood Park, 275 feet as opposed to 300 feet, the height of the fence can keep a lot of potential home runs inside the park.
‘It holds a lot of line drives, you’re going to have to get something into it,? Miller said.
The reason for the single-round nature of the contest is to keep hitters fresh, differing from the multiple-round format of the annual home run derby in Major League Baseball, Miller said.
‘In the majors, they hit themselves out. I don’t want that to happen to our guys.?