This Sunday, at 5 PM, the Valley League will hold its annual Home Run Derby at Bing Crosby Stadium in Front Royal (before the All-Star game, of course).

The Derby will be rather different than it has been in the past. Here are the new guidelines:

Round 1: Eleven (11) players will be selected to compete (1 player
nominated by each team). Each player will have 2 minutes in this round
to hit as many home runs as they can. Each batter is entitled to one (1)
20-second timeout that can be taken at any point during the round.

Round 2: The top four (4) home run totals (can be more than 4
participants) from Round 1 will compete in Round 2. Each player will
have 2 minutes in this round to hit as many home runs as they can.
Each batter is entitled to one (1) 20-second timeout that can be taken
at any point during the round.

Round 3: The top two (2) home run totals (can be more than 2
participants) from Rounds 1 & 2 will compete in the Championship
Round. Each player will have 2 minutes in this round to hit as many
home runs as they can. Each batter is entitled to one (1) 20-second
timeout that can be taken at any point during the round. The total
home runs hit in Round 3 ONLY will determine the Champion. In the
event of a tie, a 60-second swing-off will take place with no stoppage of
time. Swing-offs take place until the tie is broken.

Everyone got that? Let’s take a look at who has been nominated to participate:

  • Charlottesville: Tyler McLoughlin (Emory)- My understanding is that the Charlottesville team held their own HR derby to pick a winner, with a pitcher coming out on top! Will this give him an advantage? He’s listed at 6-3, 205.
  • Covington: Luke Arnold (Wright State)- 6-3, 210 lbs, and has one home run this season.
  • Front Royal: Jo Jo Jackson (Georgia State)- 6-3, 225 lbs, he has two home runs this season.
  • Harrisonburg: Christian Ficca (Georgetown)- 6-4, 205 lbs, two home runs.
  • New Market: Garret Wallace (East Tennessee State)- 6-1, 205 lbs, hit four home runs in his first six games, and has just returned to New Market’s lineup.
  • Purcellville: Cullen “Bear” Horowicz (Army)- 6-4, 240 lbs, he has five home runs, and HIS NICKNAME IS BEAR. (Pictured- PC: Angela Cable Johnson)
  • Staunton: Joe Delossantos (William & Mary)- 5-11, 195 lbs. He leads the league in home runs, with seven. (He might not be the biggest young man on this list, but he still packs a wallop)
  • Strasburg: Zane Denton (Tennessee)- 6-0, 205 lbs. Has one home run in his ten games this summer.
  • Waynesboro: Braden Luke (Mississippi)- 5-11, 225 lbs. One home run this summer.
  • Winchester: Chase Nixon (NC State)- 6-1, 200 lbs, one home run.
  • Woodstock: Tomas Sanchez (Texas Wesleyan)- 6-2, 210 lbs, six home runs this summer.

Link to the broadcast for HR derby: https://royalexaminer.com/home-run-derby-at-the-bing-sunday-july-17/