PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Beavers today announced that Sid Jensen from Hillsboro High School and Kevin Taylor from Sunset High School have earned the right to participate in the American Family Insurance All-Star Home Run Derby, an event that will take place at PGE Park on July 13 at 7 p.m. Held in conjunction with the 2009 Cricket Wireless Triple-A All-Star Game, the All-Star Home Run Derby will feature three sluggers from the Pacific Coast League and three from the International League in a display of All-Star power at hitter-friendly PGE Park. After compiling the most points in preliminary qualifying of high school players at PGE Park earlier this season, Jensen will join the PCL sluggers, while Taylor, who finished second among 19 contestants, will represent the IL.
The All-Star Home Run Derby will be hosted by Portland Beavers play-by-play broadcaster Rich Burk and Oregonian columnist and 95.5 The Game on-air host, John Canzano. In addition, fans will have the opportunity to win great prizes through various performance-related promotions that will match them up with the Home Run Derby contestants. The special event will also include a special "Cirque-style" in-event performance, featuring contortionists, hand-balancers, stilt-walkers and acrobats.
In his junior campaign this season, Jensen batted .356 and led the Northwest Oregon Conference with 27 RBIs while hitting three home runs. The first baseman earned second-team All-League honors this past season and received honorable mention All-League recognition after his sophomore campaign. In 2009, Jensen helped lead Hillsboro to a 14-7 league record and the school's first playoff berth in 11 years.
Taylor had a standout senior season at Sunset, garnering 6A Player of the Year, first-team All-State and unanimous Metro Player of the Year honors. Taylor batted .480 with 11 home runs while helping lead the Apollos to their first state quarterfinals appearance since they won the state title in 1994. A shortstop who will attend Western Nevada College this fall, Taylor was also the series MVP at the Metro-State All-Star Series.
The Pacific Coast League and International League Derby participants for the All-Star Home Run Derby will be announced Wednesday, July 8.
Tickets for the All-Star Home Run Derby start at just $9 and are currently available at the PGE Park box office in addition to area Ticketmaster outlets, including Fred Meyer locations. Tickets can be purchased by phone at (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
About the 2009 Cricket Wireless Triple-A All-Star Game The 2009 Cricket Wireless Triple-A All-Star Game, which will be celebrating its 22nd year this season, features the top players from Minor League Baseball's top two leagues - the Pacific Coast League and International League - in a head-to-head contest that will be broadcast to a national television audience on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. (Pacific). Additional events leading up to the 2009 Cricket Wireless Triple-A All-Star Game at PGE Park in Portland include the Portland Police Bureau Sunshine Division All-Star Fan Fest (July 11), All-Star Home Run Derby presented by American Family Insurance (July 13), All-Star Gala presented by Widmer (July 14), All-Star Luncheon (July 15) and several other activities to mark the historic event. Past and present major league stars who have played in previous Triple-A All-Star Games include Derek Jeter, Pedro Martinez, Chipper Jones, Jim Thome, Todd Helton, Kenny Lofton, Alfonso Soriano, Mike Piazza, Garret Anderson and Bernie Williams.
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