Home Run Derby Participants Announced
June 14, 2011 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release
As the host of the 2011 Midwest League All-Star Game, the River Bandits are honored to announce the participants in the 2011 Midwest League Home Run Derby.
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.
Midwest League Stories from June 14, 2011
- Kernels split doubleheader at Beloit - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- TinCaps swept by Dayton in twinbill - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Wisconsin Tops Chiefs in Wild One on Tuesday - Peoria Chiefs
- Wisconsin Rallies To Keep Playoff Hopes Alive - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Dragons Complete DH Sweep - Dayton Dragons
- Snappers Split Important Double Header - Beloit Sky Carp
- Bailey, Mateo Lead Hot Rods To 6th Straight Win - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Martinez, Bandits Shut out Clinton 5-0 - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Kings Can't Touch Martinez, River Bandits - Clinton LumberKings
- Bees Clinch Playoff Spot with 4-3 Win - Burlington Bees
- Cougars Fall in Opener in Burlington - Kane County Cougars
- Hutchison, Brisker down Hawks, 6-1 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Loons Beat Captains 3-1 - Lake County Captains
- Josh Smith Lifts Dragons to Win in Opener - Dayton Dragons
- Silver Hawks Skid Reaches Four - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Home Run Derby Participants Announced - Quad Cities River Bandits
- RHP Daniel Webb Heads to DL - Lansing Lugnuts
- Liriano Added to MWL All-Star Roster - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Kane County Cougars Homestand Preview: June 17-19 - Kane County Cougars
- MWL All-Stars Roster Revisions Announced - MWL1
- Former First Rounder Kyle Lotzkar Joins Dragons - Dayton Dragons
- Cougars Lose All-Star to Promotion - Kane County Cougars
- Seth Fowler Rejoins Kernels; Caleb Graham to Inland Empire - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Custom Fifth Third Ballpark Playhouse to be Raffled off for Charity - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Dragons Gameday for Tuesday, June 14 - Dayton Dragons
- Liriano Player of the Week - Fort Wayne TinCaps
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
