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Justin Leone to participate in Triple-A All-Star Home Run Derby

July 3, 2006 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Beavers third baseman Justin Leone, who was recently named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team, will take part in the annual Home Run Derby as part of the 2006 Triple-A All-Star Game festivities, it was announced today.

One of six top Triple-A sluggers chosen to participate, Leone, who is batting .285 with 12 home runs and 49 RBIs in 77 games this season, is one of three Pacific Coast League batters that will do battle with hitters from the International League in the home run competition, which takes place Monday, July 10, at 4 p.m. (Pacific) at Fifth-Third Field in Toledo, Ohio.

Leone will be joined by Nelson Cruz from Nashville (Milwaukee) and Luke Scott from Round Rock (Houston) on the PCL team. The International League derby participants include Ryan Ludwick from Toledo (Detroit), Andy Marte from Buffalo (Cleveland) and former Beaver Kevin Witt, now with Durham (Tampa Bay).

Witt, the Beavers' single-season record-holder for home runs after hitting 27 with the club in 2001, currently leads all Triple-A batters with 22 home runs. Among this year's Home Run Derby participants, only Witt, with 282, has more career home runs than Leone, who has 131 during his eight-year career.

Current Beaver Jack Cust took part in the Home Run Derby while with Tucson in 2001, advancing to the final before losing to Syracuse's Chris Latham.

The Home Run Derby is part of a three-day schedule of events leading up to the Triple-A All-Star Game, which takes place at Fifth-Third Field Wednesday, July 12, at 4 p.m. (Pacific). The Triple-A All-Star Game pits the best players from the Pacific Coast League against the best from the Triple-A International League.

The 19th-annual Triple-A All-Star Game will be broadcast across North America by ESPN2 and will be distributed by BCD Worldwide to a global radio audience. The game can be heard locally on KKAD AM-1550 and on the Internet at www.portlandbeavers.com.

2006 TRIPLE-A ALL-STAR HOME RUN DERBY PARTICIPANTS

Pacific Coast League
Justin Leone, Portland - 12 home runs in 2006; 131 career
Nelson Cruz, Nashville - 15 home runs in 2006; 112 career
Luke Scott, Round Rock - 19 home runs in 2006; 112 career

International League
Ryan Ludwick, Toledo - 14 home runs in 2006; 118 career
Andy Marte, Buffalo - 13 home runs in 2006; 95 career
Kevin Witt, Durham - 22 home runs in 2006; 282 career

Past Home Run Derby Winners

2005 - Mitch Jones (Columbus) defeated Ian Kinsler (Oklahoma), 11-10
2004 - Bucky Jacobsen (Tacoma) defeated Justin Morneau (Rochester), 8-3
2003 - Rob Stratton (Albuquerque) defeated Brandon Larson (Louisville), 10-5
2002 - Brandon Larson (Louisville) defeated Joe Crede (Charlotte), 11-7
2001 - Chris Latham (Syracuse) defeated Jack Cust (Tucson), 5-1
2000 - Luis Raven (Calgary) defeated Brooks Kieschnick (Louisville), 3-2
1999 - Scott Sheldon (Oklahoma) defeated D.T. Cromer (Indianapolis), 4-0
1998 - Willis Otanez (Rochester) defeated Derrick White (Iowa), 2-0



Pacific Coast League Stories from July 3, 2006


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