Montgomery Wins ABL Home Run Derby
July 17, 2016 - Alaska Baseball League (Alaska)
Mat-Su Miners News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Few sporting events display raw strength and power like that of the Alaska Baseball League (ABL) Home Run Derby.
Mat-Su Miners outfielder Cam Montgomery launched 33 total home runs during the competition at Mulcahy Stadium on Sunday to defeat Isaac Feldstein of the Anchorage Glacier Pilots.
"I had a pretty good feeling coming into this that I had a chance to win," Montgomery said. "But I was really just trying to stay focused and put some balls out of the park."
A total of 10 players from the five ABL league members competed in the event, with Montgomery and infielder Jake Scudder representing the Miners.
The 2016 ABL Home Run Derby consisted of timed rounds, as players attempted to tally as many home runs as possible during a three-minute period. Each competitor was allowed one 30-second timeout for each round.
Montgomery opened up the first round with 13 home runs to earn the second seed in the semifinals, while Scudder finished with two. Mat-Su assistant coach Joe Perez threw for both players during the event.
"He asked me if I wanted to run the ball inside, but I just said to keep it out over the plate like in batting practice," Montgomery said. "I did my part by pulling the ball."
Montgomery needed just six homers in the semifinals to defeat infielder Ethan Wiskur of the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks and advance to the final round against Feldstein.
"I tried not to overswing today," he said. "The key was staying loose and squaring up the ball."
After launching a home run on the first pitch during the final round, Montgomery had difficulty finding his rhythm, forcing the outfielder to call a timeout after just one minute.
"I started off the round slow and took a break because I only had two," he said. "But then I started to get into a groove and caught fire."
Montgomery notched 11 homers in the final two minutes to finish the round with 13. Feldstein then took the batter's box to determine the ABL Home Run Derby champion.
"He had hit quite a few home runs, so it was a little nerve-wracking," Montgomery said. "I felt pretty good with 13 homers though."
After rattling off four consecutive shots to left field in the opening minute of the finals, Feldstein struggled to produce a hit with enough power to clear the fence, finishing the round with nine.
As the final seconds for Feldstein ticked off the clock, Montgomery was mobbed by teammates near the first base dugout and presented with the 2016 ABL Home Run Derby trophy.
"This is the highlight of my summer so far," Montgomery said. "But hopefully we can get an ABL championship as well."
• Discuss this story on the Alaska Baseball League message board...
Alaska Baseball League Stories from July 17, 2016
- Montgomery Wins ABL Home Run Derby - Mat-Su Miners
- Miners Hold Community Yoga Event - Mat-Su Miners
- Bucs Blast Miners in Final Scout's Showcase Game - Mat-Su Miners
- Eleven Miners Named to 2016 Alaska Baseball League All-Star Game - Mat-Su Miners
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.
