Press release from the TinCaps:
Fort Wayne’s Hometown Hitter Finals Date Changed to June 16th
Date changed to accommodate finalist’s high school graduationFort Wayne’s Hometown Hitter competition finals, to qualify a high school baseball player to take part in the 2010 the Midwest League Home Run Derby on June 21st, has been moved to Wednesday, June 16th. The finals will take place after the TinCaps game on that date, before the postgame fireworks display. (Fireworks had been added to this game after the TinCaps original schedule was released.)
The original finals date, June 4th, was a conflict with a finalist whose high school graduation was that same night. “We obviously wanted to accommodate all of our finalists and allow them the opportunity to compete,” said Justin Shurley, who is coordinating the Hometown Hitter qualifying for the TinCaps. “Once we found out about the conflict we tried to find a date that worked for all involved. We are happy we were able to find a date that worked for everyone.”
The three finalists are Kristian Gayday of Elmhurst High School, Spencer Burns of Garrett High School, and Justin Glass from Carroll High School. All three are graduating seniors from their respective schools and qualified for the finals during three separate events during the month of May. Gayday will represent the SAC, Burns is the representative from the NHC, and Glass qualified as the representative from the ACAC.
Twenty-eight high schools were invited to compete in the three preliminary rounds to qualify for the finals. The winner from these final three will face off against the top home run hitters in the Midwest League in the Midwest League Home Run Derby that will take place at Parkview Field on Monday, June 21st. The Home Run Derby is a part of the 2010 Midwest League All-Star Festivities being hosted in Fort Wayne. The next night, Tuesday, June 22nd, the Midwest League All-Star Game will feature the top 70 players in the Midwest League playing at Parkview Field.
Tickets are still available for both the Hometown Hitters qualifying game on June 16th as well as for the Home Run Derby on June 21st and Midwest League All-Star Game on Tuesday, June 22nd. Tickets are be purchased by logging on to TinCaps.com, calling the TinCaps at (260) 482-6400, or by visiting the Parkview Field Ticket Office.