TicketsHamblen Wins Home Run Derby
Former catcher tops stellar field
Contact: Shawn Sell
10/4/2004
Chris Hamblen won the first annual Alumni Home Run Derby. |
CINCINNATI, Ohio---The first annual University of Cincinnati Alumni Home Run Derby went down as quite a success as over 25 former Bearcats competed on Saturday in the UC Baseball Stadium. By day's end, former catching star Chris Hamblen was declared the winner.
Hamblen, who has played each of the past three summers in the Texas Rangers' minor league system, blasted two long balls in the finals to score the victory. The former all-conference performer and freshmen All-American has also utilized the off-season to return to UC to complete his degree in psychology.
The first round of the competition saw Hamblen, Todd Ruprecht, Kevin Wilson and Steve Pickerell all hit three home runs to advance to the finals. Pickerell, the most recent of the UC players in the competition, played this summer with the independent Florence Freedom of the Frontier League.
Among the other competitiors in the field were Dick Bouldin, Wes Burgess, Kerry Byrne, Paul Callahan, Tony Elsbrock, Nate Fish, Jud McMillin, Ryan Minges, Curtus Moak, Chad Pennington, Jake Smith, Anthony Snowell, Craig Tewes and Gary Wilkins. Fred Braun and Ike Misali were also in attendance at the event, but did not compete.
This November will also mark the return of UC Red/Black World Series after a two-year hiatus. The event will be held in the UC Baseball Stadium the week of Nov. 14-21. More details on the World Series will be made available as the date draws nearer.