2014 MWBL CHRISTMAS CLASSIC HOME RUN DERBY

Mesa, Arizona – A new era in Mid-West Baseball League Christmas Classic history begins this year, as the Classic moves from Honolulu Hawaii to Mesa, Arizona.   Hohokam Park was renovated to a state of the art facility in the heart of Mesa. The Christmas Classic tradition continues in 2014, as Hohokam Park will open its gates to a new Geographic faithful while still keeping the intimacy and charm we have all grown to love and enjoy in such a small park. Additions & upgrades include a brand new HD scoreboard display, all-new seats & seating areas to make watching a game, or the Christmas Classic at Hohokam Park an experience like no other.

The weather was a perfect 69 degrees and the winds were warm, but not more than 8 miles an hour.   Twelve Mid-West Baseball League players, Six (6) from the American League & Six (6) from the National League were participants in the twelfth (12) Annual Christmas Classic Home Run Derby.  Here is how the Classic played out.

In Round I of the Classic it was a show between Chris Davis of the Tempe Tempers & Edwin Encarnacion of the Tijuana Bottle Rockets.  Both players mashed their way decisively into the Semi Final Round, Davis Belting 10 Home Runs, and Encarnacion 8.  They were joined by David Ortiz of the New York Outlaws & Adam Jones of the Detroit Crime.

Heading into the Semi Finals, their was two American League Representatives in Jones & Encarnacion, & two National League Representatives in Ortiz & Davis.  Encarnacion faltered hitting only 1 Home Run.  Chris Davis hit 6, but that wasn’t enough, as David Ortiz belted out 9 Home Runs to be in the drivers seat for the Finals.   Adam Jones knocked out 8 in the Semi Final, to move on & face Ortiz in the Finals.

Adam Jones was up 1st in the Finals and Jones hit out 5 Home Runs – would it be enough to hold off the surging Ortiz?  Ortiz hit 3 quick ones, then lost his hitting stroke, resulting in 6 quick outs.   Down to his final 4 outs, Ortiz hit 1 Home Run, followed by four consecutive outs, to make Adam Jones the 2014 Mid-West Baseball League Christmas Classic Home run Derby Championship.

Mike Trout had the Longest Home Run in the Christmas Classic at 499 Feet.   Trout also had the best overall average (though he only hit 4 Homer Runs) at 444 Feet.