Midwest League Action (6/16)

No games.

Just the Home Run Derby. That manages to get three stories on-line.

Wizards' Carrasco wins derby.

Carrasco, an infielder for the Fort Wayne Wizards, used a barrage of tape-measure shots to win the Midwest League's All-Star Home Run Derby. He defeated Clinton's Ian Gac 3-2 in the championship round in front of 5,494 fans.

"I feel really good," Carrasco said through an interpreter. "It was something really incredible. I feel good about it."

Prior to this season, Carrasco had just four career home runs. But he came to Midland tied for second in the Midwest League this season with 12 -- five behind the leader Gac.

Chasing souvenirs:

Experience of a lifetime

The first home run of the 2008 Midwest League Home Run Derby went onto the left-centerfield lawn, and the second one sailed out of the ballpark.

But when West Michigan's Chris Carlson hit his third home run to left field, Zack Bailey was determined to get it.

"Just do what you gotta do," said Bailey, 16, who came away from a dog pile of five fans with the souvenir.

Bailey, a Midland native who recently moved to Kentucky, was one of 5,494 fans who came to Dow Diamond to see the slugfest by nine Midwest League All-Stars and Bullock Creek's Kyle O'Boyle.

Bullock Creek? When did they join the Midwest League? Oh.

The champion of the Hometown Hitter Competition was clearly the hometown favorite Monday at the 2008 Midwest League All-Star Home Run Derby at Dow Diamond.

Bullock Creek junior Kyle O'Boyle, who earned a spot by winning the high school home run contest featuring 25 area sluggers, hit two home runs to finish seventh out of the 10-man field, drawing a standing ovation.

"I still have a little bit of an adrenaline rush going," said O'Boyle, who beat Great Lakes' Andrew Lambo (one home run), South Bend's Sean Coughlin (one) and Clinton's Jonathan Greene (none). "That was really exciting for me and it was a great experience."

Especially for the three professionals who were beaten by a high school junior.