Midwest League Action: June 22, 2009

No games. But, the home run derby and the skills competition were last night.

Dave's headline makes me yell More! MORE! MORE!

Rebel Yell: Ridling Wins Derby
Peoria's Rebel Ridling belts 12 homers in derby, Great Lakes' Dee Gordon wins Skills Contest

Strong throws, pinpoint bunts and tapemeasure blasts highlighted All-Star Monday at Alliant Energy Field as the Skills Contest and Home Run Derby champions were crowned. Great Lakes' shortstop Dee Gordon won the Skills Contest with a pair of three-point bunts in the sudden-death bunt-off round, and Peoria's Rebel Ridling blasted 12 home runs, including five in the finals to take the Derby title.

I'll bet that you thought you would never read the phrase sudden-death bunt-off in your life.

Rattlers? Any Rattlers?

Ridling belted three first-round home runs and cracked four more in the second, taking the lead on the field of 13 hitters. Wisconsin's Brett Lawrie reached the finals with two home runs each in the first and second rounds.

Lawrie batted first in the finals, blasting a ball off the scoreboard in left-center for his only shot in 10 outs. Ridling then stepped to the plate, lifting off with several clouts over the wood wall. Just three outs into the final round, he claimed the title with a home run off the scoreboard. Ridling then added three more to finish with a final total of 12 home runs.

Read on to see the prizes won by the winners

Oh, heck. You know it's going to happen...

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