LYNN — Lynn’s top Little League sluggers braved the steamy temperatures Saturday and put forth a great display at the annual Home Run Derby at Gallagher Park.
When it was all said and done, it was East Lynn’s Wilfred Perez who was crowned the derby’s champion. Perez belted five home runs in the first round- two ahead of the next closest participants.
“We’re in the Lynn City Series too right now with the East Lynn Mets,” Perez’ coach and pitcher for the derby, Paul Conde, said. “Wilfred’s a hitter. He’s really picking us up and playing great in the City Series. We’re hoping he can keep this going. He’s a great kid.”
This year’s home run derby pool was a bit smaller than usual with just seven sluggers. Participants included Perez, Josh Doney (Wyoma), Jaiden Driscoll (Pine Hill), Guilmer Galva (West Lynn), Ryan Amirault (Pine Hill), Brandon Cruz (Pine Hill), Anthony Seals (Pine Hill).
A special spin on this year’s home run derby was provided by Century 21 Tradition. Each participant and his pitcher were allowed five warm up swings/pitches. Once their round started they were given 21 pitches, the last ball being pitched was a golden ball donated by Century 21 Tradition. If a player were to hit a home run with that ball Century 21 Tradition donated $210 to that player’s Little League organization.
Nobody got a hold of that ball in the first round but Galva laced a home run in a golden ball round later in the tournament to earn West Lynn the donation.
Doney started the day off and, after a slow start, got a hold of three pitches to raise the bar pretty high from the jump.
Nobody was able to match that mark until Galva. West Lynn’s big bat laced a trio of late home runs to tie Doney and make things interesting.
But it didn’t matter when Perez walked up to the plate. Once he and Conde adjusted it was smooth sailing and he laced five home runs to give him a comfortable win.
“We practiced for about an hour before this,” Conde said. “I throw batting practice all the time. Wilfred got locked in after the first five or six pitches. Usually I pitch from the mound so being a little closer than that was a bit of a change. I tried putting it a little above his belly and inside and he did the rest.”
Like most of the day’s batters, Perez got off to a bit of a slow start and overcoming that was his biggest challenge at the plate.
“After seeing a few pitches go by without (a home run) I was a little nervous,” Perez said. “But I just kept swinging. I was definitely nervous.”
Conde shared that sentiment.
“He was nervous,” Conde added. “I think I was more nervous though.”
Perez laced one home run during the regular season for the East Lynn Mets, but he has hit more than a few at batting practice. That gave Perez high expectations going into Saturday’s derby.
“I came in expecting to hit eight or nine,” Perez said. “Maybe if I had a few more warmups I could have gotten there but I still hit some.”
While he may not of matched his original expectations, Perez was still crowned the home run champion of Lynn and he was more than a little excited, running to right field to show his parents his newly acquired and well earned hardware, a home run derby trophy.
“He did a great job,” Conde said. “I’m proud of him.”
