2006 NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL HOME RUN DERBY CHAMPION

FLORIDA
Shawn Zarraga
Trinity Christian - West Palm Beach FL

Power Showcase President, Brian Domenico
congratulating 2006 National High School Home Run Derby Champion,
Shawn Zarraga, (Trinity Christian - Florida)

Shawn sent this pitch 506 ft. setting a National Finals Record for Longest Distance of a Home Run

Power Showcase would like to congratulate Shawn & his family on signing with the
University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

FLORIDA
Shawn Zarraga
Trinity Christian
West Palm Beach FL

Click on the following link to view:
Zarraga's Player Profile

NATIONAL FINALS RESULTS

Preliminary Round - 12 Home Runs
Consecutive - 4 Home Runs
Longest Distance - 475 Ft.

Championship Round - 8 Home Runs
Consecutive - 6 Home Runs
Longest Distance - 506 Ft.

Overall Total - 20 Home Runs

Award Winner
Consecutive Home Runs in a Single Round
- 6 HRs

Award Winner
Longest Distance of a Home Run
- 506 Feet

Conventional baseball wisdom was almost changed forever at the Inaugural Power Showcase High School Home Run Derby National Finals in Delray, Florida on Saturday December 2.  Kevin Patterson, a towering left-handed hitter from Birmingham, AL, shocked all in attendance by choosing to use a wood bat in the final round instead of the more powerful aluminum.  According to Patterson, he was not trying to be arrogant; “I am just more comfortable with a wood bat because that is what I use in practice.”  Patterson, who has committed to Auburn University, was proving that he had made the correct decision when with only eight outs he hit his seventh home run, giving him seven more outs to hit the necessary two home runs to pass Shawn Zarraga (committed to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro) of Boynton Beach, FL for the lead.  However, on the next swing Patterson cracked his bat on a frozen rope up the middle.   Just like Roy Hobbs after shattering his bat Wonderboy in “The Natural,” Patterson proved to be human without his favorite bat and was unable to hit another home run allowing Zarraga to retain his lead in route to the National Championship.  

Zarraga, who has committed to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, proved to be a worthy National Champion.  In both the first round and the finals, Zarraga was able to overcome slow starts to finish strong and put himself in a position to win.  With fourteen outs in his opening wood bat round, Zarraga was still without a home run and feeling the pressure.  “I knew I could not go homerless with the wood, so I stepped out of the box, gathered myself, and was determined to wait for my pitch.”  Zarraga's patience worked, as he was able to slug one homer before getting his final out.  That one home run gave him the spark he needed to crush eleven in his aluminum bat round giving him twelve home runs overall.  Zarraga's final round reflected his first and with 13 outs he had only hit two home runs.  Still, once again he did not panic and consequently went on the greatest home run barrage of the National Finals hitting a Championship record six consecutive home, including a titanic 506 ft. blast over the light tower behind the Green Monster in left field.  When asked about his mindset with only two outs remaining, Zarraga answered, “With those big hitters behind me, I knew I had to put up a good number, so I just waited for my pitch and let it rip.  After those first couple went out, I got in the zone and didn't miss.”

Not only did Zarraga and Patterson finish 1-2 in the Home Run Derby, but they also won the rest of the Showcase's awards.  Because of his amazing finish in the final round, Zarraga took home the awards for most consecutive home runs (6) and longest home run (506 ft.)  Patterson won the awards for most home runs in a single round (17) and overall home run total (24).

However, even though Zarraga and Patterson took home all the hardware, it was clear the crowd favorite was local Pat Roedel of West Palm Beach.  Cheers from his family and friends helped Roedel get off to a good start in the finals, but unfortunately, mother nature was not in his corner as rain caused the round to be interrupted.  After a 45-minute rain delay, Roedel not only had lost part of his cheering section, but also his intensity; “It was hard going back out there to hit after waiting for a while.  I was not as pumped up as I was originally and just couldn't get it going again."

The other finalists included Jaff Decker, a junior from Peoria, AZ, and Frank Florio of Long Valley, NJ.  Both left-handed hitters, Decker and Florio, who has committed to Stetson University, finished in a tie for 4th place as each hit 6 home runs in the finals.  Decker finished second to Patterson in the overall home run total (21) due to his impressive 15 homer first round.  Florio's first round mirrored Zarraga's as he recovered from a slow start with the wood bat to hit 11 home runs with the aluminum, including five consecutive at one point.

Other Finals highlights included Michael Dixon almost hitting the leftfield light tower with his 502 ft. blast.  Dixon just missed qualifying for the finals with 10 home runs.  John Hinson (committed to Clemson University) of Ashville, NC was second only to Patterson with the wood bat (6 home runs) and finished in 7th place with 9 total home runs.  Stefan Wagner from Fremont, NH, hit a homer on his first swing with a wood bat and tied with A.J. Regoli (committed to University of South Florida) of Lake Worth, FL with the third longest home run (486 ft).  

While not all participants were happy with their performance, there is no doubt that all 20 players enjoyed the experience.  “It exceeded my expectations,” remarked Michael Olszyk of Hamden, MA.  The youngest player at only sixteen, Olszyk asserted the Showcase gave him more confidence.  “These are some of the best players in the country, so I know if I can compete with them I can compete with anyone.”  

John Hinson's father, J.D. thinks the Showcase is a great opportunity for players from different backgrounds to come together and compete in a relaxed, fun atmosphere.  “With players from 13 states and 2 international countries, there are a lot of different backgrounds and cultures represented here, but the players all share the love of baseball and are looking to have a good time.  Besides, it is not important what the boys do here, but what they have done to get here.  To be on the website and be considered some of the top players around is something they should all be proud of.”

Javier Hernandez, Coach of Puerto Rico's Youth National Team, echoed Mr. Hinson's comments when he said, “my players, Samuel Marrero and Neftali Soto, are very proud to come to the United States and represent our small island in this important showcase.”  

The appropriately named Homer Moncreif, father of Carlos Moncreif from Jackson, MS, agrees, “I am just proud that my son is a part of the Showcase.  It is a great feeling to see all of his effort paid off with a trip to the National Finals.”  

So while only two participants went home with some awards, all 20 players went home happy with some new friends, increased confidence, and the knowledge that they made history by participating in the Inaugural Power Showcase High School Home Run Derby National Finals.  

That is, all except for Kevin Patterson, who is a little upset to be going home without his favorite wood bat.

###

2006 NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL HOME RUN DERBY
AWARD WINNER

MOST HOME RUNS IN A SINGLE ROUND
&
OVERALL HOME RUN TOTAL

ALABAMA
Kevin Patterson
Oak Mountain High School

Award Winner
Overall Home Run Total
- 24 HRs

Kevin set a New National Record
(Most Home Runs in a Single Round - 17)
10 HRs with a wood bat & 7 with metal

Power Showcase would like to congratulate Kevin & his family on signing with Auburn University.

Click below link to view:

Patterson's Player Profile

PUERTO RICO (International) HIGH SCHOOL HOME RUN DERBY REPRESENTATIVES

Puerto Rico will be represented by two of its finest players at the
Power Showcase Home Run Derby National Finals

Samuel Marrero
Nicolas Sevilla High School
Toa Alta, Puerto Rico

NATIONAL FINALS RESULTS

Preliminary Round - 5 Home Runs
Longest Distance - 420 Ft.

Overall Total - 5 Home Runs

Neftali Soto
Maristas High School
Manti, Puerto Rico

Click on the following link to view:

Soto's Player Profile

JABARI BLASH
Charlotte Amalie High School

Click on the following link to view:

Blash's Player Profile

SEQUOYAH STONECIPHER
Mission Bay High School

2006 - Selected to USA Junior National Team Trials

Power Showcase would like to congratulate Sequoyah & his family on signing with the University of San Diego.

NATIONAL FINALS RESULTS

Preliminary Round - 9 Home Runs
Consecutive - 2 Home Runs
Longest Distance - 450 Ft.

Overall Total - 9 Home Runs

Click on the following link to view:

Stonecipher's Player Profile

Michael Olszyk
Hill Regional Career Magnet

NATIONAL FINALS RESULTS

Preliminary Round - 8 Home Runs
Consecutive - 2 Home Runs
Longest Distance - 410 Ft.

Overall Total - 8 Home Runs

Click on the following link to view:

Olszyk's Player Profile

NATIONAL FINALS RESULTS

Preliminary Round - 7 Home Runs
Consecutive - 3 Home Runs
Longest Distance - 466 Ft.

Overall Total - 7 Home Runs

Power Showcase would like to congratulate AJ & his family on signing with the University of South Florida.

Click on the following link to view:

Roedel's Player Profile

Click on the following link to view:

Wagner's Player Profile

Brian Ward-Hersee
St. Pius High School

Click on the following link to view:

Ward-Hersee's Player Profile

NATIONAL FINALS RESULTS

Preliminary Round - 9 Home Runs
Consecutive - 2 Home Runs
Longest Distance - 415 Ft.

Overall Total - 9 Home Runs

Click on the following link to view:

Hinson's Player Profile

Tennessee Finals Results

Preliminary Round
6 Home Runs

Second Round
5 Home Runs

Championship Round
6 Home Runs

Consecutive Home Runs - 17
Longest Distance Home Run - 498 Ft.

National Finals Results

Preliminary Round
2 Home Runs
Longest Distance - 435 Ft.

National Overall Total - 2 Home Runs

498 Ft.

TEXAS 2006 POWER SHOWCASE HOME RUN DERBY STATE CHAMPION

MICHAEL DIXON
Westlake High School

Power Showcase President, Brian Domenico
congratulating 2006 Texas Power Showcase Home Run Derby Champion, Michael Dixon.
(Westlake High School)

Texas Finals Results

Preliminary Round
14 Home Runs

Second Round
8 Home Runs

Championship Round
6 Home Runs

Texas Showcase Consecutive Home Runs
17
Longest Distance Home Run - 498 Ft.

Dixon also owns two Texas State Records:
Consecutive Home Runs - 4
Overall Home Run Total - 28

National Finals Results

Preliminary Round
10 Home Runs
4 Consecutive
Longest Distance - 502 Ft.

National Overall Total - 10 Home Runs

MICHAEL HAS VERBALLY COMMITTED TO BLINN JUNIOR COLLEGE
IN BRENHAM, TEXAS

NEW JERSEY POWER SHOWCASE HOME RUN DERBY STATE CHAMPION

FRANK FLORIO
Immaculata High School

New Jersey Finals Results

Preliminary Round
5 Home Runs

Second Round
8 Home Runs

Championship Round
11 Home Runs

Consecutive Home Runs - 24

National Finals Results

Preliminary Round
13 Home Runs
5 Consecutive
Longest Distance - 453 Ft.

National Overall Total - 13 Home Runs

Lynn University

Palm Beach Community College

2006 NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL NATIONAL HOME RUN DERBY AWARDS

National High School Home Run Derby Champion

FLORIDA
Shawn Zarraga
Trinity Christian

Longest Distance of a Home Run

FLORIDA
Shawn Zarraga
Trinity Christian

Most Consecutive Home Runs

FLORIDA
Shawn Zarraga
Trinity Christian

Most Home Runs in a Single Round

ALABAMA
Kevin Patterson
Oak Mountain High School

Overall Home Run Total

ALABAMA
Kevin Patterson
Oak Mountain High School

Join us for a weekend full of what many consider one of the purest moments in sport,
the HOME RUN.