| | ESPN.com news services
OMAHA, Neb. -- Louisiana Tech's T.J. Soto hit eight home runs
in the final round Thursday night to win the inaugural home run
derby at the College World Series.
Soto beat Joe Densmore of Division II New Mexico Highlands in
the championship round. Densmore did not hit a homer in the final.
Using a wooden bat on a windy night at Rosenblatt Stadium, Soto
blasted four straight in one stretch. He saved his longest for
last, a towering shot over the stands in left field.
"I never thought I'd make it to Omaha," Soto said. "It's not
what I had in mind, but I'll settle for it."
Soto, who holds the Sun Belt Conference record for homers in a
season (21) and career (72), was drafted by the Houston Astros in
the 31st round this week.
Hall of Famers Lou Brock, Bob Gibson and Reggie Jackson
conducted interviews with the players before and after rounds.
After hitting two homers in the first round, Soto needed a
playoff to advance into the second round. Densmore, too, needed a playoff. He beat Mitch Jones of Arizona
State in a second-round playoff.
Jones, the fan favorite, hit nine homers in the opening round,
but managed just two in the second round and none in the playoff.
Densmore hit one in the extra set. Switch-hitting Derek Bell of
Sonoma State also bowed out in the second round.
Jason Bischoff of Marian College, Jeff Haase of Cleveland State,
Chad Smith of Georgia State and Matt Wilhelm of Wabash College were
eliminated after the first round. Wilhelm hit just one homer in the
opening set, the fewest among the eight contestants.
The winner receives a Compaq personal computer, the equivalent
of a two-year Rawlings minor-league apparel and equipment contract,
and a four-day, three-night trip for two, courtesy of Continental
Airlines and Marriott Hotels.
The home run derby was sponsored by Rawlings. Players from the eight College World Series teams were not
eligible for the derby. | |
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