NORTHBORO – The mission of A Shot For Life seemingly grows to new heights with every passing event. The theatrics within each one do too.
Behind a pair of monster rounds that saw him surge past a loaded lineup of sluggers, Dexter Southfield’s Matt Conte won the 4th Annual ASFL Home Run Derby in the name of fundraising for brain cancer research on Saturday at New England Baseball Complex. His 17 homers in the final round were six more than second-place finisher Wilfred Santiago (Archbishop Williams), helping Conte win for the first time in his three years of competing.
Conte and Williston’s Colin Larson took turns breaking a derby single-round record, while four players forced “swing-offs” to advance.
“Very blessed to be here, I had a great time,” Conte said. “I felt good (in the final round), I got on a little hot streak where I think I hit five or six in a row, and that’s what really I feel like helped (me win). … It’s definitely bigger than baseball, we all come together for a great cause.”
With members of the ASFL Baseball Pitchers Challenge, and participants in the ASFL Softball Home Run Derby and Pitchers Challenge, fundraising surpassed an estimated $80,000. Some individual fundraiser efforts brought in around $4,000. The leading effort will be recognized at the conclusion of the softball competitions Sunday.
Founder and CEO Mike Slonina was thrilled about continued fundraising success along with a new development.
The Red Sox Foundation, along with donating thousands of dollars, sent Red Sox mascots Wally the Green Monster and Tessa to present the winning trophy to Conte.
“In year four, a lot of initiatives take the next step, and baseball and softball certainly has done that this year,” Slonina said. “The Red Sox Foundation is more involved than ever before, and that’s something we really appreciate. … That support is something that truly means the world to us and is something we don’t take for granted at all.”
The derby started with 17 batters, hitting as many homers as possible within four minutes on a shortened fence brought in just shy of 300 feet away. The top eight finishers advanced to bracket play with four matchups to advance to the final four.
Conte set an unbelievable mark in the first round by spraying 35 homers to all parts of the field. It was a derby record for about 20 minutes until Larson rifled off 36.
“It’s awesome (to be a part of it),” Larson said. “I didn’t know (about the record) when I was hitting, I lost track. I was just trying to put the ball in the air. … I was just aiming for the playoffs.”
“It was a very good time,” Conte added.
Larson, Conte, Worcester Academy’s Cam Papetti (26 homers), Santiago (26 homers), Governor’s Academy’s Hunter Kingsbury (25 homers), Franklin’s Henry DiGiorgio (24 homers) and Milton Academy’s Nolan Wanat (23 homers) all advanced without question to bracket play. Belmont Hill’s Charlie Walsh won the swing-off for the eighth spot.
In bracket play, players needed to hit balls out of the full field. Larson and Conte advanced quickly, while DiGiorgio (10 homers) and Santiago (seven homers) needed big performances.
Conte took off after that, hitting five straight as part of a 17-homer final round.