HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C.
Zach Michalski of the Martinsville Mustangs, an West Division All-Star, took home the 2017 CPL All-Star Home Run Derby title on July 9 in Holly Springs, N.C., earning the win over Nick Podkul of the East Division All-Stars who also made it to the Championship round. Michalski finished with 25 total home runs across his three rounds of hitting.
The format consisted of a seeded bracket with four contenders on the East and four on the West, seeded based on their total home runs in the regular season.
Representing the East were the following four All-Stars:
#2 Zach Piazza (Holly Springs / Limestone)
#3 Nick Podkul (Morehead City / Notre Dame)
#1 Drew Delsignore (Peninsula / Mercyhurst)
#4 Shane Shepard (Wilson / NC State)
From the West it was:
#3 Zach Jacobs (Florence / Francis Marion)
#4 Carson Jones (Forest City / Lander)
#2 Zach Michalski (Martinsville / NC Central)
#1 Lee Sponseller (Martinsville / Ohio Dominican)
In total 89 home runs were hit with 27 being from the charity ball that raised money and awareness for 3 Irish Jewels. The mission of 3 Irish Jewels Farm is to create an environmentally sustainable agricultural community where adults on the autism spectrum can live dignified and meaningful lives with support in a healthy, safe and enriching environment and achieve independence through meaningful work, recreation and community involvement. In addition to adults living on the farm, school-age children with autism will be able to attend after-school programs, track-out programs and summer camps so that they can also experience the farm life.
