Ties Derby Record

Daniel Aldrich and CPL Commissioner Pete Bock with the 2011 CPL Home Run Derby trophy.

The Wilmington Sharks of the Coastal Plain League are proud to announce that Daniel Aldrich won the 2011 Rawlings CPL Home Run Derby with 18 home runs in Fayetteville on Sunday night.

Aldrich added to his already long list of accomplishments by adding 2011 Rawlings Coastal Plain League Home Run Derby Champion to his resume Sunday night when he totaled 50 points off of 18 total home runs.

Already with 2011 National Freshman of the Year honors under his belt and winner of the 2011 TD Amaritrade Home Run Derby in Omaha earlier in July, Aldrich did not disappoint, blasting 18 total homers over the three rounds in Fayetteville for the win.

Aldrich’s 18 homers tied him for the most home runs in CPL Home Run Derby history with another Wilmington Shark – Dusty Bensko – who hit 18 homers in the 2004 Derby in Forence, S.C.

As was the case in Omaha, Aldrich had his dad, Charles, throwing to him. The duo out-did their Omaha total of 14 homers with the display on Sunday night.

Having already wrapped up the title before hitting in the Championship, Aldrich chased history in his final 10 outs, deciding to take five outs worth of swings with the wood bat and five outs with the aluminum bat.

With wooden bat homers worth three points and aluminum bat homers good for one point, Aldrich finished with a total of 50 points – 16 points from wooden bats and two from the aluminum bat.

The closest challenger to Aldrich was from Forest City’s Axel Johnson, who finished with 11 total homers worth 33 points.

The All-Star festivities wrap up on Monday, when the CPL All-Stars will do a variety of events, including making a visit to Fort Bragg Army base in Fayetteville, before the All-Star game on Monday night. The 2011 CPL All-Star game is set for a 7:05 first pitch.

The Wilmington Sharks are members of Coastal Plain League, the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league.  Celebrating its 15^th season, The Coastal Plain League features 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.  The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats.  Players are housed with local host families for the summer.  The CPL has had over 700 alumni drafted and 35 alums make their Major League debut thus far.  For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com.

Daniel Aldrich blasts one of his 18 home runs on Sunday night.