Youth Home Run Derby Held At Toyota Field

MADISON- The Rocket City Trash Pandas recently held a “double header” by hosting a pair of events simultaneously at Toyota Field.

In preparations for the upcoming 2022 season, the Trash Pandas held a four-hour Job Fair inside the SportsMED Stadium Club for individuals seeking game day employment opportunities. Jobs were available in different departments of the team and stadium operations including concessions, production, housekeeping, ushers, ticket takers and bartenders.

The Saturday event also included the Dick’s Sporting Goods Skills Challenge and Home Run Derby. Over 250 youngsters, ages 7-14, participated in the event held on the baseball field, which is home to the Trash Pandas. Coaching experts put the participants through a variety of baseball drills to improve each participant’s skills of baseball. Those drills were held prior to the actual Home Run Derby.

To accommodate the young participants and to provide each with the opportunity to actually hit a home run over the same fences as the professionals, home plate was set up further out into the outfield grass making for a much shorter and more manageable distances for those taking to the contests. A pitching machine was used to toss the ball at the awaiting hitters. The competition was broken down into two age groups.

In the 13-14 age division, the final results showed Kaleb Karraker win the Home Run Derby by hitting five homers. Second place was taken by Rafer Jones with four dingers while Jack Sims was third with three home runs. In the 12-under age group, Cameron Martin lit up the facilities smashing six homers to grab first place. Tied for second place with three homers each were David Raddin, Connor Newton and Cole Troutman. Tied for fifth place while pounding two homers each were Leland Riddle, Jackson Fanning, Colter Mullins, Camden Tidwell and Jack Smotrys.

For more details about possible employment with the Trash Pandas during the upcoming 2022 season, visit the Trash Pandas on line at www.trashpandasbaseball.com.

The Double-A franchise of the Los Angeles Angels will start its season on April 8 in Birmingham before the season home opener against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Tuesday, April 12. With current labor discussions occurring in Major League Baseball and its season possibly being delayed, fans of the Trash Pandas have been reassured the 2022 campaign will not be impacted by the current MLB lockout.