Article and images appear with permission from VillageSoup.com

Home Run Derby was right on the MONEY
 

By Daniel O'Connell

ROCKPORT (June 3, 2025):

Rockland's Parker Tootill lays into a pitch during Saturday's competition. Tootill's seven point effort in the second round was enough to crown him as this year's home run derby champ.
The MONEY (More Opportunities for NEighborhood Youth) Athletic Foundation held its home run derby Saturday at the Rockport Recreational Field. Players from Camden Hills Regional High School, Rockland District High School, Georges Valley High School, and Belfast Area High School joined with coaches and former area players to put on a hitting display and honor the memory of Mikail R. Russo.

Batters were awarded two points for each home run that cleared the regulation fence, and one point for those that cleared the shortened fence. When all was said and done, Rockland's Parker Tootill was the champ after his seven point second round effort.

Camden Hills baseball player Nate Clark was awarded four box seats at Fenway Park for a Red Sox/Braves game for selling the most raffle tickets. Liz Dailey was the winner of the raffle's grand prize. She won four seats in the 600 Club to watch the Sox and Blue Jays battle on July 4th.

Early estimates were that as much as $8,000 may have been raised Saturday. The money will help local youth teams, and help send local athletes to sports camps.
 




 

Belfast's Chris Larsen shows his form during second round action. Larsen finished his 10 swings with three points.
Mikail's dad, Paul Russo, told VillageSoup that the day was a success because it did what they had set out to do: involve kids, and have fun. Russo also noted that the support of Mikail's, Keagan's, and Karinna's friends over the last year have been a major source of strength for the Russo family.

Keagan Russo summed up the day best as he walked off the field, "A lot of great people turned out today in memory of a great person."

 
 



 

Grady Peck is right on the ball with this swing during second round action. Peck led the first round with five points, but came up a little bit short in the final round.



 

Former University of Maine baseball star and current Georges Valley varsity baseball coach Bill Hughes shows he can still put the bat on the ball. The friendly wager between Hughes and Camden Hills coach Scott Benzie was a tie, as both men racked up six points with their 10 swings.



 

Keagan Russo put the hurt on a few baseballs himself Saturday. Keagan is Mikail's brother, and is also the President of MONEY.



 

Mikail's dad, Paul, was the last batter of the day. He ended the derby on a perfect note when he cranked a home run to right field and walked out of the box to accept hugs and handshakes from family and friends. (Photos by Daniel O'Connell)



Results from the 1st Annual Money Athletic Foundation Home Run Derby, held Sunday, June 2 at the Rockport Recreation Park .

Team Results
 

 

    Camden Hills - 17
    Belfast - 12
    Rockland - 11
    Georges Valley - 8



The Team Champion was crowned by totaling up all the homers hit by each team's players.

Top 6 hitters

 

    1. Parker Tootill, Rockland - 7
    2. Brady Butler, Camden Hills - 4
    3. Chris Larson, Belfast - 3
    3. Peter Moro, Camden Hills - 3
    3. Devin Potvin, Belfast - 3
    6. Jake LaBree, Rockland - 2
    7. Scott Hastings, Georges Valley - 1
    7. Grady Peck, Camden Hills - 1
    8. Nick Arthers, Belfast - 0

All nine players advanced to the second round of the competition by hitting three or more home runs in the first round. Nick Arthers hit four in the first round and Grady Peck blasted five, however those home runs were not carried over into the second round.





Related Link:

 

  • Money Athletic Foundation

    Daniel O'Connell is a Camden-based freelance photographer. He can be reached by email at [email protected].