MONEY Athletic Foundation


Players were allowed 10 swings and were awarded two points for balls that cleared the regulation fence and one point for balls that traveled over a shortened fence. The round one scores were: Burke, CH, 7 home runs; Judkins, GV, 6; Caleb Peats, CH, 6; Trevey Davis, CH, 6; Tom Dennen, CH, 5; Tom Kennedy, Med, 5; Ian Doherty, CH, 4; Greg Crupi, Rock, 4; Wes Drinkwater, Rock, 4; Sam Adolphsen, Med, 4; Wade Oliver, Rock, 3; John Coppola, Rock, 3; Andrew Rogers, Camden Hills, 3; Steve McGuire, Rock, 3; Miles Davee, CH, 3; Nick Arthers, Bel, 3; Jake Arthers, Bel, 2; Michael Cummons, CH, 2; John Dean, Rock, 2; Randy Maloney, GV, 2; D.J. Camber, Med, 2; Elisha Sprague, GV, 1; and Ben Baudanza-Sturks, Rock, 0.		Belfast's Jake Arthers keeps his eye on the ball as he takes a cut during Sunday's home run derby on Mazzeo Field at the Rockport Recreation Park.

The round two scores were: Judkins, GV, 5 home runs (champion); Burke, CH, 4 (runner-up); Peats, CH, 4; Kennedy, Med, 4; Drinkwater, Rock, 4; Doherty, CH, 3; Adolphsen, Med, 3; Dennen, CH, 3; Davis, CH, 3; and Crupi, Rock, 2. Camden Hills led the team totals with 54 home runs from its eight hitters and won tickets to a Portland Sea Dogs game for its effort. Other team scores were: Rockland, 25 home runs, seven hitters; Medomak Valley, 18, three hitters; Georges Valley, 14, three hitters; and Belfast, 5, two hitters. Each player needed to sell 10 raffle tickets to participate and Dennen raised the most money and won luxury box tickets for four to see a Red Sox game. Panther D.J. Camber was the second leading fund-raiser and was awarded a new baseball glove for his efforts.
Rockland's John Dean connects during his turn at bat. Tiger batters cleared the fences 25 times. (Photos by Daniel O'Connell)	The derby also featured a chance for others to donate $20, step up to the plate and swing for the fences. J.D. Rainey led the adult open with eight homers. Shawn Hiller, Rory O'Donnell and Patrick Alyward, all went deep six times, while John Russo, Matt Cates, Dan O'Connell, Keagan Russo and Paul Russo all left the yard five times. Keagan Russo is Mikail Russo's brother, while Paul Russo is the father. "I feel we had the best year so far," said MONEY Athletic Foundation president Keagan Russo. "We had a great turnout. The weather held off nicely for us. It's been something we've battled the last few years. "People have been very, very willing to give to this foundation. I think we have a lot of buy-in from the community. It's a one-of-a-kind charity that really has its niche in the community. We really appreciate all the support they've given the last three years and going forward we think we're going to be able to turn this event up every year." Russo also spoke about what the home run derby and the foundation means to the healing process in the Russo family. "Every year it gets better and better," he said. "We're able to take a look at things, look back, reflect on what we've been able to turn from such a tragedy into a positive. It all comes back and makes you feel great when you get those letters from kids that have come back from camps and talk about all of the things that they've learned and how they feel they've been developed as a young athlete. It's very rewarding. It's something that if we didn't have, it would be a huge loss for our family."