Asheboro Copperheads All-Star Hunter Ridge (UNC Wilmington / photo courtesy of Pat Grecinger) belted 11 home runs for a total of 33 points to be named the 2012 Rawlings CPL All-Star Home Run Derby Champion Sunday night at Wilson’s Historic Fleming Stadium.

Ridge’s biggest challenger was Wilmington’s Aaron Preston (Presbyterian). Preston entered the final round with five home runs. Giving it a good effort, he was only able to connect on two long balls in the championship round to finish with a total of seven homers (one of which hit with aluminum) for 19 points.

Despite winning before he took a swing in the championship round, Ridge decided to swing away for the fans and both All-Star teams. He connected on three more to round things out.

Below is a complete run down of the 2012 CPL All-Star Home Run Derby:

Round 1: 


American All-Stars:
1) Alex Close (Liberty / Forest City Owls) – 0 homers = 0 pts.
2) Jake Stone (Tennessee Wesleyan / Martinsville Mustangs) – 1 homer = 3 pts.
3) Sal Giardina (Lynn / Fayetteville SwampDogs) – 0 homers = 0 pts.
4) Aaron Preston (Presbyterian / Wilmington Sharks) – 2 homers (with wood) = 6 pts. / 1 homer (with aluminum) = 1 pt.
5) Sal Annunziata (Seton Hall / Morehead City Marlins) – 2 homers = 6 pts.
6) Nathan Chong (Presbyterian / Forest City Owls) – 1 homer = 3 pts.

National All-Stars:
1) Jason Kanzler (Buffalo / Edenton Steamers) – 1 homer = 3 pts.
2) Greg Harrison (Furman / Thomasville HiToms) – 1 homer = 3 pts.
3) Spencer Branigan (Pennsylvania / Edenton Steamers) – 0 homers = 0 pts.
4) Hunter Ridge (UNC Wilmington / Asheboro Copperheads) – 8 homers = 24 pts.
5) Michael Camporeale (Washington / Edenton Steamers) – 1 homer = 3 pts.
6) Kyle Brandenburg (High Point / Thomasville HiToms) – 0 homers = 0 pts.

Round 2: 


American All-Stars:
1) Aaron Preston (Presbyterian / Wilmington Sharks) – 2 homers = 6 pts. (total of 13 pts.)
2) Sal Annunziata (Seton Hall / Morehead City Marlins) – 1 homer = 3 pts. (total of 9 pts.)

National All-Stars:
1) Jason Kanzler (Buffalo / Edenton Steamers) – 0 homers = 0 pts. (total of 3 pts.)
2) Greg Harrison (Furman / Thomasville HiToms) – 0 homers = 0 pts. (total of 3 pts.)
3) Hunter Ridge (UNC Wilmington / Asheboro Copperheads) – 0 homers = 0 pts. (total of 24 pts.)
4) Michael Camporeale (Washington / Edenton Steamers) – 1 homer = 3 pts. (total of 6 pts.)

Championship Round:
1) Aaron Preston (Wilmington Sharks / Presbyterian) – 2 homers = 6 pts. (total of 19 pts.)
2) Hunter Ridge (Asheboro Copperheads / UNC Wilmington) – 3 homers = 9 pts. (total of 33 pts.)