Nick Piccone
When I played high school baseball, the pressure got to me. I’m not going to lie – it was tough. Looking back now, when I have a firmer grasp of the real world, I just have to smile. It’s not because high school baseball isn’t important to me anymore. In fact, it’s just as important to me now as it was then. It’s the fact that I get to celebrate the life of a man I practiced beside, but was never able to play with in a game.
U.S. Marine 1st Lt., Captain Ryan K. Iannelli, simply put, was one of the best men I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. Anyone that’s met him has echoed the same sentiments. Not only was he a leader in the dugout – helping the freshmen and sophomores along the way as a junior and senior team captain – but he was a leader in life.
He died in Afghanistan on September 28, 2011, when his helicopter crashed while conducting combat operations.
It’s my honor to announce the third annual Captain Ryan K. Iannelli Memorial Home Run Derby, set to take place at Kingsway Regional High School on Saturday, May 21st*. I’ve been proud to be a part of this annual tradition for three years now, and look forward to smashing home runs ground-rule doubles singles against all the other batters.
We’ll have cones set up for each age group, so the winners will be determined by the number of total points they accumulate. We’ll have six divisions: Youth ages 7-9, Youth ages 10-12, Youth ages 13-15, High School, College, and Non-Student Adult.
To enter the Derby, simply click here and enter your information. The cost ranges from $20-$35 for each entry.
Here are the Derby rules:
- Ten swings
- No outs
- Every hit will have the potential to earn points based on how far it travels in the air
- Highest point total wins (one winner per level)
- Regulation baseball
- You may use your own bat of choice or one will be provided at the field.
Check in for registration begins at 8:30 A.M. and ends at 9:45 A.M. Beginning at 10:00 A.M., we’ll have an Armed Forces Day ceremony honoring Capt. Ryan K. Iannelli. Then, we’ll be starting the Home Run Derby.
There will be six (6) first place trophies given out at the award ceremony following the completion of the Derby. There will also be second and third place medals for each division.
This event is for the entire family, so bring out the kids and enjoy carnival games and prizes, face painting, a clown and balloon artist, a live DJ and, of course, food! The deadline for entering the Home Run Derby is Thursday, May 19th, at 11:59pm. So register now!
Kingsway Regional High School is located at 201 Kings Highway in Woolwich Twp, NJ.
Rain date is Sunday, May 22nd.