The bird saw it coming at the last minute, a bright yellow orb heading its way. The bird split just in time and the orb kicked off the branch and fell to the ground, 343 feet from its origin. The bird was spared, and potentially my living room window as well. The orb? It was a softball, a monster blast, hit by Chuck King in the farthest distance segment of last year’s Home Run Derby during the Veterans Classic Softball Tournament. The challenge was on.
Next up to the plate was Dave Emmons, who, like Chuck, has a stellar history of sending softballs into Birdville. So, when Dave spanked the ball, the crowd gasped as it took off in the same trajectory as Chuck’s. However, it landed 344 feet away, just one foot farther than Chuck’s. Jokingly, Chuck says his would have gone farther had it “not nicked the branch,” plus he “had the wind against him while the wind favored Dave.” Hey, I’m not trying to get into the middle of this – I’m just writin’ the story. So Dave won last year’s farthest distance portion of the contest by inches. However, Chuck won the Home Run Derby in 2024 hitting 15 home runs out of 20 pitches, and also won the 2023 Derby, while Dave won it in 2022.
Both guys, dare we say, have played a little bit of softball. Chuck, who was an all-conference high school football player, has been playing softball since the late ‘80s in Pittsburgh leagues and at higher traveling team levels. Dave, having played softball now for 45 years, has always been a home run hitter in his New Jersey stomping grounds. Both guys have mutual respect for each other and have the admiration of those who play with and against them.
So, in this year’s Home Run Derby, can King Chuck … er, uh, Chuck King keep his crown? Will Dave Emmons take it back? Or will a new “Sultan of Swat” become the home run king? And who’s gonna hit the farthest home run? It could be you, but fat chance. Just sayin’.
Any resident can enter the Home Run Derby. Residents who don’t play softball in our leagues can hit from second base with the fence being 150’ away. Batters who play in the Monday/Wednesday league hit from the pitcher’s mound, eyeballing the fence from approximately 200’ away. Sluggers (KBS – known bird scramblers), who play in the Tuesday/Thursday league hit from home plate, scoffing at the fence being a mere 250’ away.
So why not give it a shot? Embarrass yourself … I mean, test your muscle memory. Become Walter Mitty. Who knows, you could be the next KBS. Or, just come on out to cheer on our veterans in the fourth annual Veterans Classic Softball Tournament and Home Run Derby! You might even see those pool ducks from a few stories ago wandering around.
Game day is Saturday, Nov. 8 (rain date Nov. 9) at the softball field.
