Former 'Hound wins MINK League Home Run Derby

ST. JOSEPH, MO. -- Nick Banman didn't get much of a chance to admire the distance of his drives during the home run derby here Thursday.

The Chillicothe Mudcats infielder stayed pretty locked in during all three rounds of Thursday's MINK League Home Run Derby and left as the champion by smacking 14 home runs in the finals against Ozark's Brad Cuyos, who had four.

Banman, who graduated from Fort Scott Community College in May, posted better numbers in his first two rounds, but the future Pittsburgh Panther wowed the crowd and fellow all-stars with his left-handed swing that peppered the party deck in right field.

"I saw them about half way, but then I was right back (looking) at the pitcher," said Banman, whose 17 home runs for FSCC this spring tied him for 23rd in the JUCO ranks. "I couldn't really appreciate most of them. I haven't heard anything, but hopefully I'll see video later."

In the third and final round, the winner was a bit gassed. He went first and then had to watch to see if Cuyos would match him.

"The last round I was struggling, I was just trying to get through," Banman said. "I kept pushing myself. I had three minutes."

The Shawnee Mission West product has only one home run during the regular season, but the switch to aluminum bats showcased that power.

He defeated Claridna's Wells Davis in the first round by hitting 15 home runs, but came into the second round a slight underdog to St. Joseph's Louis Mele.

The hometown favorite blasted 21 home runs in his first round win against Sedalia's Jonathan Ramon.

Banman went first and set the tone by hitting 22 homers. A couple blast went over the scoreboard and another sailed over the Mosaic sign. Another hit it, while a third bounced off the top of the sign.

Mele answered with 10 home runs off his coach, Matt Johnson, but couldn't match the numbers that Banman posted in his five-minute at-bat.

The New York Institute of Technology product enjoyed the chance to compete in his first home run derby.

"After the first round I was a little tired," Mele said. "I was over swinging, but I knew I had to get to 21 to beat him in the second round. I would've rather gone first to set the tone like I did the first time. I was giving my all out there.

"Some guys can swing it and to be in the same boat, around a couple D-I guys, I'm happy with how I performed."

Used with permission.