Kleinknecht looks to defend derby crown

FLORENCE — Barrett Kleinknecht isn’t your prototypical home run hitter. The Florence RedWolves infielder is more of a gap-to-gap guy.

Nonetheless, Kleinknecht enters tonight’s Coastal Plain League All-Star Game home run derby in Wilmington as the event’s defending champion.

In last year’s derby in Asheboro, Kleinknecht belted 13 homers for 39 points to edge Petersburg’s Greyson Schram (12, 36).

“Last year, we took BP before the derby. I was trying to hit one out and I couldn’t even get one out,” Kleinknecht said. “Once the derby started, though, I just got in a groove.”

The derby is part of tonight’s All-Star Fan Fest at Buck Hardee Field that gets under way with players from the American and National teams signing autographs at 5 p.m. A softball game between Wilmington’s fire department and police department will be held at 6:30 p.m. followed by the derby at 8 p.m..

The All-Star Game will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. Tickets for the Fan Fest and All-Star Game are $8 for box seats and $5 for general admission.

The derby consists of three rounds with each player getting eight outs in each of the first two rounds and 10 outs in the championship round. Any ball not clearing the wall is an out.

Players can use aluminum bats for two outs per round. Players are awarded three points for home runs hit with wood and one point for home runs hit with aluminum.

Sixteen players will compete in the derby, eight from the National team and eight from the American team. The top three hitters from each team advance to the second round. The top two hitters in the second round regardless of team advance to the championship round.

The hitter with the most total points is the champion.

Kleinknecht, who leads Florence with six homers this summer, will swing for the American team. RedWolves outfielder Sam DiMatteo, who has five homers, will swing for the National team.

“I think Barrett’s worried now because I’m in it and he’ll have some competition,” DiMatteo said with a laugh. “Seriously, though, I guarantee you I’ll be the underdog.

“Barrett’s pretty much going to do the same thing I’m going to do — just swing out of your shoes and see what happens. You take it serious when you’re in there, but whatever happens, happens. It’s really about having fun. Just enjoy the opportunity. I’m just grateful to be in it.”

Kleinknecht’s advice to DiMatteo? Pace yourself.

“You can’t waste all your energy before you get to that last round because it really does take a lot out of you,” he said. “I have my hands full with Sam. He’s a home run hitter. You watch him in BP. He has some power. It’s going to be fun.”

The following are the rosters for tonight’s Coastal Plain League All-Star Game home run derby at Buck Hardee Field in Wilmington. Home runs hit thus far this season are in parentheses:

National team
Stewart Ijames, Thomasville HiToms (9)
Randolph Oduber, Gastonia Grizzlies (8)
Gerard Hall, Edenton Steamers (6)
Ronnie Shaban, Petersburg Generals (6)
Phil Cerreto, Martinsville Mustangs (5)
Sam DiMatteo, Florence RedWolves (5)
Greyson Schram, Gastonia Grizzlies (5)
Josh Whitaker, Outer Banks Daredevils (1)
American team
Jake Magner, Edenton Steamers (8)
Adam Eggemeyer, Wilmington Sharks (6)
Barrett Kleinknecht, Florence RedWolves (6)
Jake McAloose, Peninsula Pilots (4)
Matt Skirving, Fayetteville SwampDogs (4)
Konstantine Diamaduros, Forest City Owls (3)
Craige Lyerly, Asheboro Copperheads (3)
Brendan Rowland, Fayetteville SwampDogs (3)