By Jeff Johncox
The Norman Transcript
NORMAN — The first Heartland Classic began Monday night at L. Dale Mitchell Park.
The eight teams (Oklahoma, Canada, Arkansas, Georgia, Texas, Arizona, Ohio and Maryland) paraded onto the field for the opening ceremonies, then sent representatives to the plate for a home run derby.
It took a couple hitters for the ball to leave the yard, but once Ohio’s Ryan Berry picked up his bat, the crowd of fans and host families got a show.
Berry went deep five times to win the home-run derby title, giving Team Ohio a boost heading into the regular-game schedule.
“It’s something great for me to build off of, for us to take into the games,” Berry said. “I can’t let it get in my head, though.”
It was Berry’s second home-run derby. Last summer, he wasn’t able to hit one out at the Black Swamp Tournament in Bowling Green, Ohio.
He went on to set the Walsh Jesuit school record with 20 career home runs, hitting 10 his senior season.
Monday, he had the crowd cheering, especially when he hit one well over the left-center field wall that landed halfway up the grass hill that surrounds the outfield.
“It’s just been outstanding so far,” Berry said. “My host family, they’re great people. And everyone here in Oklahoma, they’re nice and they support this tournament. It’s been a great experience.”
There was a three-way tie for second place, and a “hit-off” was won by Arizona’s T.C. Mark.
One of the most-anticipated hitters in the derby was Deer Creek’s Cale Coshow, who’s headed to Oklahoma next fall.
The derby was the first time he’s been on the field at L. Dale Mitchell Park in a competitive environment.
Unfortunately for the Sooner fans in attendance, Coshow didn’t put on much of a show, making a quick 10 outs.
“I just had one of those nights where the bat didn’t feel very good in my hands,” Coshow said. “But I’d rather hit well in the real games and have us win the championship than worry about the home-run derby.”
But still, he said it was a good experience, especially since he was hitting in his future home stadium.
“It was definitely good for me, since I’m coming here next year,” Coshow said.
The Heartland Classic starts this morning at 9 with a youth clinic at the Reaves Park Optimist fields.
The games start at noon at L. Dale Mitchell Park and Norman High, and at 3 p.m. at Norman North.
Team Oklahoma takes on Maryland at Tiger Stadium at 3:30 p.m., and Georgia at 7 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park.
Berry and Ohio play Arizona at noon at OU and take on Texas at 7 p.m. at NHS.
Jeff Johncox 366-3535 jjohncox@normantranscript.com
