The third annual Pelham Little League Home Run Derby took place Thursday, June 19 at Glover Field to celebrate the end of another season of Little League baseball. Despite the poor weather conditions, with thunderstorms causing multiple delays during the derby, some of Pelham’s best baseball and softball players focused on hitting as many home runs as possible. The event featured an exciting atmosphere with approximately 200 spectators watching from the stands, a fried chicken food truck, and a DJ. The rules of the derby were simple, everybody had 10 “outs”, or anything not a home run, to hit as many home runs as they could. The batter with the most home runs in each age group by the end of the round would be crowned the champion of their respective groups.
“We started it three years ago, and the number of participants has grown tremendously…” said director of the home Run derby, Ben Soccodato. “The DJ and the food truck makes it a party and a vibe for the players and parents.”
Over 115 participants were in attendance for the competition, with each having to pay an entry fee of $20. For the baseball players competing in the derby, there was a 7-8 year-old group, 9-year-old group, 10-year-old group, 11-year-old-group, 12-year-old group, and a 13-14 year-old group. For the softball players, there was a first through third grade group, fourth through fifth grade group, and a sixth through eighth grade group. Many of the athletes chose to compete in the derby for a variety of reasons, ranging from honing their skills to having a fun time swinging for the fences.
“It sounded fun,” said one of the contestants before the start of the derby. “I want to hit a home run, and have a good experience.”
Going into the derby, some of the competitors were greatly excited and confident to compete in the derby.
“Yes, I’m pretty confident,” said Logan Zombrek of the 11-year-old baseball group. “And I hope I hit a lot of homers.”
“It’s a little deep of a fence,” said Benny Soccodato, another competitor in the 11-year-old baseball group. “But I’m pretty confident I’ll hit a bunch (of home runs) because I won the past few years.”
“Yes, there’s some very good competition out there I need to beat,” said 11 year old baseball player Matteo LaMonica. “But I’m confident I’ll be able to beat them.”
During the home run derby, the final round of the 11-year-old division of the baseball group featured a tiebreaker between Lamonica and Zombrek, after both had hit the same amount of home runs in the first round. Ultimately, Lamonica would win the tiebreaker three homers to two, and secure the championship in the 11-year-old group.
“Some good competition out there,” said Lamonica after being crowned the champion. “And I got scared at the end but pulled through and brought it home.”
The winners of the individual age groups include:
Baseball
- Thomas Galatioto, 7-8 year-old group
- Nicky Bunyan, 9-year-old group
- Dante Fusco, 10-year-old group
- Matteo LaMonica, 11-year-old group
- Phil Decandido, 12-year-old group
- Jackson Koupal, 13-14 year-old group
Softball
- Chelsea Key, fourth through fifth grade group
- Lillian Key, sixth through eighth grade group
The event was a fun and exciting experience for all who participated, and a great way to close out the 2025 season of Pelham Little League Baseball.
