It started off slow, but heated up quickly; and in the end Gastonia’s David Chester (Pittsburgh / photo courtesy of Pat and Brandon Grecinger) hit 11 home runs to be named the Rawlings All-Star Home Run Derby Champion for 2010.

Chester was able to fight off a solid effort by Edenton’s Brian Billigen (Cornell), who finished with six long balls, all with wood, for 18 points. Ten of Chester’s 11 homers were hit with wood - each worth three points - while one was added for good measure in the first round with an aluminum bat for one point.

In the second round, Billigen and Florence’s Ronnie Freeman (Kennesaw State) tied, which forced a swing-off. Each was given five outs, and Billigen advanced after connecting on three bombs to Freeman’s zero.

Below is a complete run down of the 2010 CPL All-Star Home Run Derby:

Round 1:
American CPL All-Stars:
Jake Magner (Edenton / North Dakota) - 2 homers = 6 pts.
Trey Hernandez (Florence / Texas A&M - Corpus Christi) - 0 homers
Kevin Deese (Asheboro / West Alabama) - 0 homers
Ryan Daughtry (Wilson / Barton College) - 0 homers
Cass Hargis (Thomasville / Southeastern Louisiana) - 3 homers (all aluminum) = 3 pts.
Matthew Black (Martinsville / Mercer) - 0 homers
Brian Billigen (Edenton / Cornell) - 1 homer = 3 pts.
Justyn Carter (Morehead City / Saint Peters) - 1 homer = 3 pts.

National CPL All-Stars:
David Chester (Gastonia / Pittsburgh) - 3 homers (1 aluminum) = 7 pts.
Chas Crane (Peninsula / Winthrop) - 0 homers
Will Skinner (Forest City / Middle Tennessee State) - 2 homers (all aluminum) = 2 pts.
Mac Doyle (Florence / Wofford) - 1 homer = 3 pts.
Nick Orvin (Columbia / The Citadel) - 0 homers
Jacob Wilson (Asheboro / Memphis) - 2 homers (1 aluminum) = 4 pts.
Danny Canela (Forest City / N.C. State) - 0 homers
Ronnie Freeman (Florence / Kennesaw State) - 1 homer = 3 pts.

Round 2:
American CPL All-Stars:
Jake Magner (Edenton / North Dakota) - 1 homer = 3 pts. / total 9 pts.
Cass Hargis (Thomasville / Southeastern Louisiana) - 1 homer = 3 pts. / total 6 pts.
Brian Billigen (Edenton / Cornell) - 3 homers = 9 pts. / total 12 pts.
Justyn Carter (Morehead City / Saint Peters) - 0 homers / total 3 pts.

National CPL All-Stars:
David Chester (Gastonia / Pittsburgh) - 3 homers = 9 pts. / total 16 pts.
Mac Doyle (Florence / Wofford) - 1 homer = 3 pts. / total 6 pts.
Jacob Wilson (Asheboro / Memphis) - 1 homer (aluminum) = 1 pt. / total 5 pts.
Ronnie Freeman (Florence / Kennesaw State) - 3 homers = 9 pts. / total 12 pts.

Swing-Off: (five outs)
Brian Billigen (Edenton / Cornell) - 3 homers - advanced to championship
Ronnie Freeman (Florence / Kennesaw State) - 0 homers

Championship Round:
American CPL All-Stars:
Brian Billigen (Edenton / Cornell) - 2 homers = 6 pts. / final total of 18 pts.

National CPL All-Stars:
David Chester (Gastonia / Pittsburgh) – 5 homers = 15 pts. / final total 31 pts.

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 14th season, the Coastal Plain League features 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. Furthermore, the CPL has had over 800 alumni drafted and 36 alums make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league Web site at http://www.coastalplain.com. 

Justin Sellers

(919) 852-1960