Daniel Palka, from Greer, hit one home run in the College Baseball Home Run Derby in Omaha, Neb., Tuesday night. CBS will broadcast the even from 2-3 p.m. on Saturday.
Fresno State junior outfielder Aaron Judge won the contest by slugging 16 home runs in three rounds, including four straight and the bonus ball (scored as two home runs) when down to his final out for a total of eight home runs in the championship round. Virginia Tech’s Tyler Horan (5 home runs) and LSU’s Mason Katz (4) trailed Judge.
The Home Run Derby will be televised nationally on CBS on Saturday, from 2-3 p.m., and will air again on CBS Sports in August.
Palka, a second team All-ACC pick in 2012 after hitting 12 home runs had sophomore teammate Zane Evans to serve as his pitcher.
Palka is the second Yellow Jacket in three years to compete in the Home Run Derby. Matt Skole took part in the inaugural event in 2010. Palka lead Tech with a .550 slugging percentage. The Lyman native has homered 24 times and driven in 99 runs in two years
The sophomore was one of two players to start all 64 games this season for the ACC Champion Yellow Jackets, hitting .303 with 47 RBI and a team-high 19 doubles.
Palka is playing for the Wareham Gatemen in the Cape Cod League, where he is hitting .267 and leads the club in home runs (two) and RBI (11) through 11 games.
Daniel Aldrich, last year’s home run champion from College of Charleston, did not hit one this year.
Joining Palka and Judge in the contest were:
• Daniel Aldrich, College of Charleston (last year’s HR Derby champion)
• LB Dantzler - South Carolina, junior
• Derek Fisher - Virginia, freshman
• Tyler Horan - Virginia Tech, redshirt sophomore (Finalist)
• Mason Katz - LSU, Junior (Finalist)
• Zach Stephens - Tennessee Tech, Sophomore