The annual Phillies Home Run Derby hit Moorestown last week and 10-year-old Mason Eldred crushed several bombs during the event to take first place.
The popular annual contest, sponsored by the Philadelphia Phillies, used an automatic pitching machine to throw ten good pitches to each contestant. Points are scored for all fair balls hit, distance hits, and home runs.
Any ball that hits fair is worth one point, distance hits are worth two points, and home runs count for five points. The distance hits and home runs shift with each age division, so they are well within the range of most hitters. The speed of the pitch also shifts for each division.
The Moorestown Department of Parks and Recreation awarded a number of prizes to the night’s big hitters. First, second, and third place winners in each category received a Phillies engraved plaque.
The young slugger will compete in the championship event at Citizens Bank Park later in the summer.
