Luray’s Bowman wins derby

WALDORF, Md. —The Mid-Atlantic Classic got off to a beautiful start for the Valley League all-stars in the home run derby.

Ryan Durrence, Todd Brazeal, Jared Simon, Steve McQuail and Daniel Bowman all went deep in the first round for the Valley.

Brazeal hit five long balls in the first round.
The total looked to hold up compared to the Valley League All-Star Game total of three by all the opponents.
Bowman blasted 10 in the first round to carry the torch for the Valley.
“It was feeling really good,” Bowman said. “I was having a really good time.”
Steve McQuail hit six to push Brazeal out of the final.
The only representative for the Cal Ripken Sr. League to challenge Brazeal, McQuail and Bowman was Casey Taylor from the Herndon Braves.

“I knew the ball was sailing out to left and we have a lot of power hitters so I knew that five probably wouldn’t hold up,” Brazeal said.

Taylor got a little help from a fan in left field to advance to the final.
A ball hit by Taylor that would have hit off the top of the twenty foot fence was pulled over by a helpful fan with a glove.

That gift ended up being the difference with Taylor tying with McQuail for second with six in the first round.
With Taylor and McQuail giving average efforts in the final, the stage was set for Bowman.
McQuail wiffed for his first out for the final round to set the scene for the rest of his at bat.
Bowman stepped into the box with his head coach pitching to him.
Bowman tacked on another eight home runs to take the total.
The total put up by Bowman of 18 homers for the tournament was three times his season total to this point.
“It was tough,” Bowman stated. “It was hot and I was getting