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Norton captures home run derby

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 11, 2009

BRANDON - East Bay senior Chris Norton hit five home runs in the second round Friday to beat defending champion Jay Laurienzo of Hillsborough and win the Saladino Home Run Derby.

Laurienzo hit three homers in the final round.

"This is just a lot of fun being out here for spring break," Norton said. "This has been great out here hitting home runs with guys I've known since I was little."

Norton, a catcher and pitcher, has two homers in the regular season, but said his power stroke is coming together and he feels strong.

"I'm getting on a hot streak right now," he said. "Hopefully I can keep it going for the last four games of our regular season and districts, too."

Norton hit two homers in the first round Friday but said he waited on pitches inside at the belt to take balls down the left-field line.

Brandon's Mike Smith hit four homers, including three in a row, to lead the first round, but he hit only two in the deciding round.

Spoto's Arley Benton finished third in the final round behind Norton and Laurienzo, hitting two homers and a ball off the wall for two additional points.

STALLBAUMER EARNS AWARD: Brandon coach Matt Stallbaumer was named the 2009 Artie Vazquez Memorial Coaches Award winner by the West Coast Umpires Association.

Stallbaumer, in his seventh season as the Eagles' coach, led Brandon to the state final four in 2008, earning him coach of the year honors from the Western Conference and The Tampa Tribune.

"This is an honor," Stallbaumer said of his latest award. "Growing up, I was taught to show the utmost respect for an umpire or any official, and I think once you establish that kind of relationship it sticks with people."

Stallbaumer is the fifth recipient of the award. Previous winners were Gaither coach Frank Permuy, Alonso coach Landy Faedo, former coach and current Jesuit athletic director John Crumbley and K.B. Scull, Bloomingdale's former coach who was last year's recipient.

Jarrett Guthrie

Keyword: Prep Report, to view the all-tournament team selections from this year's tournament.

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