For the City Times

The Northwoods League has announced the participants for the 2016 Home Run Derby at the Harbor which will take place the night before the Northwoods League All-Star game on Monday, July 18 at the downtown Kenosha Harbor. Nine participants from both the South and North have been chosen for the event which will feature a nine inning competition between the two divisions.

Representing the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters in the Home Run Derby at the Harbor will be Logan Mattix (Georgia College). Mattix is currently hitting .246 with six home runs, 19 RBIs, 10 doubles, and five stolen bases. He is tied for the team lead in home runs, and has also played tremendous defense in centerfield for the Rafters tallying four outfield assists while committing zero errors.

The first ever event of its kind in baseball, the Home Run Derby at the Harbor, will feature top Northwoods League hitters batting from a pier that extends in to Lake Michigan. Sailboats from the Kenosha Yacht Club will serve as the foul poles to mark the dimensions of Simmons Field and a floating barrier will mimic the outfield wall. Derby participants will attempt to hit home runs over the floating barrier into the downtown Kenosha Harbor.
The format for the Home Run Derby at the Harbor is below:
1. There will be 9 innings with each player having one half inning.
2. Away team (North) player bats first in the top of the inning, and home team player next (South) in the bottom half of the inning.
3. Each player will have one half inning at bat that will consist of 6 outs
4. The player with the most home runs at the end of the 9 innings, will be the Home Run Derby at the Harbor Winner
5. The team (North or South) with the most home runs will be announced as the winner of the team competition.

The 2016 Northwoods League All-Star Game festivities will be held July 18 and 19 in Kenosha, WI. On Monday, July 18 the Home Run Derby at the Harbor will be held at the downtown Kenosha Harbor. Activities during the event will include a kids bounce house, bobble head ring toss and the Snap-On Inflatable Zipline. Ballpark food, beverages, ice cream, beer and Kingfish merchandise will be available for purchase.

The following day, Tuesday, July 19, the All-Star Banquet will begin at 11:00 am at Marina Shores with Jed Hoyer, the General Manager of the Chicago Cubs, as the keynote speaker. The All Star game itself will begin at 7:05 pm that night at Historic Simmons Field.

All-Star Event Itinerary is as follows:

Monday, July 18 – Home Run Derby at the Harbor
5:30 pm – Gates open
6:30 pm – 7:50 pm – Home Run Derby at the Harbor
7:50 pm – Music with Bella Cain
Sunset – Post Event Fireworks
Tuesday, July 20 – All Star Banquet and Game
11:00 am – Banquet at Marina Shores
6:00 pm – Gates open at Historic Simmons Field
6:00 pm – 6:30 pm – Pre-game autograph session with the All-Stars
7:05 pm – Northwoods League All-Star Game