Annunziata Wins Cape Cod Home Run Derby
7/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
July 28, 2014
BOURNE, MASS. - Seton Hall's Sal Annunziata (Bronx, N.Y.) won the 2014 Cape Cod League Home Run Hitting Contest on Sunday as part of the league's annual All-Star Game festivities.
Annunziata, a first baseman for the Harwich Mariners, won the event, while Brewster's Luke Lowery, a student-athlete at East Carolina, was the runner-up.
Lowery finished the first round on top with seven homers. Annunziata and Cotuit's John Norwood (Vanderbilt) tied for second with five homers each, with all three sluggers advanced to the final round. Annunziata came out on top in the second round with three, followed by Lowery (1) and Norwood (0).
"It's an honor to be a part of something like this," Annunziata said afterward. "Especially with the competition that was in this (contest), playing with some of the best power hitters in the country. I'm grateful to be here."
Wareham hitter Kyri Washington (Longwood) turned in an honorable effort, knocking four out of the park. Hyannis' Carl Wise (College of Charleston), who is currently third in the league with five homers this season, finished with three. Chatham southpaw power arm Chris Shaw (Boston College), who leads the league with seven home runs and 29 RBIs, finished with one homer, as did Orleans' Bobby Dalbec (Arizona).
Top hitter Annunziata and runner-up Lowery seemed comfortable using wooden bats, which some players find to be a challenge. Cape League is renowned for being one of the only amateur leagues to use wooden bats.
"I prefer wood to metal," said Annunziata, who used wooden bats in high school. "It makes the game more real."
Annunziata is currently batting .264 with three home runs and 17 RBIs in 28 games with Harwich. The first baseman has helped lead the Mariners to a first place tie in the league's East Division and a clinched playoff berth.
Annunziata is coming off a monster junior year at Seton Hall. A Second Team All-BIG EAST selection, he batted .330 and finished the regular season as the conference leader in slugging percentage, doubles and RBIs. An All-NJCBA First Team pick and All-ABCA Region selection, Annunziata has been the Pirates' regular first baseman for the last three seasons, batting in the middle of their order, and is primed for a big 2015 season.
