Home|Sports|Team Fox wins Don’t Blink Home Run DerbySports
Team Fox wins Don’t Blink Home Run Derby
Simba FrenchSend an emailDecember 19, 2022 77 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email
Team Fox walked away with the team competition and for the first time in the event’s five-year history, there was an All-Bahamian finals and a Bahamian winner in the individual competition at the Don’t Blink Home Run Derby. The event went back home to the Montagu Foreshore on Saturday, for the first time since 2020.
The event was a part of a four-day lineup put on by friends, current Major League Baseball (MLB) player for the Washington Nationals Lucius Fox Jr. and former professional baseball player Todd Isaacs Jr.
The Chicago Cubs farm system’s Bertram Murray Jr., who played for Team Fox, made history as the first Bahamian to win the “Home Run King” title. He was in the finals against Bahamian and the Los Angeles Angels farm system’s Trent Deveaux.
Deveaux, who was on Team Isaacs, was up first and hit seven home runs. Murray was up and found a rhythm and managed to get to seven home runs. Knowing that he had one more home run to get the title, he looked a little shaky but after two pitches, he was able to send one flying into the water and get his eighth home run and the win.
“I felt comfortable in the finals. It feels good to get the win. It is always good and friendly competition between me and him from we were young, so it was fun going up against him,” Murray said.
He added that it was fun to be able to do it in front of his people and his friends.
Deveaux said he got a little too
comfortable after the first few swings.
“I started off very good. My swing was starting to feel good. I then got too anxious and I started to open up a little bit but then my rhythm came back. It is all about not getting too big and anxious and making sure I stay closed all the way through the ball.”
Deveaux wanted to win but he was glad to be a part of the first All-Bahamian final. Fox and his team were able to exact their revenge after losing the last edition.
“I had a whole year to sleep on that loss that I took last year. When I drafted my team, I knew that I had the right pieces and guys to pull this victory off. I am happy that the guys showed up and helped us to accomplish the job,” Fox said.
He was happy to see Murray get the win and keep the trophy in The Bahamas.
Although his team did not get the win, Isaacs felt it was a win for the Bahamian fans.
“It is a win in my book. My team didn’t win and I didn’t win, but for the whole Don’t Blink and baseball community and The Bahamas, it was a win for all of us together. We came off the Caribbean Baseball Cup last week and transitioned to another baseball event here in The Bahamas. We brought our friends down from the United States, like C.C. Sabathia and Curtis Granderson and they showed us so much love. For Bahamian fans to come out and show us so much love, we appreciate it. I am looking forward to next year’s event,” Isaacs said.
Fox spoke about the move back to Montagu.
“There is no place like Montagu,” Fox said. “It is truly the perfect setup for us. We have the blueprint for Montagu and we feel that it offers us everything that we need in terms of space. There is the beautiful ocean, and we are going to stay at Montagu. We are happy to be back here.”
As for next year’s edition, Isaacs said they want to grow the event and ensure they are consistent and let The Bahamas know about baseball.
The four-day lineup also featured a celebrity softball game, kid’s clinic and a gospel concert, featuring recording artist Todd Dulaney.