“I was like, ‘I am still in it, so I am going to keep going until they tell me to stop or retire at seven outs,’” Beachum said.
The right-handed hitting Beachum hit homers to all parts of the field and hit both liners and high majestic shots.
“I just concentrated on staying behind the ball every single time,” Beachum said of her approach.
Only a sophomore, she has a chance to defend her title next year and also win the event for three straight years.
Former G.W. Long standout Libby Baker, now playing at Troy University, was the first winner of the Kasey Cooper Home Run Derby two years ago. Last year’s Diamond Classic was cancelled due to COVID 19.
Baker hit 65 in the three rounds two years ago and 31 in the championship round. Both were easily eclipsed by Beachum.
Overall, 21 players participated in Saturday’s Home Run Derby. Of those, five advanced to the semifinals with the top two reaching the finals. Joining Beachum and Dunn for the semifinals were G.W. Long’s Morgan Ferguson, Houston Academy’s Alexis Milanowski and Wicksburg’s Ashton White.
Dunn, the other finalist, hit 36 homers during the day, including 28 in the first two rounds. Ferguson finished with 21, Milanowski 20 and White 19.