Owen Black, the 13-year-old son of Rodney and Michelle Black of Murfreesboro, recently competed in and won the local 14U Major League Baseball Jr. Home Run Derby held at Stith Talbert Park in Rocky Mount, April 14.

Owen currently plays baseball for both Gates County Central Middle School and the 12U Carolina Titans Blue team from Elizabeth City.

In Rocky Mount, he competed against 30 ball players and qualified for the Regional finals by hitting 27 home runs out of 37 pitches. 

By winning the local competition in Rocky Mount, Owen will compete in one of the eight Regional competitions held across the United States where there will be one winner for 12U and 14U advancing to the National Finals.

Owen will now travel to compete in the Regional finals – the MLB Jr. Home Run Derby that will be held at the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy in Washington, DC on Sunday, May 13. From there he hopes to advance to the National Finals. 

At the Regional Finals in Washington, DC, Owen will face off against 30 competitors in each age group from representing six different states.  The Regional Final Champions in each age group will receive a trip for two to the MLB All-Star Week for the MLB Jr. Home run Derby National Finals in July, 2018. That trips includes transportation, lodging, meals, and event tickets.

The Major League Baseball Jr. Home Run Derby provides players across the country an opportunity to participate in an exciting home run hitting contest. It is a free national program for boys and girls 14 years of age and under.

The program includes three levels of competition, with top performers from the local level advancing to the regional level and ultimately, the National Finals prior to the Major League Baseball Home Run

Derby during the MLB All-Star Week.

For information to host or enter a future event can be found at www.JrHRD.com