The first High School Baseball Network All-American Weekend kicks off tonight with what shapes up to be a thrilling home run derby presented by the POWER SHOWCASE World Classic. Prior to participating in workouts and games later on this weekend, a collection of 18 talented sluggers will compete in the prestigious derby. Over the past eleven years the POWER SHOWCASE has evolved to provide one of the best amateur baseball experiences around, allowing ball players from all ages to showcase their tools and talents. The POWER SHOWCASE World Classic is an elite competition in a Major League stadium at Miami Marlins Park in front of an international audience. It is a terrific vehicle for player’s careers that creates positive lasting memories for everyone involved. Current professional stars like Bryce Harper, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo have previously taken part in the POWER SHOWCASE.

“This is the third HSBN derby that we have done together, and I am very excited to be a part of the tremendous growth of HSBN and the addition of the All American Weekend,” Domenico said. “HSBN does an incredible job of promoting players and they are going above and beyond to maximize the exposure to college coaches through this event.”

Friday’s derby serves as a mini-showcase that will also bring out the voice of HSBN, Luis Perez announcing and running the scoreboard just as he will for the events all weekend long. Participants will hit off a two-wheeled jugs pitching machine in an open-bat format, which means the old BESR bats are allowed. POWER SHOWCASE founder and President Brian Domenico will feed the machine baseballs all night, as he typically does at the showcases each year. Each player will receive 13 outs in the preliminary round, with the top three moving on to the finals. The finalists will receive 10 outs each. Tonight, there will be five award certificates handed out for longest home run, consecutive home runs, most homers hit during preliminary round, and overall home run total. The overall winner of Friday’s derby gets an automatic invitation to the 11th annual POWER SHOWCASE World Classic at Marlins Park from December 27-30th. For those who were not able to secure their spot in the HSBN Derby tonight, or do not win, all is not lost. There are still a few spots available in the Babe Ruth Classic game for players in the 2019-2020 classes. If interested contact Brian Domenico at (561) 271-7247 or powershowcase@att.net. Tonight, players will arrive early throughout the evening tonight for welcome dinners and meetings with their coaches, as the first step in the schedule of weekend events. The weekend will then ramp up the energy and excitement heading into Saturday’s workouts and Sunday’s games. Leading the group of contenders is Royal Palm Beach senior Tarik Latchmansingh, whose 13 career high school home runs leads the field of contenders. Latchmansingh has also previously participated in several POWER SHOWCASE events and has experience hitting off the pitching machine. West Boca’s Alex Cordero and McArthur’s Jack Bermudez have also shown strong power numbers in their high school careers and could threaten for the title. Yet nothing is guaranteed and anything is possible for the hitters who swing away aiming for the fences at Paul Demie Mainieri Field at St. Thomas University. HSBN Power Showcase Home Run Derby Participants and order of Appearance: 1, Ricardo Sobalvarro – South Dade – 3B/P – Class of 2017 2. Albert Espinosa – Columbus – C/1B – Class of 2019 3. Jose Lima – Coral Shores – 3B/1B – Class of 2017 4. Maxwell Romero – Pembroke Pines Charter – C/OF – Class of 2019 5. Alex Cordero – West Boca – 1B/P – Class of 2018 6. Tarik Latchmansingh – Royal Palm Beach – 3B/1B – Class of 2017 7. Andrew Fernandez – Heritage Christian – 2019 8. Luis Aviles – Westminster Christian – C/OF – Class of 2017 9. David Munoz – Homestead – C/3B – Class of 2018 10. Jefferson Casillas – Apopka – 2019 11. Santos Grande – Monsignor Pace – 3B/1B – Class of 2017 12.Brandon Cruz – Monsignor Pace – 1B/DH – Class of 2017 13. Kristopher Soto – Florida Christian – 2018 14. Nick Deegan – Palmetto – OF/3B – Class of 2017 15. Cameron Husing – Atlantic – C/1B – Class of 2017 16. Jack Bermudez – McArthur – 3B/1B – Class of 2017 17. Josue Zuany – Pompano Beach – 2020 18. Robert Moya – iMater – 2020