Home Run Derby Makes a Splash

It's a beautiful night in Kenosha. Perfect weather to take out the kayak, the boat, or the bat?

What started as a wild dream nine months ago is reality on the shores of Lake Michigan. The Northwoods League home run derby is making a splash.

"There's been thousands of home run derbies done but nothing quite like this, Kenosha Kingfish co-owner Conor Caloia tells me shortly before first pitch. "We have a unique setting here in Kenosha, we wanted to do something unique and different. Something that's never happened in baseball before."

A couple thousand fans made Lake Michigan a ballpark that the players will never forget.

"It's just a great experience, it's awesome, says Lakeshore Chinooks slugger Matt Johnson. "I never pictured it like this, honestly it's even better than I thought. I'm just excited to be a part of it."

"It's going to be a great experience. I was looking around here, it's going to be a blast. Hopefully we'll send some out tonight."

Kenosha's Marty Bechina got a sneak preview of the event taking a practice round when the team did their test run earlier in the week. "It's been cool, there's been a lot of buzz around town from what I've heard.

Bechina sent six balls swimming to win the title. "I was a little nervous going out there but after seeing a couple of pitches and taking a few swings I kind of loosened up from there. Especially when I started hitting a couple out. Hearing everyone cheering for me was a great feeling."

Johnson hit three out and was just happy to be included in the once in a lifetime experience. "It was definitely a lot of fun, it was great. A lot of noise, a lot of everything, I love it. It was a fun experience. Definitely something to remember." 

The derby wrapped up with fireworks over the lake but it's Bechina's fireworks that fans will remember.