USWNT star Alex Hugo leads Tenderloins to first-of-its-kind HRDX victory
FORT WAYNE -- One week ago, USA Women's National Team player Alex Hugo helped the team win silver at the Women's Baseball World Cup, falling to seven-time World Cup winners Japan in the gold medal game.
For many, silver wouldn't be so bad. But for Hugo, one of the most competitive players on the field, that's not nearly good enough.
She made sure her team at HRDX wouldn't be going home with a second-place finish at Parkview Field, home of the Fort Wayne TinCaps, on Saturday night.
"Well, I might still be angry about getting silver, but no, I think I was just trying to get in a good groove and trust myself, sitting back and trust my swing." Hugo said after the game, thick lines of eye black drawn on her face. "That was the most free that I've felt in a while."
The two-time USA Baseball Sportswoman of the Year Award winner scored a remarkable 41 points on 27 home runs across two rounds -- both Fort Wayne bests -- to help lead the team to victory over the Fort Wayne Daisies. The onslaught was enough that, for the first time in HRDX history, the final batter didn't need to take a single swing for the win. Perhaps most shocking was the hitter who didn't need to come to the plate in the final round: Former Major Leaguer Nick Swisher.
He didn't regret it.
"No way," Swisher said with a laugh when asked if he missed not getting to swing a few more times. "I was gassed in round one. I was just super excited, man, to be able to see everything, all the hard work that's gone into this over the last three years."
The event, which is a modified and timed home run derby which awards bonus points on special target hits and hot streaks as well as defensive catches, features four co-ed teams of three facing off against each other. In Fort Wayne, the teams donned the home team's four different identities, suiting up as the TinCaps, Luchadoras, Tenderloins, and Daisies, who are named after the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League team that called the city its home. Each team has one former Major League star, a women's baseball or softball star and a local player who compete in a semi-final and final.
That local player, Justin Osterhouse who plays at nearby Purdue Fort Wayne, made a huge impact for the Tenderloins in this one -- even with such decorated ballplayers around him. Osterhouse, who took home All Horizon League Second-Team and All Horizon League Freshman Team honors this past season, came to bat against the Luchadoras in the first game with his team trailing. Osterhouse got hot though and put up 20 points, giving the Tenderloins a narrow 58-56 victory over former Brewer Carlos Gomez's squad.
One of the interesting twists in HRDX is that a player can tag in with under a minute left on the clock. As Osterhouse’s time wound down, was there any thought to bring in the more experienced Swisher or Hugo to finish off the round?
“I definitely started to get a little tired,” Osterhouse admitted after the game. “But when I was thinking about maybe tagging out, I hit a couple and I was like, 'OK, I'm just gonna feel this out now.’ I got on a roll and that's one of those things where if you hit a couple out, it's easy to feel and just stay within the rhythm. My arms were a little bit tired, I could tell, but it was definitely worth it to stay in.”
“Man, I could not have been more proud of Alex and Justin both,” Swisher said. “They were absolutely amazing tonight. I didn't have my game round one, so it's amazing for them to pick me up. But once again, it's the reason why it's a three-on-three competition. If somebody stumbles, the other two are there to pick them up.”
Osterhouse added nine more home runs for 14 points in the finals against the Daisies and that was enough: The team consisting of former Cubs World Series winner Dexter Fowler, all-time NCAA home run leader among men and women Jocelyn Alo, and Taylor University junior Sam Gladd couldn't muster enough points to top the Tenderloins.
"Fort Wayne loves baseball, from what I can tell," Hugo said. "I'm really blessed to be playing in front of this crowd and competing. I mean, everybody on this staff is incredible. It's the most fun event that I've ever done."
Here's a quick rundown of the three contests held on Saturday night:
Semifinal 1
Manzanas 56
Tenderloins 58
While Hugo and Osterhouse led the way in this one, Gomez was no slouch in this one. The Brewers Hall of Famer scored 33 points on 21 home runs. He showed off the form that earned him a Gold Glove Award with some impressive defensive work in center field, too.
Semifinal 2
TinCaps 47
Daisies 49
Alo led the way in this one, putting up 20 home runs on 14 home runs to help her team to victory.
"I think the best part about baseball and softball is the long bombs, and you get a full night of that," Alo said afterward.
University of Saint Francis' Sam Pesa put up a team-best 16 points for the TinCaps -- besting former Major Leaguer Jake Arrieta and USWNT national team player and Ole Miss softball star Ashton Lansdell, who both finished with 14.
"My Silver Slugger is my favorite award," Arrieta said after the game. "It t really is some bragging rights. I took a lot of pride in hitting. And before the designated hitter was put in the National League, we we hit just about every day. The last thing we wanted to do was go to the plate and just be a free out. So, I tried to do my best up there and hit a few home runs, and just didn't want to make it easy on the opposing pitcher. It's a blast to get out there and do it."
Final
Daisies 38
Tenderloins 41
The next HRDX event will be at the home of the Albuquerque Isotopes on Aug. 23. Tickets are available here.