The mystery hitters were revealed, the bats were swinging and Tiffany Davis ultimately provided the biggest hits of the night.
Davis claimed the celebrity championship during the annual River Bandits Home Run Derby Sunday at the Leo Anderson Softball Complex, capping an evening filled with baseball, softball, friendly competition and community fun.
The derby brought competitors of all ages to the plate, beginning with Hawarden’s youngest sluggers and continuing throughout the evening before the much-anticipated celebrity competition took center stage.
Part of the fun leading up to the event was trying to figure out exactly who would be stepping into the batter’s box.
The River Bandits released clues for 12 mystery celebrity hitters in the days leading up to Sunday’s competition, giving the community a chance to guess which familiar faces would be taking their swings. Eleven of the 12 scheduled competitors ultimately stepped to the plate.
The celebrity lineup included Payton Schwiesow, Richard Abbe, Delta Pies, Katie Anderson, Kaitlyn Culbertson, Adam Gregg, Derek Allen, West Sioux School District superintendent Kurt Hanna, Jared Vlotho, Tiffany Davis and Chase Vander Feen.
The field featured a mix of former high school and college athletes, coaches, community supporters and familiar Falcon faces, all putting their home run swings to the test.
When the final swings were taken, Davis came out on top, claiming the celebrity Home Run Derby championship and a year’s worth of bragging rights.
The celebrity competition capped an evening that offered nearly every generation an opportunity to step into the batter’s box and see just how much power they could put behind a swing.
Youngsters ages 6 and younger got things started with a whiffle ball home run derby before baseball and softball competitors took their turns in different age divisions throughout the afternoon and evening. A senior division also gave competitors age 50 and older an opportunity to step up to the plate.
Participants were able to bring their own pitcher and bat, while concessions were available throughout the event.
The annual Home Run Derby is about more than finding out who can send a ball the farthest. Proceeds from the event benefit the River Bandits teams and continued improvements at the Leo Anderson Softball Complex.
The River Bandits program continued to grow this summer, fielding four teams and adding both a 12U River Bandits team and the first Lady River Bandits softball team.
Ryan Noble and Jonny Strong coached the 13U River Bandits. Nate Anderson and Doug Noble coached the 12U squad, while Adam McVay, Lance Steuck and Brett Anderson coached the 10U River Bandits.
Jerome Hoegh and Steve Koenck coached the Lady River Bandits.
The coaches, players, families, volunteers and supporters behind the program continue to provide area youngsters with additional opportunities to play, practice and develop their baseball and softball skills.
Sunday’s Home Run Derby gave the community a chance to support those efforts while enjoying plenty of friendly competition along the way.
Once the home run balls stopped flying and Davis had earned the celebrity crown, there were still more fireworks to come.
The Hawarden Chamber of Commerce capped off the evening with its fireworks show, lighting up the Hawarden sky and putting an exclamation point on the annual event.
The fireworks in the sky may have officially ended the night, but not before Davis and the rest of the River Bandits Home Run Derby competitors created plenty of fireworks of their own at the Leo Anderson Softball Complex.