Medfield’s Larkin takes some chops for charity
‘A Shot for Life Home Run Derby’ raises over $40G for cancer research
READING — At one point in Sunday’s quarterfinal round of the “A Shot for Life Home Run Derby,” Kaelyn Larkin screamed for her timeout, earlier than expected.
“I was not doing too well,” said Larkin. “I wanted to tell (her father/pitcher) where I liked (the pitches), so I could get better.”
The Medfield High sophomore took a breath, got the message to dad, and then blasted eight bombs in 10 swings, closing out that match in style. Larkin then went on to dominate the semis and finals, earning the championship over a talented cast of 15 other power hitters here at Austin Prep.
The event, Mike Slonina’s brainchild, was part of a baseball-softball, two-day derby doubleheader that raises money for the Curry Cancer Research Lab at Massachusetts General Hospital.
“What a great event. I’m really happy how today worked out,” said Slonina, noting that this baseball and softball events helped raise over $40,000 this year. “This cause is everything to me. I’ve dedicated my life to it. I’m here for the long haul.”
Larkin, a three-sport standout at Medfield, took time out of her current volleyball season to personally raise over $1,800 for the cause.
She claimed this title doing it the hard way. After knocking out the hometown favorite, Austin Prep’s Melina Fedele, in the quarters, Larkin found herself paired up with the defending champion of this event, American International College-commit Destiny McGrath of Norton.
Larkin went first, mashing 31 homers in the four-minute session. At one point, she roped eight straight, finishing that flurry with 11 homers in 13 swings.
The ex-champ put up an amazing stand, hitting more homers (28) in her four minutes than any of the other quarterfinalists, but it just wasn’t enough.
Meanwhile, the other semifinal pitted Bellingham High’s Ryanne Haynes against her club softball teammate, Ava Venturelli, a Taunton High junior.
Venturelli went first and posted a score of 19.
Haynes matched that pace, stinging eight homers before a timeout with 2:22 left.
With a minute to go, Haynes needed four to tie and five to advance. The Providence College softball commit flashed a flair for the dramatic, drilling homer No. 20 on her final swing of the round to avoid overtime and reach the final.
“That was crazy,” said Haynes of the semifinal thriller.
The finals were set, but Larkin simply would not be denied.
She went first and hit 13 HRs before her timeout halfway through, slugged 11 more in the third minute and rode one final flurry to another brilliant 31.
“Going on those streaks, it just gets your confidence up to keep going,” Larkin said.
Haynes finished with 18 and the runner-up spot in the event.
“It was super-exciting, I got to participate in this event last year, and didn’t get as far as I did today,” said Haynes. “Getting to the finals was super-great. I was still nervous, actually more nervous this year, and I’m not sure why.
“She was tough.”
For Larkin, the title was the capper of a great event.
“I came in not expecting to win, just coming in to have fun, because everyone is so much older,” said Larkin. “I really wanted to raise money to help people, and I thought it would be a good experience to meet people, too. It’s definitely very cool to get to do this.”