'R.T.': 'round-tripper' R.T. McShane cranks two homers in final round to win Home Run Derby YONKERS, N.Y. (August 15, 2009) -- Few JAMmers could reach the fences during The Bailout JAM, but R.T. McShane cleared them four times to win the inaugural JAM Home Run Derby. McShane and John Licht each homered once in the first round, in which 11 JAMmers took part. Each player had eight outs -- non-home-runs -- to notch as many home runs as he could, but Licht and McShane were the only players to clear the four-foot barricade. The remaining participants -- Tony Gerrits, Jamie Kane, Big Fish, Kevin Gourdine, QB, Jason Olexa, Alex Nalencz, Keith Emmer and George McShane -- all hit impressive shots, but they did not leave the yard. Particularly noteworthy was a drive to left field by Big Fish that landed a foot in front of the orange fence and then bounced through a gap between the fence and the tape. Initially there was some discussion about whether this shot cleared the fence, and some of the spectators in the infield signaled that it was a homerun. But official scorekeeper Mike Fornabaio, who was standing beyond the fence in leftfield and thus had the best view, ruled it an out. Kane hit a blast to deep left that had a chance to clear the fences but for a nifty running catch by one of the fielders. Kane lodged a formal complaint against fielders making defensive plays in a Home Run Derby, but replay officials confirm that the ball would not have left the field. Later in the Derby, Gourdine launched a bomb that landed in the cutout in centerfield, approximately 275 feet from home plate. George McShane took aim at each of the left and right field walls, but fell short of both. R.T. McShane and Licht each homered once again in the second round, which was set to be the final. McShane came dangerously close to winning the Derby outright in the second round, as his third out one-hopped over the fence and his fifth out hit the fence on a fly, before he finally notched a homer. In a playoff in which each player had five outs to clear the fences, McShane homered twice to left field; Licht homered once. Licht's performance was particularly impressive since it came four months after he underwent shoulder surgery. If The JAM had been held on its regularly scheduled date in late June, he would not have been able to play. In recognition of winning the inaugural JAM Home Run Derby, Commissioner Mike Campoli presented McShane with a miniature Louisville Slugger. The fence was a new addition for The Bailout JAM. Designed to evoke the Polo Grounds' dimensions, it was set 240 feet from home plate down the lines and jutted out to 270 feet in straightaway center, with a cutout at the deepest part, much like the Polo Grounds' path to the clubhouses. Many thanks to Dom Campoli, Rob Andrusco, Chris Crowley, Mike Fornabaio and Matt Fornabaio for their efforts in constructing the fence. Later in the day, JAM newcomer Dave Arena won The JAM's Pork Sandwich Competition. His Redmond Pork JAMwich eked out a one-point win over culinary inventions by Mike Campoli and Jag Bath. The JAMwich featured pulled pork, cole slaw, pickles and hot sauce. Campoli's Marcus Alfredo fused Italian and Filipino heritages with Filipino sausage, pork loin, eggplant and peppers. Bath -- whose JAMmie Dodger last year became the official cocktail of The JAM -- came through with the Bacon Buddy, an artery-hardening sandwich of bacon, butter and bread. Judges appreciated all three sandwiches but gave the JAMwich nine points; the others received eight apiece.

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