Machibroda wins WCBL All-Star Game Home Run Derby

Western Canadian Baseball League Home Run Derby champion Nolan Machibroda gets interviewed by Global News after his power display on Saturday. Photo: Ian Wilson, WCBL Twitter

July 23, 2022

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

OKOTOKS, Alta. _ Weyburn Beavers slugger Nolan Marchibroda stole the show in the Western Canadian Baseball League Home Run Derby on Saturday.

The Saskatoon, Sask., native belted nine home runs in the first round, which was the highest number of the eight derby participants.

He then clubbed six more in the final round to defeat Edmonton Prospects outfielder Jordan Phillips, who had led off the final round with five taters.

“It was awesome. It was really fun. That was my first home run derby ever,” said Machibroda after the derby. “It was a really cool experience and I got to hit with some really good hitters out there . . . I was lucky to put on a show in front of these great fans.”

The 6-foot-3 Marchibroda, who has belted six home runs for the Weyburn Beavers during the WCBL regular season, had his parents, Ray and Darlene, and his brother, Evan, in the stands cheering him on.

His derby pitcher was Dusty Kerns, the head coach of the Weyburn Beavers, whose flow was another star of the show Saturday evening.

“Yesterday we took normal rounds of BP and I changed my swing to try to hit home runs,” said Machibroda after the derby, “but as far as the three minutes for all of the swings, I was absolutely beat by about a minute thirty.”

A number of Machibroda’s home runs ricocheted off the right field scoreboard and he clobbered so many balls over the right field fence that he attracted a crowd of youngsters outside Seaman Stadium.

“I can hit them pretty far when I get a hold of them, so it’s fun to show off my power a little bit,” said the modest Machibroda, with some prodding from the interviewer.

Machibroda, who’s in his third WCBL season with the Beavers, put up otherworldly collegiate numbers for the NAIA’s Cumberland Bulldogs in Lebanon, Tenn., in 2022, batting .460 with 17 home runs and 83 RBIs in 47 games.

Phillips, an outfielder with the Edmonton Prospects, put up a valiant fight in the derby. The Pasadena, Tex., was the only entrant in the derby who had yet to hit a home run in the WCBL regular season. But he managed 11 in total in the derby.

So after his power display on Saturday, will there be more home run derbies for Machibroda in the future?

“Yeah, hopefully,” said Machibroda. “That was a good time.”

Home Run Derby Results by Round:

Round 1

East Participants

Nate Bach - 3

Braden Desonia - 0

Nolan Machibroda - 9

Nate Mensik - 0

West Participants

Kaden Zarowny - 0

Matt Wolff - 0

Jordan Phillips - 6

McCoy Pearce - 4

Round 2

West

Jordan Phillips - 5

East

Nolan Machibroda - 6