The Silver Knights gathered on the first base side of home plate to watch last Sunday's Home Run Derby used to decide the game between Nashua and Westfield after it was tied after 10 innings. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

There are three words that can cause a discussion in baseball:

“Home Run Derby.”

Especially in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League.

It seems as if this was Derby Week. Sunday began with the first Nashua Silver Knights Home Run Derby of the season, and then, of course, we had the All-Star long ball battles in MLB and the Futures Collegiate League.

The All-Star stuff is always fun. But we remember back when the independent Atlantic League All-Star Game was held here at Holman Stadium in 2003 – a historic night, with Rickey Henderson playing and 4,000 in attendance. Back then the Nashua Pride’s Glenn Murray used to say how much the Derby would screw up his swing. And sure enough, the second half of that season, it took him a while to get back to where he was the first half.

Nashua Silver Knight fans enjoyed watching the Home Run Derby used to decide last Sunday's game vs. Westfield from the Holman Stadium left field picnic area, set to grab the many balls hit their way. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Futures League managers always would cringe at the thought of a game being decided via the Derby. But it’s something the fans love, the players seem to enjoy, and if you were at Holman Stadium last Sunday for the Silver Knights’ 6-5 win over Westfield, you probably hope it’s something that the FCBL will keep for awhile. This is the fifth season it’s been used to decide a game after the 10th inning.

The difference this year is they got rid of the clock. It’s no longer timed – it used to be three minutes per round. Instead, the rounds are limited by 10 outs. What’s an out, with no one in the field? Think back to when you were a kid – any ball off the bat that’s not a homer.

Here’s how it works: Visiting team’s hitter (or hitters, they can have up to three) go first, and as soon as 10 outs are recorded, you tally up the home runs. Then the home team goes, same deal.

It’s like batting practice with a coach serving up easy pitches to get rocked with screen protection.

You know how the hockey shootout is fun and provides drama. Drama exists with soccer penalty kicks. And last Sunday, Nashua’s Connor Hujsak and Westfield’s Cole Bartels, both right-handed hitters, put on a dramatic show. And at Holman you want a right handed hitter with that brick wall and left field picnic area.

Telegraph Sports Reporter Tom KIng.

Hujsak really provided the drama, as he was down 4-1 with 9 outs recorded but managed to hit three bombs to tie things at 4. He had a chance to win it outright but hit a flair to shallow right.

On to an extra round, but this time the outs were limited to seven. Bartels hit three homers. Hujsak hit one but had recorded six outs, so here we go again. He then vaulted three over the wall in left, his last one giving the Knights a win.

The fans loved it. They cheered wildly with each Hujsak homer. And those who weren’t in the stands were out in the left field picnic area, above the brick wall, chasing after home run balls.

The players? Nashua had some chairs and the Knights sat and relaxed on the grass in front of the home dugout. And in between rounds they ran out and retrieved the balls that weren’t hit out.

And there’s a lot of latitude. Pitching coach Ariel Ramos was able to move in closer than where Westfield had set up (they’re not on the pitcher’s mound)

“It’s something I asked for,” Hujsak said. “It’s so much easier to just track a ball that’s closer than further away.”

Again, quite the show watching the fans out beyond the left field wall scramble. And the fact it took not one but two great finishes by Hujsak, who competed the next night in the FCBL All-Star Home Run Derby in New Britain, made it even better.

“Have fun,” is all Hujsak said of his mindset, saying he wanted Ramos to throw “low and in….It was fun. It’s a home run derby to cap off a game.”

He had done one previous in a travel ball tournament in Richmond, Va. a couple of years ago. With one out left in each round, “I guess I dialed it in then.”

Did he ever, much to the delight of the near 1,000 fans who stuck around.

Jackson liked the rule change, ditching the clock and going with outs as a way to determine the length of a round. In fact, he had a hand in the change this past off season.

“I actually like it better this way,” Jackson said. “I brought it to their attention this off-season. It just got too hectic with the three minutes. … It was just really simple to do the 10 outs. … The kids can enjoy it. The fans can enjoy it.”

Anyone at Holman last Sunday enjoyed it, for sure. Now, it won’t be used to determine a playoff game, but we don’t have to dread the Home Run Derby in the FCBL any longer. Those three words don’t have to be preceded by a four letter word any longer.

Tom King can be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on twitter @Telegraph _TomK.

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