Licking County Home Run Derby nearing

The third Licking County Home Run Derby will be held at 5 p.m. Friday at Heath’s Dave Klontz Field. Gates will open at 4:15.

This year’s participants include Zac Morris and Zak Witzberger of Heath, Garett Robberts from Utica, Watkins Memorial’s Doug Connor, Greg Wilson of Northridge, Lakewood’s Zach Cozad, Rob Engle from Newark Catholic, Newark’s Zach Dickson, Colt Caughenbaugh of Licking Valley and Granville’s Graham Parsley.

Admission is a minimum $1 donation, and there will be a water balloon toss, dizzy bat race and 50/50 drawing. All proceeds go to the Licking County Foundation.

Newark Catholic’s Hunter Nance won in 2014, while Ronnie Dawson from Licking Heights won the first derby in 2013.