A Little League power hitter from Kentucky is headed to Williamsport for the Little League Home Run Derby.
Cash Compliment, representing Ashland Little League, bombed 14 home runs in the third round – 31 in all – to be one of four players to advance Sunday.
He was fourth overall, but it was enough to take him to Williamsport, Pa., for the Home Run Derby competition during the Little League World Series in August.
His father, Mike Compliment, worked regularly with him to prepare for the Home Run Derby. Cash banged 51 home runs in a local competition to advance to Atlanta where the players competed at SunTrust Park, home of the Atlanta Braves, for the right to advance to Williamsport.
His mother, Brandi, said she did what she could to calm her nervousness. “Oh, I’m so proud of him! I’ve cried and laughed and paced the bleacher,.” she said. “It’s so surreal.”
Many viewers from Ashland tuned into the competition via Mike Compliment, who used Facebook Live to share the excitement.
Cash, who turns 13 in September, attends Ashland Middle School.
This is the first Little League Home Run Derby. Little League and T-Mobile announced in April that the competition for 9-to 12-year-old Little League baseball and softball players would start this summer.