Ryan Peters Slams His Way To NCAA Home Run Challenge

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Wittenberg University senior rightfielder Ryan Peters was selected to participate in the second annual NCAA Home Run Challenge on June 7 in Omaha, Neb. Peters, who hit 14 home runs in 35 games during the 2001 season, was one of eight student-athletes in the competition, and one of only two representing NCAA Division III institutions.

The 2001 NCAA Home Run Challenge was sponsored by Rawlings Sporting Goods Co. Inc. and televised by ESPN2 as part of the NCAA Division I Men's College World Series. Major League Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson was among the former big-league players who served as celebrity captains for the event.

Peters, who was selected because he was one of the top home run hitters in the nation in 2001, was the first Wittenberg player to qualify for the event. The other Division III player invited was Steve Osborne of St. Joseph's (Maine), who had 22 round-trippers in 44 games. Neither Division III player hit any home runs during the contest, although Peters had four different balls hit the outfield wall.

Peters was the second player from a North Coast Athletic Conference school to receive an invitation to the event. Matt Wilhelm of Wabash College was involved in the first NCAA Home Run Challenge last year.

Peters ranked second in the NCAC in home runs with 14, but he led the way in homers per game at 0.40, and he also ranked fourth in batting with a .438 average. Peters' 14 round-trippers tied Bryan Magoteaux's 1998 season record, while his 48 runs batted in,108 total bases, 45 runs scored and 56 base hits all put him in the top-10 for a season in school history. Only a two-year starter, Peters wound up second to Magoteaux in career home runs with 25, third in batting average (.397) and 10th in total bases with 209.

Photos by Eric Francis