Rex Hauser Claims the 2026 NECBL Home Run Derby Crown in Swing Off
The Home Run Derby came down to a swing off as final round was knotted at 10 home runs apiece as Rex Hauser and Brandon Larson fought for the crown in the 2026 Home Run Derby at Goodall Park in Sanford, Maine.
Rex Hauser (UMaine, Vermont) won the 2026 NECBL Home Run Derby at Goodall Park in Sanford, Maine, hitting 23 total home runs edging out Brandon Larson (USC, Newport) in the final round, who hit 22 total home runs.
The rules for the Derby are that every batter gets 2:30, which includes a 30 second timeout. Ties are broken with a one minute swing off. Whoever hits more home runs in that one minute advances. The two swingers with the most home runs advance to the final round.
The derby started with Michael Delph (Samford, Danbury), who hit three. Petey Craska (North Alabama, Keene) followed up immediately blasting nine home runs to put himself in the lead temporarily. Wesley Scott (Louisiana Tech, Martha's Vineyard) blasted three during his turn. Anthony Ruggiero (URI, Mystic) one-upped him with four home runs. Larson snatched the lead in the first round with 10.
Gabriel Milano (Miami, Ocean State), although impressive, only notched eight homers in his turn. Despite not advancing to the final, Milano was in high spirits afterwards.
"It was fun," Milano said. "It was my very first home run derby, and it was a great atmosphere."
Steven Kraus (Binghamton, Sanford) hit three balls over the fence for the Sanford crowd. Nick Quagliato (Boston College, Upper Valley) was the third and final competitor to not hit a homer. Nico Soul (Appalachian St., Valley) notched a respectable four homer in his turn. To end the first round, Hauser tied Larson with 10 home runs in his go-around, including three in the final 20 seconds, to advance to the final.
Jake Gladu (Franklin Pierce, North Adams) and Grant Hunter (Binghamton, North Shore) participated but did not record a home run in the event.
In the final round, Larson notched two to set the benchmark, before Hauser managed to notch his third and final home run of the round with only four seconds left on the clock to give him the status as the 2026 Home Run Derby champion.
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The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a wooden bat collegiate summer league featuring teams across all six New England states. Since its founding in 1994, the NECBL has produced more than 230 Major League Baseball alumni, including nearly 30 first-round MLB Draft selections. For continuing coverage of the NECBL, visit NECBL.com and follow the league on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
