Bradenton teen takes part in MLB’s Jr. Home Run Derby

Bradenton resident Ezra Mason went to Miami intent on hitting home runs at Marlins Park.

He did.

Just not enough to reach the championship round of 14U division of Major League Baseball’s Jr. Home Run Derby National Finals on Saturday.

The 14-year-old hit seven home runs on 20 swings on pitches from a machine in the first round. The two participants with the most home runs over the fence set up about 225 feet from the plate advanced to the final round.

Brandon Juarez, of Evansville, Ind., hit 29 total homers, including 15 in the final round, to win the 14U division competition. Hunter Tyson, of Ocilla, Ga., won the 12U division with 18 homers, including nine in the final round.

Each division consisted of eight competitors. Mason, who is set to become a freshman at Braden River High School this fall, advanced to Miami out of the more than 1,500 local competitions nationwide. He won a local competition and then a regional competition in Jupiter, one of eight regional competitions in the nation.

This story was originally published July 8, 2017 at 8:35 PM with the headline "Bradenton teen takes part in MLB’s Jr. Home Run Derby."