BISMARCK – Northwoods League teams and players from around the region made their way to Bismarck for all-star week festivities. On Monday night, members of the Great Plains East and Great Plains West divisions competed in the 2023 Great Plains Home Run Challenge.

The home run challenge featured nine contestants for each division, with outfielder Drew Woodcox representing the Minot Hot Tots and being part of the Great Plains West squad.

With there being nine players from each division, the challenge format was a nine-inning contest where each player hit during one half inning.

Throughout the half innings, each player received two minutes to hit as many home runs as they could and were allowed to take one 30-second timeout during the two minutes.

If a player hit back-to-back home runs, they received a bonus of 30 seconds which was added at the end of the two minutes.

The team that hit the most home runs would be crowned the Northwoods League Great Plains Home Run Challenge Team Champions. The individual that hit the most home runs would be named the Northwoods League Great Plains Home Run Challenge Individual Champion.

Giving contestants an opportunity to bring their own pitcher to throw to them, Woodcox brought Hot Tots’ head coach Mitch Gallagher to the ballpark as they hoped to have some magic follow them from the Magic City.

Before Woodcox got a chance to do some damage, Jackson Hauge of the St. Cloud Rox blasted 12 home runs to give the Great Plains West a commanding 26-14 lead early on.

The Great Plains East did not want to give up, as Brandon Compton of the Duluth Huskies hit 11 home runs to give the East a 31-28 lead in the top of the sixth.

While it was all business for the Great Plains West squad, they made sure to have some fun too. Jack Herring of the Bismarck Larks, a switch hitter, hit a home run from both sides of the plate during his round.

Finally, Woodcox got a chance to bat in the bottom of the seventh inning with the Great Plains West leading 33-31.

In a consistent and remarkable display of power, Woodcox secured 30 seconds of bonus time by going deep on his fourth and fifth home runs of the round.

He ended his night by hitting eight home runs and helping the Great Plains West hold a 41-31 advantage with just a few innings to go.

The Great Plains West proceeded to walk away victorious, as their 56 home runs topped the 43 hit by the Great Plains East on Monday night. Hauge’s 12 home runs was good enough to take home the individual crown.

Tonight, the 2023 Great Plains All-Star Game will take place in Bismarck at 7:05 p.m. and will be televised on ESPNU. Woodcox will represent the Hot Tots in the all-star game as well.