When Eric Blackwell set what was then The Master's University's single-season home run record in 2009, he had the luxury of enjoying the accomplishment for nearly a decade.
When
Anthony Lepre broke Blackwell's mark with his 20th home run Friday at Herwaldt Stadium, the senior catcher held the record, at least to himself, for not even an hour.
The next time through TMU's order,
Aaron Shackelford demolished a ball over the street and high into the trees beyond right field, tying Lepre for the NAIA lead and TMU's record.
Shackelford had even less time to savor the moment.
"He didn't even let me enjoy it for two minutes," Shackelford teased after TMU's 20-6 win over Bethesda University. "I got to enjoy it for two minutes, then he took it from me."
In all fairness, Lepre waited two and a half minutes before following Shackelford's home run with another record-setting blast, the definitive statement, at least for one day, in one of the most wildly entertaining games in program history. Â
The Mustangs (25-9-1) set season highs for runs and hits (25), earning their 13th straight victory in the process, their longest streak since at least 2005.
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In the sixth,
Max Maitland drilled a pitch over the right field wall. Then Shackelford and Lepre homered to make it back-to-back-to-back jacks. Â
Later in the inning,
Joel Larsen launched the first home run of his career to right, sending a portion of the bleachers, and the entire dugout, into a mad celebration.
Caleb Jaime pitched five strong innings to improve to 5-1;
Nick Brooks and
Nolan Juneau were solid in relief; and
Kameron Quitno homered on a day when the Mustangs did little wrong.
"It was a phenomenal game, all facets were remarkable," said coach
Monte Brooks. "From bunting, to driving in runs, to hitting to the opposite field, to hitting with power, and to throwing strikes. We made some remarkable plays."
After Lepre left the yard as part of TMU's 10-run fourth inning, he trotted out to third base for the top of the fifth. Shackelford met him with a smile and a handshake.
Lepre offered a prophecy.
"I was like, 'You're going to hit one this next time,'" Lepre said.
And so, 50 minutes after PA announcer Andrew Christensen filled the crowd in on Lepre's powerful feat, Christensen had to return to the mic for an update. Then another.
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"When I see him hit a home run, I'm like, 'I want to hit one,'" said Shackelford.
Said Lepre, "Then he hits one, and it makes me want to hit one."
The reward Friday was a stash of Hostess cupcakes decorated like baseballs that Brooks' wife, Carole Anne, bought for the team and the occasion.
More history could be made during Saturday's double-header at TMU as Maitland (who went 4-for-4 and finished a double short of the cycle Friday) is now two hits from matching Steven Karkenny's all-time program record (255).
Of course, Lepre and Shackelford might make a little history again, too. Â Â Â
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