June 13, 2002

By DOUG ALDEN
AP Sports Writer

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - New Mexico State's Ryan Kenning used the wooden bat advantage to win the home run challenge at the opening ceremonies of the College World Series on Thursday night, defeating Gonzaga's Nate Gold in the finals.

The eight participants got a point for every home run with an aluminum bat and three for a ball hit out with a wooden bat.

"I've been hitting with a wooden bat all fall and all spring during batting practice. I'm going to be playing pro ball next week so I might as well start now," Kenning said.

"To come here and go against some of the nation's best hitters is amazing," said Kenning, who will report to the rookie league Provo Angels next week.

Kenning, who hit 24 homers and drove in 96 RBIs for the Aggies, used wood for each at-bat and hit three out in the opening round, then two each in the semifinal and championship rounds to win it.

Gold, who led the nation with 33 homers this year, lost in the championship round, hitting one wooden bat homer. He was a 10th round pick of the Texas Rangers.

The contest and a fireworks show that followed were the featured events of the opening ceremonies. The double-elimination NCAA baseball championship begins Friday afternoon.

The eight teams were introduced between home run rounds to the crowd of a few thousand. The players walked down the first-base line behind a team flag and Nebraska, not surprisingly, drew the loudest cheer from the Omaha fans.

Kenning had the most points in the semifinals with six, easily topping Alvernia College slugger Todd Meyer's one in the top bracket. Gold beat Brad Eldred of Florida International 1-0 in the semifinals.

Kenning won the first round with nine points by hitting three balls out with a wooden bat. Gold and Eldred each had five points and Meyer advanced by beating Heath Mason of Carson-Newman in a swing-off.

Shaun Rice of Ohio Wesleyan, Mason, Junior Medina of Stonehill College and Bubba Lavender of Morehead State didn't make it out of the first round.