Cam Montgomery, outfielder
Mat-Su Miners
South Florida
Montgomery, of Windermere, Florida, hit .211 with two home runs and eight RBIs as a freshman at South Florida last season.
You won the ABL home run derby recently. What was that like and how did you pull it off?
"I've been in a couple home run derbies before, but nothing at this level. I had Joe Perez, our first base coach, he was throwing to me in the home run derby, so I got in a groove.
"I think I hit 13 in the first round and then I only needed a couple more to pass the guy in the second round, so I did that and stopped. Then on the final round I hit 13 more. It was a great experience and I was excited about that.
"I like to hit some home runs in batting practice, but the coaches like me to work on stuff instead, so it was good to be allowed to do that. I was feeling it for sure."
How were you able to make the transition to wood bats so well?
"Switching over to the wood bat was a little tough at the beginning of the summer, 'cause with the metal bat you don't have to quite square up the ball as much as you do with the wood. My coach, Ben Taylor, has been helping me out and some other players adjust to the wood bat earlier in the season. So I think we're all swinging it pretty good now."
What are some of the things you've done off the diamond this season?
"Coming up here I was pretty excited to go fishing and hiking, so I've actually got to go salmon fishing a couple times, I've gone on a couple hikes — it's really beautiful up here, so I've enjoyed that.
"I went to Hatcher Pass and I went fishing on the Little (Susitna River) and caught a 30-pound king salmon, and went fishing on the Deshka Landing and caught some pink salmon. It was good an experience."
What's something you've been working on in your game this season?
"Just my approach at the plate. I feel like this summer has helped me a lot to develop and it's starting to come together here. I think that's the main thing I needed to work on this summer."
Are there any major leaguers that you try to emulate your game after?
"My favorite player is Giancarlo Stanton (of the Marlins), but he's once in a generation player so it's hard to compare yourself to that. But I like to model my game after him.
"I like to compare my game to Ryan Braun (of the Brewers) a little bit. There's a lot a guys I like to watch."
What would you pick for your walk-up song?
"This year, my walk-up (song) was 'Really Really' by Kevin Gates. But I like 50 Cent walk-ups, any 50 Cent song is good for me.
"We didn't get to have walk-ups up here this season, but I might go with a country song next spring at school, we'll see."
Gums, seeds or chew?
"I'm definitely a seeds guy. If you get barbecue and ranch and mix 'em, that's probably my favorite. Pretty good combo.
Willy Homza, infielder
Anchorage Bucs
Brown University
Homza, of Anchorage, hit .236 with four runs and four RBIs in 55 at-bats as a freshman at Brown University last season.
What's it like being back home and playing for a team you grew up watching?
"So far it's great. I've always wanted to play with these guys. I've seen them since I was pretty young. I watched a lot of their games.
"It's a great summer league too, so I'm glad to be home also for baseball season."
Were you just a Bucs fan growing up or did you watch both Anchorage teams?
"I watched both teams a lot. I usually just went to go get foul balls (as a kid)."
Have any of your teammates been asking you about Alaska much?
"You definitely get some questions. You're a little bit of a tour guide around town. You definitely get questions where (since) you're from Alaska, you think they're a little bit crazy that they're still asking these questions here and there, but they get used to it quickly, so that's good.
What's something specific they've asked you about?
"I think the biggest, weirdest thing is just the (daylight). We get out of the game, we're going to the gym, it's like 11:30 p.m. and we're still just not adjusted to it."
What's something you're working to improve most this season?
"Most of all, I want to improve at the plate. It will be good to see so many quality arms here. At school I saw a lot of quality arms, but here it's a little more laid back and you're able to get into a groove a little more because you play everyday.
"So I'd so mostly just facing high-level velocity and high-level pitches."
What are some of the strengths of your game?
"I have a pretty good idea mentally of what I should be (doing) and I have a pretty good glove too."
How has the transition from metal to wood bats been for you?
"You can definitely tell that metal bats give you a little more forgiveness. You have to hit the wood bat right on the barrel to have success.
"I don't think it's a huge difference. Still the same approach at the plate for me."
What glove(s) do you use?
"(It's a) Wilson A2000, 11.5 (inch) infield glove. I've had this one for two years. I have two of the exact same glove. This one's my gamer and the other one was my gamer and now I just use it for practice."
Gums, seeds or chew?
"I don't use anything when I'm playing, but in the dugout and stuff I chew seeds."
Do you have a favorite brand or flavor?
"Whatever is around, but probably ranch."