Shaun Copper of the Mankato MoonDogs is the winner of the 2011 Northwoods League All-Star Home Run Derby hosted by the Marshfield Clinic.  Cooper, a Utah standout, faced high school rival Kyle Peterson of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters in the final at Witter Field.  The two played their high schoolball in Arizona and often times were teammates on offseason teams. 

The two squared off in the final round of the NWL Home Run Derby and Cooper edged out Peterson 12-10 in the final round for the win.  Cooper hit 33 home runs during the three rounds and currently stands atop the NWL regular season home run list with 12 homers. 

Cooper and Peterson were two of the eight contestants in the derby, but none of the other six contestants were as powerful as the old high school rivals. Although Cooper took the final round against Peterson 12-10, Peterson made it very interesting.  The Wisconsin Rapids star hit four home runs with one out remaining to decrease Cooper’s lead to two, but couldn’t pull the comeback off. 

Josh Scheffert of the Eau Claire Express and Wade Wass of the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers were the other two contestants in the second round.