It took a mere 0.13 seconds for Austin Brown to make contact with the baseball during his preliminary POWER SHOWCASE round on Monday. The 15-year-old slugger from Utah delivered an unforgettable performance to advance to the 15U championship round, and he was not the only one to make his mark during a historic day of action in the 17th annual POWER SHOWCASE at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Power was on full display all day long, as the top baseball talent from around the country competed for a chance to become the next World Champion. The biggest blast of the day belonged to Texas’ Easton Autrey, who smacked the longest home run ever hit in any POWER SHOWCASE. Autrey crushed a 544-foot home run during his Featured Group preliminary, which moved him to the top of the list in the esteemed 500 Foot HR Club.

The junior from Corsicana, Texas, delivered an unforgettable performance to stamp his spot in the Underclassmen championship. Connecting for a total of 14 home runs, Autrey put on a show by crushing blast-after-blast high and deep into the Globe Life Field seats, off the jumbotron, and to every deck level of seats. Featuring an 84.1 mph bat speed, Autrey left no doubt about the power that led him to the finals for a chance to compete for the world title.

Autrey will square off against Louisiana’s Cooper Holmes, who also earned his title shot after blasting 12 total home runs to finish second among the group. Holmes had five consecutive home runs, with a long of 463 feet.

The thrills and excitement lasted right to the very end, as one of the final participants of the day also delivered a performance for the ages. Oregon’s Gabriel Coltman showcased his full arsenal by destroying the baseball over and over, as he connected for 15 total home runs to earn a spot in the Featured Championship. With an 81.8 bat speed, a 23.4 mph hand speed and a 0.14 time to contact rate, Coltman fired more bombs than a fighter pilot. He had a 481-foot blast that was the third-farthest of the day, he hit five straight during one stretch, and all of his home runs were no-doubters right off of the bat.

Coltman’s opponent is a very familiar face, as he will now go up against arguably the most accomplished hitter in POWER SHOWCASE history in fellow Texan and three-time defending World Champion Hogan Nelson. Having already set showcase history as the only three-time champion, Nelson now has a chance to add to his legacy by winning an unprecedented fourth straight championship.

Hitting immediately after Autrey’s unreal round of action, Hogan kept the excitement level amped up to the maximum by putting on another show that will never be forgotten. He catapulted to the top of the leaderboard by smacking 17 total home runs, peppering shots all over the field and showcasing every aspect of his baseball prowess.

Nelson’s preliminary round was unreal. He hit four home runs with the wood bat to set the tone right away, and he stayed just as hot once he switched to the aluminum bat for his final 15 outs. It felt like every swing went for a home run, as he never went long between blasts. His sixth HR traveled 468 feet for the farthest of them all, and he hit three straight at one stretch. Behind the strength of an 88.6 mph bat speed, a 25.8 peak hand speed, a 0.14 time to contact and an astounding 27.9 rotational acceleration, Nelson successfully defended his title to return to another championship round.

Austin Brown’s time to contact was the only mark that was even better, and his 0.13 time to contact is typically only seen from Minor League level ballplayers. Brown also delivered a 78.2 bat speed, a 14-degree launch angle and a 23.9 hand speed, all while peppering baseballs out of the park seemingly nonstop. He finished with 13 total home runs, his farthest a 471-foot shot that hit off the right field foul pole.

“It felt good today,” Brown said. “Usually, in the cage, you hit the ball hard and you have no idea where that went. But then I was able to come out here and just watch it fly, really. Starting off, it was just trying to find timing, because the machine could be everywhere or it could be perfect. I just had to go through my routine. The past two years I’ve taken a ball, and then swung. It worked out well this time out.”

Brown advances to his third straight championship, with the determination that this time will be when he finally achieves that ultimate glory.

Standing in Brown’s path are two worthy competitors, both of whom also awed the crowd while earning their place in the finals. Connecticut’s Liam Zeller was impressive in hitting 10 total home runs, with a 422-foot long. Meanwhile, Mississippi’s Drake Cox also reached the 15U Finals as the Wild Card Winner by hitting the farthest homer of the group, a 482-foot blast to right field on the third of his seven total home runs.

The Wild Card also came into play for the 13U group, as Texas’ Tyler Early earned a place in the championship round thanks to hitting the farthest homer of his group as well. Early had a total of 10 home runs to have a solid showing, but his 448-foot shot was the real difference-maker that helped him advance. Early set the high-water mark of the group when his 448-footer left the ballpark, which helped him outpace three others who also put one out of the park. Tyler Cerutti hit one 416 feet, Chase Mital sent a homer 408 feet and Colton Berend put one into the seats at 404 feet.

“It’s pretty amazing to hit one out of a Major League stadium,” Berend said. “It feels fun coming here and competing in the home run derby.”

Arizona’s Sean Simon led the group with 12 total home runs to help him reach the 13U championship, and Tennessee’s Woods Fermine also advanced to the finals by finishing second with 11 home runs.

In the 14U preliminaries, it was Texas’ IJ Garza who also advanced thanks to the Wild Card. Featuring a 71.1 bat speed and a 25-degree attack angle, Garza hit a 445-foot blast that was the farthest in 14U. Down to nearly his final swing when he hit the big shot, Garza stayed hot to connect for five straight and close with six total long balls.

Virginia’s Cooper Crabtree paced the 14U group by smacking 15 total home runs. The impressive left-handed slugger showcased an incredible 73.7 bat speed that flew through the zone, and he hit three consecutive, with a 391-foot longest. Texas’ Jacob Stogsdill also advanced by finishing second with eight home runs, including a 431-foot shot that nearly held up as the farthest to also help assure Stogsdill of his place in the championship.

The day got off to a strong start in the 12U group, as Florida’s Rylee Sumner set the tone by crushing 24 total home runs to advance to the finals. Sumner was consistent and swung a hot bat, connecting for six straight and hitting a 376-foot shot that was the farthest of all the 12U participants.

Connecticut’s Ryan Schnider also earned his spot in the 12U championship with a strong showing led by an impressive mix of power and consistency. Schnider hit five in-a-row twice, and also hit four straight, and finished with 17 total long balls to advance to the finale.