Former Chipola Indian Leads MLB in Home Runs

In front of the largest crown in Toronto since opening day of the season, 30,089 fans watched as former Chipola Indian, Jose Bautista hit two towering home runs to help the Toronto Blue Jays defeat the New Yankees 6-1 on Friday night.
The loss snapped a five-game winning streak by the Yankees and the two homers increased Bautista’s major league-leading total to 18.
“This is uncharted water for me, but it feels good,” said Bautista, who had a previous career high of 16 home runs in a single season.
The former Chipola great led off the second inning with a home run ball that went off the facing of the third deck in left field.  Later in the fourth inning, Bautista found almost the same area for a two-run shot. Bautista would finish the night with a leadoff double in the eighth to go 3 for 3 with 3 RBIs on the night.
Bautista was a member on Chipola Baseball squad before being drafted by the Pittsburg Pirates in the 20th round of the 2000 amateur draft.  His official signing came in May 2001, the same year the Indians captured the Panhandle Conference Championship and was the NJCAA Region VIII Runner-up.
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