Mass. native Chris Lanzilli armed for College Home Run Derby

Chris Lanzilli of Stoneham, Mass., will compete in the College Home Run Derby on Saturday. (Brian Westerholt/Four Seam Images)

Countless times over the years, Cam Lanzilli would throw batting practice to his younger brother, Chris, while growing up in Stoneham, Mass.

Cam, a lefty pitcher, would pitch to Chris, a righty hitter — over and over.

And the routine hatched a dream: Wouldn’t it be amazing to do this in an actual home run derby?

“Ever since we were kids, he was throwing to me,” Chris Lanzilli said. “It’s been our dream, like how are we gonna get into a home run derby? Finally, it’s happening. It’s kind of a big-time thing. We didn’t expect this at all. Now it’s turning into a cool little story.”