Barry Bonds has nothing on Derek Grence.

The 11-year-old Zelienople baseball player has been getting the Bonds treatment recently.

That's because he's having a Bonds-like year in the power department.

Grence has hit 20 home runs in 28 games this season while playing for Henchar Custom Homes in the Zelienople-Harmony Little League (11-12 year olds). He also plays for the Zelienople-Harmony Baseball Association's all-star tournament team.

"He has very quick hands," said Grence's coach Randy Miller. "I throw batting practice and every once in a while I'll put a little zip on it, but he adjusts and reacts and hits it a ton.

"His overall talent far exceeds anyone at this age."

Opposing pitcher's efforts to avoid Grence reached the surreal and bizarre last week in a tournament game.

With the game tied and a runner at third, Grence's opponent tried to intentionally walk him.

In his previous at-bat, the umpire allowed the free pass without the pitcher making a pitch. But on this occasion, the tournament director told the umpire the pitcher had to throw four balls to put Grence on.

Not well versed in the art of the intentional walk, the pitcher became confused. The coach told him to roll the ball to the catcher, Miller said.

"My son was on third and I told him, 'If that ball gets by the catcher, sprint to the plate.'"

It did, bounding over the catcher's mitt. Miller's son raced home with the winning run.

It left Grence flattered, but scratching his head.

"I was thinking, 'Gosh. What are they doing?'" Grence said. "I didn't know what to do."

That hasn't been a problem for Grence this season when he takes his spot in the batter's box.

Grence his hitting well over .600 this season. During the regular season, he hit 15 home runs in 18 games. In the tournament season, he has hit five in 10 games - including three bombs in the game before the one in which he was intentionally walked.

Four of his home runs have been grand slams.

"They made the decision he wasn't going to beat them," Miller said. "In our league, we don't allow intentional walks."

Grence is well polished at the plate and in the interview department as well. He's humble and reflects credit at every opportunity - like any budding superstar would do.

"I just try to do whatever I can to help the team win," he says in his best SportsCenter sound bite.

But in this case, the attitude is genuine, his coach said.

"He's the nicest boy you'll ever find," Miller said. "He's always smiling and having fun."

Grence's power surge came as a surprise to him and just about everyone else.

Always an accomplished player - he is also considered the league's top pitcher - Grence didn't really have a power stroke until the end of last season.

He hit a grand total of zero home runs during the regular season last year.

"I've always been a good hitter," Grence said. "I hit five (home runs) over the fence in pee wee. But they were smaller fences."

Grence is at a loss to explain his power output. He said he works extremely hard in the offseason.

"I work out," Grence said. "I do push ups and sit ups. Anything I can do because I like winning."

Miller said he sees some star quality in Grence already.

"You know, people talk about how this kid or this kid or this kid could be the next one to make it (to the pros)," Miller said. "But he's legit. The way he's going right now, the sky's the limit."