In an electrifying finale, the Angels clinched their second championship title with a heart-stopping 12-11 victory over the debuting Marlins. The match, held on a sunny afternoon on Memorial Day, will be remembered as one of the most thrilling games in the league’s history.

The Angels' Evan Cross emerged as the hero of the game, delivering an incredible performance with four towering home runs. His extraordinary power at the plate was matched by his cool composure in closing out the game, sealing the victory for the Angels.

The Marlins, making their first World Series appearance in their inaugural season, showcased remarkable tenacity and skill. Despite the loss, their impressive debut promises a bright future for the fledgling franchise.

The game was a back-and-forth battle, with the Marlins nearly staging a dramatic comeback in the final inning. Their relentless offense kept the Angels on their toes until the very end, but Evan Cross’s clutch pitching and defensive play ensured the Angels held on to their narrow lead.

After the game, Marlins’ player Stephen Cross praised the Angels and expressed his aspirations for the future.

“The Angels are built to win. Hats off to them. Season 4 is going to be all about learning from this game, improving our offense and pitching, and just getting better overall.”

With this victory, the Angels solidify their reputation as a dominant force in CLMLB. As they savor their championship win, the Marlins can hold their heads high, having made a significant impact in their very first season. The stage is now set for what promises to be an exciting Season 4, as all teams prepare to challenge the reigning champions.

As the CLMLB wiffleball World Series approaches, all eyes are on the Marlins and the Angels in what promises to be an electrifying showdown. This year marks the Marlins' first season as a franchise, and they have taken the league by storm, dominating their opponents in the playoffs to secure a spot in the World Series. Meanwhile, the Angels are making their third consecutive World Series appearance, aiming to capture their second title in team history.

Marlins: A Stellar Debut Season

The Marlins' journey to the World Series has been nothing short of remarkable. During the regular season, they posted an impressive 2-1 record, showcasing a balanced attack that saw them hitting an outstanding .489, the third-best average in the National League. Their pitching was equally formidable, finishing second in the NL behind the Cardinals with a team ERA of 3.33.

However, the Marlins have truly shined in the playoffs. Their batting average remains a stellar .467, but it is their pitching that has set them apart. With a team ERA of just 1.00, the Marlins boast the best pitching performance of any team in the playoffs, a testament to their disciplined and strategic approach on the mound. This combination of powerful hitting and dominant pitching has made them a formidable force heading into the World Series.

Angels: A Seasoned Contender

The Angels, on the other hand, are no strangers to the big stage. This marks their third consecutive World Series appearance, and they are determined to add a second title to their history. During their shortened regular season, the Angels went 1-1, hitting .348 as a team. However, their pitching struggled, with a high ERA of 15.00.

Despite these regular season challenges, the Angels have found their form in the playoffs. As the #5 seed in the American League, they have made an impressive run to the World Series, leading all postseason teams with a .560 average and recording the second-best ERA at 2.50, just behind the Marlins. Their playoff resurgence showcases their ability to perform under pressure and adapt when it matters most.

Prediction

In a single elimination game, anything can happen, especially in wiffleball, and both teams have shown they can deliver under pressure. The Marlins' balanced and dominant performance throughout the season and playoffs gives them an edge, particularly with their exceptional pitching and consistent hitting.

However, the Angels' experience in high-stakes games and their remarkable playoff performance cannot be discounted. Their ability to elevate their game during the postseason and their high batting average makes them a formidable opponent.

Prediction: The game will be tightly contested, with both teams bringing their best. The Marlins' combination of strong pitching and solid hitting gives them a slight advantage, but the Angels' experience and playoff prowess mean they are more than capable of pulling off a win. In the end, the Marlins' momentum and overall balance should see them narrowly clinch their first CLMLB World Series title.

Final Score Prediction: Marlins 4, Angels 3

What a story! In their first season as a franchise, the Marlins have clinched their first NL championship by throwing a no-hitter against the Cubs. The NLCS came down to the final inning, but all season, the Marlins have proven to have perhaps the best pitching performances the league has ever seen. The no-hitter is just the second time it has ever happened in the history of the league (2009), and it was the 7th ever shutout. The Marlins will either face the White Sox or Angels in the World Series. 

A team that has defied the odds! For the third consecutive season, the Angels will play in the World Series. They will look to win their second-ever championship following their 7-4 victory over the White Sox. 

Things got close in the last inning with the Twins trying to rally, but Ryan Cross came in to close out the game for his White Sox, as they will move on to face the Angels in the ALCS. Final score, 5-4. Like the Cardinals, the Twins, who were the #1 seed in the playoffs, get knocked out immediately. 

The Cubs aren't done yet. They have crushed the Cardinals dreams of going back to the NLCS for a third-straight season. The Cubs have been one of the league's best teams when it comes to regular season play. But the problem for them was carrying it over into the postseason. So far, the Cubs have done that by beating the Dodgers in the National League Wild Card game and dethroning the Cardinals in a 9-3 NLDS affair. Next on the list for them is the Marlins, a team that also has never appeared in the championship series. 

The White Sox have finally defeated the rival team that has had their number for the past few seasons, defeating the Tigers on a walk-off single in just the second ever AL Wild Card matchup. Both American League Wild Card games have resulted in walk-offs. The Tigers season is over quickly after advancing to the championship series in their previous two seasons. Meanwhile, the Sox, who have never seen LCS action, will face the #1 seed Twins in the next round. 

You can't and shouldn't doubt the Angels, especially when they clinched their ticket to their third-straight ALCS appearance. Ryan Cross was nothing but dominant in his first start with the Angels since last season's World Series. During the regular season, the Angels ranked 4th in the American League for batting average (.348), 6th for on-base percentage (.444), and 4th for OPS (1.227). Their pitching was not great. However, they led the AL in strikeouts (18). They finished with the third-worst ERA (15.00), and gave up the second-most hits in the AL. Basically, they weren't very good during the season. But they managed to go 1-1. And now, after a close victory over the Mariners in the ALDS, the Angels are one win away from returning to the World Series...again. With the historic duo of Ryan and Evan Cross wearing those Angel caps, it might be the year the Angels bring back a championship. 

On a beautiful, yet buggy day in Cedar River, the Marlins and Padres met head-to-head in their first NLDS appearance. The game opened with a close safe call at first base. The Marlins would homer twice in the inning, giving them an early 3-0 lead. The Padres got a runner on base in the bottom half, but ran into three straight outs to end the inning. Stephen Cross and the Marlins didn't stop in the second, hitting a single and a double, and eventually scored the runners with their third home run of the day. In the bottom of the second inning, Marlins leading 6-0, Evan Cross and the Padres again had a runner on base, but failed to score. After scoring one run in the top half of the third, the Marlins were three outs from their first playoff win. The Marlins got two outs via strikeouts with a runner on base, needing one more out to end it. After a hit-by-pitch and a single, the Padres had loaded the bases. Another hit batter would give the Padres their first run of the game. Next at-bat, in a 0-1 count, Evan hit a ground ball into left field, scoring a second run. The vibes were starting to change between the two teams. The Padres started to feel like they could tie the game if things started going downhill for the Marlins. One pitch into the next at-bat, Evan popped a ball up in left field. Fighting the sun and breeze, Stephen quickly covered ground and reached out with his glove, making one of the most amazing catches in league history. The catch sealed the game, giving the Marlins a 7-2 win over the Padres. "The energy started going the other way , but that didn't change my approach." "Of course, I didn't want to blow the game, I was a little nervous there at the end, but I'm glad it ended in a win." When asked about the game-ending catch, Stephen replied by saying, "I didn't think I was going to catch it."

The Marlins will be advancing into the NLCS for the first time, facing the winner of the Cubs-Cardinals NLDS matchup. Later after the game, we asked Evan what his thoughts were on the frustrating loss for his Padres team. "It's tough. We didn't play to the expectations that we had for this game." "We didn't pitch well and our offense was not great until the end." 

"We have unfinished business. We want to win the World Series."

Padres owner and player, Evan Cross, doesn't just want a win tomorrow against the Marlins, he wants a championship banner. This is just the second time in Padres team history to appear in the postseason. Their only playoff appearance (Season One) did not bode well for them. They lost to the Rockies, 16-8, in the National League Wild Card Tiebreaker series. Evan went on to say that he believes that his team can win in the postseason. He'll face a team that is entering the postseason for the first time with a regular season record of 2-1. The Marlins, an expansion team entering this season, finished second in the NL for team ERA and third in batting average. They can pitch and have a decent offense, despite only handing out two homers during the season. "I think it's going to be a good game. All our games this season have been close. We'll see what happens tomorrow. I think we have a chance of doing something special," Stephen Cross shared during this evening's practice. The Marlins' two wins during the season were against teams that, not only didn't make the playoffs, they didn't win a game (Rockies and Phillies). The one loss for the Marlins came against the Cubs, who will play the Cardinals in the other NLDS matchup. Marlins and Padres will make history tomorrow in Cedar River, Michigan as the first postseason game in league history that is not being played in Colorado. It will also be the fourth and last game that will be played in Cedar River. What's even more interesting is that both teams shutout their opponents in previous games at Cedar River. We'll find out tomorrow who will advance to their first NLCS appearance.

Even though Season 4 is at least another year away, the Athletics team is already coming together. A couple of months ago, it was announced that Stephen Cross would join the team before this season's World Series. The signing has not been confirmed. Just yesterday, while Evan was recovering from appendicitis surgery, a rumor surfaced in the league that he was very interested in joining the team. The Athletics will face the Mariners in the Wild Card Series in Season 4. 

Both Dodgers and Cubs were chasing history in yesterday's NL Wild Card game. The Cubs would score three runs in the bottom of the first with a Stephen Cross home run, along with a couple knocks. The Dodgers answered right back in the next inning with a two-run dinger from Ryan Cross, making it a close 3-2 game. Dodgers starting pitcher Evan Cross was able to limit the Cubs to one run in the bottom half. In the top of the third inning, the Dodgers got a couple hits and threatened to tie and perhaps take the lead. But the Cubs got three straight K's to end the game and punch their ticket to the NLDS against the Cardinals for the third straight season. Final score, 4-3. When asked about the Wild Card loss, Evan voiced his frustration about his team's performance. "We couldn't get hits consistently. We are going to try and improve that next year during the tournament." The Dodgers are scheduled to play the Padres in the Wild Card Series next season. Meanwhile for the Cubs, they will face the defending league champion Cardinals in the divison series for the third straight season. "It was a good game,'' Stephen said. "I thought I pitched pretty well. My movement was there for most of the game...made a couple of mistakes, but they happen. Offense could be better. Very happy for the Cubs." 

You know what time it is. Time for some postseason wiffleball previews! First up, we have the NL Wild Card game between the Cubs and the Dodgers. Let's take a look at both teams heading into this game...

Dodgers

The Dodgers have ended their playoff drought. It will be their second ever playoff appearance. You have to go back all the way to 2013, the league's first postseason, when they faced the Giants in the Wild Card Tiebreaker game. The following season, they struggled by going 3-7, despite leading the league in team batting average. This season, the Dodgers completed their schedule by going 2-1, losing to the Cardinals, but defeating the Rockies and Phillies, which led them to clinching the final NL playoff spot. The Dodgers have always been good at hitting. The pitching has to improve. That will be key for them in this game. 

Cubs

Is this the game where the Cubs finally win a postseason game? This will be their third trip to the postseason in club history. The first two trips didn't go as planned, losing both games to the Cardinals in the division series. The Cubs are one of the better teams in the league during the regular season. When the playoffs come around, they seem to be dormant. In Season 2, both them and the Giants led the National League with a 7-3 record. This past season, they completed the season, like the Dodgers, with a 2-1 record. They will have home field advantage in this game because they had the upper hand over the Dodgers in Run Differential during the regular season. The Cubs led the league in home runs this season (10), so expect them to try to swing for the fences in this one. They came in third in the NL in team ERA behind the Cardinals and Marlins. This game might be one of the most exciting games we have ever seen. We might see a lot of offense...who knows. 

Note: Winner of this game will play the #1 seed Cardinals in the NLDS

Happy New Year! We can't wait to play some wiffle ball this year! We have some breaking news reguarding the future of CLMLB. For the past few years, we have been playing our Season 3 schedule and we have thoroughly enjoyed each and every game that we have played up to this point. But to save time, the league has decided to immediately skip the season and head straight into the postseason. This was not an easy decision for the players, but changes needed to be made. The league will use the playoff format that has been used for the past couple seasons to complete Season 3. But after this current postseason is over, the following "season" (Season 4) will have a completely new and exciting format that will allow all teams to participate in the run for the World Series title. From now on, unless there is a new CBA agreement in the future, there will no longer be a regular season schedule. More details about the new Postseason format will come at a later date. The league has also agreed that there will be a four-run mercy rule implemented during each inning for the current postseason. TBD if it will be implemented in the future. The rule was previously used during the regular season and the players seemed to like the rule, mostly because it shortened the times of games substantially. The league is excited to announce that they have implemented a structural strikezone that will greatly help the strike/ball calls during games. 

This won't be the first time these two teams have faced each other in the postseason. It has become a rivalry over the past few seasons. The Tigers have had the White Sox's number over the past couple postseasons, beating them in the ALDS twice. This time, both will face each other in the Wild Card game to see who advances to play the Twins in the next round. The Tigers won the Wild Card game last season on a walkoff home run against the Orioles, it is safe to say this is familiar territory for them. 

Tigers

The Tigers are in the playoffs for the third straight season as they will play as the road team against the White Sox in this game. As mentioned above, the Tigers are 2-0 against the Sox in their postseason matchups. Both regular seasons, the Tigers have been a .500 team. In season two, the Tigers went 3-3. This past season (season 3), they finished with a 1-1 record. Playoff history, they are 3-2. If the Tigers want to get back to the ALCS or even shoot for the WS, it will not be an easy task for them. They will basically be the road team here on out. Will the Tigers extend the streak and move on? 

White Sox

Even though the Sox don't have the prettiest record against the Tigers, they still made their way back to the playoff bracket for the third time. This will be their first ever Wild Card appearance. First two appearances were in the division series. They will be the home team and will need every advantage if they want to end the streak against the Tigers. In season two, they were the best team on paper in the American League with a 4-2 record. This season, they only played one game because of the shortened season, going 1-0. They've had success during the regular season, but will that transfer into this postseason? I guess we'll find out! Should be a fun and exciting game! 

The other day, the Twins defeated the Blue Jays, 6-1. With the loss for the Jays, they will be eliminated from the postseason and finish their first season by going 0-3. Both pitching and offense have been a disaster for the Blue Jays, especially the offense. The Jays scored only 1 run in their three games, which is a new league record. In two of the three games, they were shut out. Toronto was one of the favorites in the AL before the season started, but their record says otherwise. They have a lot of work cut out for them to improve until the next season. 

For the first time in team history, the Rockies have been eliminated from playoff contention. In 2013, they reached the NLCS, then in the following season, they clinched a Wild Card spot. But not this year. The Rockies had their worst season ever, went 0-3, and was dead last in the National League for team batting average (.302) and one of the highest team ERA (10.13) in the league. Long-time Rockies player Evan Cross responded after the game tonight saying, "we just need to be better at scoring more runs next year. Our starting pitching this year was pretty good, but our offense was horrible." The Rockies will be one of the four teams in the NL that will not participate in the postseason. They are gonna have to forget what happened this season and focus on the next one whenever it starts. Meanwhile, the Dodgers move to 2 wins and 1 loss on the season and they will wait and hope that they make a playoff bracket come the fall. If they make it, it will be the first time they've made an appearance in the bracket since 2013! More games will be played throughout the summer and we hope to play a postseason in the fall! 

As Christmas season rolls in, National Wiffleball League Association awards are being presented this week. Today was the National All Rookie Team Awards. Later today, our own Matt Michaels was awarded the National All Rookie 3rd Team Award! He was also in the running for the Rookie of the Year Award in the West region, but did not get mentioned because of lack of votes and lack of playing time in 2019. Michaels for the Cubs, hit 1 HR (inside-the-park), drove in 5 RBI’s, and had 8 total hits, all in one game against the Rockies earlier in the year. Michaels is the first player ever in CLMLB history to be nationally recognized and awarded in the beautiful game of wiffleball. Congrats to Matt Michaels on his amazing accomplishment! 

With the Blue Jays and Rockies both wrapping up their seasons respectively with one game left, they are both on the verge of being eliminated from the postseason. Both teams at 0-2, they look to win just one game to keep their hopes alive. The first year Blue Jays were ranked #1 in the AL preseason power rankings before the season began and so far, the Jays have been suprisingly horrible. The have been shutout in both of their games against the Padres and the Mariners. With run differential being a huge key to make the playoffs, along with season record, the Blue Jays have the second worst RD (run differential) in the league. Evan Cross and the Blue Jays might have to wait until next season to make a run to the postseason. The Rockies are surprisingly not very good at all this year to say the least. The loss to Chicago and Miami really took a toll on the franchise. The Rockies are the worst in run differential in the league and have one of the worst offensive teams in team history. Going all the way back to 2012, this is the worst the Rockies have ever been as a franchise, having lost 4 straight games. If the Rockies are unable to make the postseason, it would be the first time in franchise history to not make the playoffs. With their last game against the Dodgers later this season, Stephen Cross will most likely take the mound and look to give Colorado a win. This very well might not be the year for the Rockies as well. It will all play out in the final week of the season!