Cannonball represents dads with pride

In honor of Father's Day, the league took an informal break. However, the Dad Team (TM) of Cannonball Coming chose to assemble anyway, and Walks With Four Balls was game. Hence, these recaps cover the week before Father's Day, as well as the two games played over that weekend.

Hurricane Juice sweeps the Pitches

ALISON RUTH, Sons of Pitches

The Sons of Pitches were joined by new players Jonathan and Mike this Sunday, so we actually had a complete team this week! We were overjoyed to not have to baserun with the iPad in our arms to keep up with stats. We’re still working on designing some matching outfits, as we hear they add .300 to our team batting average!

100% Real Juice 26 || Sons of Pitches 0

Both teams were neck-and-neck in the first game… until the second inning, when 100% Real Juice pulled ahead and then mercied us after four. Whoops! Epo Olivares was fantastic, consistently throwing strikes at 69 mph, surrendering only one run while not allowing a hit. The Sons of Pitches relied on the tried-and-true method of just literally swinging at everything. Shoutout to myself for actually putting the ball in play, even though it was an embarrassing popup to the pitcher, which was swiftly caught to end the inning. That counts for something, right? We put up a good fight, but sadly we just couldn’t compete with the other team’s fabulous defense. It was absolutely 100% because of the bad weather though, definitely. On a good day, we totally would’ve smoked ‘em! Ask anyone!

100% Real Juice 11 || Sons of Pitches 6

Unfortunately, there was a lot of rain this week, which muddied the batter’s box and filled the outfield with puddles. The spectators who came to support 100% Real Juice braved the hurricane-like storm, huddled under the trees until they were eventually forced to leave during the most gripping point of the second game, when the Sons of Pitches were right on the verge of a big comeback from being down by 11. It’s a shame the fans missed the final inning, when a couple of our players walked and we actually got some runs on the board! While the Sons of Pitches still lost, we’re definitely going to SLAUGHTER on the 17th, which is... totally not a bye week…!

WCW takes WW from FB

DAN RISH, West Coast Washout

West Coast Washout 19 || Walks With Four Balls 8

Runs were cheap and easy to come by with this matchup of WWFB's Otto Par on the mound versus Seattle Wiffleball debutante Luke Crowley of the Washout. The Washout jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but the home team looked to cut into that by loading the bases in the bottom of the first with no outs.  After a run-scoring sac fly, the rally was cut short due to a miscommunication on the number of outs, which caused an an easy inning ending double play by left fielder Jason Matt. After the initial scare, Crowley recorded a one-two-three second while enjoying an seven-run lead, padded by a RBI double by teammate Jason Ciummo.  The lead would be tested in the third, with multiple Alex Arkfeld hits closing the gap to 9-8. All of a sudden a ballgame again, the Washout responded by posting a Hamilton, led by an Andrew Winter grand slam. That score would hold, a mercy ending to a deceptively close game. The Washout collected 18 hits over the 4-inning affair, while Walks had 11.

West Coast Washout 10 || Walks With Four Balls 0

Washout starter Daniel Rish stranded two first-inning baserunners, setting the stage for a defense-oriented matchup.  Walks starter Greg Nyssen allowed 3 first inning runs, courtesy of 6 walks on the inning. After that, he settled down, changing his pitch selection and striking out four batters over the next two scoreless innings, while he stranded a few meaningless runners.  At the plate though, the Walks offense could not gear - as after the first the only balls put in play were an Andrew Ybarra base hit and a line-out by Greg. With the score 3-0 in the fourth, it was anyone's game, until 4 walks and the series' second grand slam , this one by Conor Roberson, made the score 8-0.  Several walks and hits later, and the clinching run crossed home on a Luke Crowley RBI walk. Each side ended the game with just two hits, but the difference was in walks, where the Washout gained 17 bases, while the Walks earned only one… walk.

Chicken ‘n’ Wiffles win in old and new ways

PRESTON SAHABU, Chicken ‘n’ Wiffles

Chicken ‘n’ Wiffles 16 || Purple Haze 14

This game was reminiscent of the Chickens’ rookie season:

• Back-and-forth slugfest? Check.
• Stopped early due to time constraints? Check.
• Cardiac finish where the opposing team had the winning run on base? Check and check.

Over four innings the two teams put up a combined 30 runs, 19 hits, and 26 walks. Captain Matt Pearson took the hill for the Chickens and continued his approach of pitching to contact, surrendering 10 hits but giving out only 7 free passes and earning 5 strikeouts. His counterparts on the Haze, Noah Gannon and Aiden Lefty, were stingier with the hits by giving up only 7, but looser on the walks with 18, and no strikeouts.

There were plenty of clutch offensive all-stars in this one, with Liam Munro, Aidan Thain, and Matt Brooks racking up 4 RBIs. However, special props should be given to Aidan Lefty who earned 5 RBIs and Bondsian respect with a bases loaded intentional walk in the final frame. Extra special props should be given to Jesse Pearson, who had himself a game with 6 RBIs.

Chicken ‘n’ Wiffles 13 || Purple Haze 3

In case it wasn’t yet established: Grant Costa Is Good. While he gave up a Harrisian 15 walks on the day, he also got 11 strikeouts and did not allow a hit. Liam Munro backed the effort with some serious thump, hammering two homers in the second inning to build an 8-2 lead. Josh Herrero pitched valiantly for the Haze, but his squad ultimately fell by the mercy rule after four innings. This doesn’t happen often for Chicken ‘n’ Wiffles -- if their offense stays hot and their pitching keeps clicking, they are a real Wild Card contender.

Cannonball avenges Seattle Series, sweeps Steaks

DAN RISH, Commissioner

Cannonball Coming 1 || RBI Steaks 0

Dating back to the beginning of the 2017 regular season, this matchup was the 5th consecutive one-run game between these two teams, with one important reversal.  Cannonball's win broke a four-game skid against the Steaks, who lifted the leaning golden man trophy last year at the expense of Cannonball. A Mike Tarantino single scored Karl Koch in the fourth and made the difference. Paul Rogers struck out 10 and walked only two with two hits as he stymied the potent Steaks offense, overshadowing a superb performance by Riley Brindle for the losers.

Cannonball Coming 3 || RBI Steaks 0

Cannonball captain Patrick Meagher did it all with a little help from his friends, knocking in three runs via walk, ground out, and single, as Cannonball Coming chipped away at Nick Winn to earn a hard fought 3-0 victory.  Meagher was dominant on the mound, getting all 18 outs via the strikeout while allowing three hits and five walks. Winn only allowed two baserunners more than Meagher, but unfortunately they were not as well distributed, allowing Cannonball to push across a run in the 1st, 5th, and 6th innings.

Cannonball, WWFB streak in opposite directions

OTTO PARK, Walks With Four Balls

Cannonball Coming 15 || Walks With Four Balls 2

SEATTLE, Washington  – Cannonball Coming recorded a near season-high in hits and runs in a 15-2 win over Walks With Four Balls in game one of a twin bill on Sunday afternoon at Cowen Park.  Everyone in the Cannonball Coming (8-2) lineup contributed, either scoring a run or picking up a base hit.

CC rapped out 14 hits for their second largest offensive outing of the season.  Pitcher Scott Lewis (2-0, 2.40 ERA) had 11 strikeouts in 5 innings to pick up his second win. The only runs he allowed came on a two-run homer by Greg Nyssen.  At the plate, Lewis was 7-7 with a home run, and teammate Paul Rogers added a pair of homers and 9 RBI.

Cannonball Coming 8 || Walks With Four Balls 3

SEATTLE, Washington  – Behind a 16 strikeout performance from Paul Rogers and 5 RBI from Scott Lewis, Cannonball Coming (8-2) defeated Walks With Four Balls (3-5) by an 8-3 final Sunday afternoon in the second game of a doubleheader.  Rogers (2-1, 1.33 ERA) went the distance, allowing three runs on only two hits to go along with his 16 Ks.

Lewis finished with six hits including a home run, while Alex Arkfeld hit a home run and drove in three runs for Walks With Four Balls.

WWFB hurler Greg Nyssen notched 13 strikeouts.  Both teams will continue their series next season.  Those contests will be blacked out on MLB.TV.

STANDINGS

1. (6-0) 100% Real Juice

2. (8-2) Cannonball Coming

3. (4-2) West Coast Washout

4. (3-2) RBI Steaks

5. (3-5) Walks With Four Balls

6. (2-6) Chicken ‘n’ Wiffles

7. (2-3) Sons of Pitches

8. (1-5) Purple Haze 

9. (0-4) 68ers