Top 5 Hitters

		Coffee Time
		by Carl Coffee

After reading my first two "Coffee Time" articles, you probably think I only care about the pitchers and the defense. Yes, it's easier to rank the Top 5 pitchers. Yes, our rules do favor the defense. However, I still haven't forgotten about the hitters. As exciting as dominant pitching or a diving catch can be, a home run still takes the cake. As someone who only pitches during batting practice, or if we have a dominant lead in the 5th inning, I can only get my glory from a big at bat. Through the years I have played against a number of great hitters, and just like with the Top 5 Pitchers Rankings, I will use past stats, future potential, and personal experience to rank my Top 5 Hitters. A lot of teams and players are new, so if you get left off now, don't feel bad. You still have a chance to get on them later, because once the season starts, I will adjust these rankings.

#5 Nick Woods [Westside Warriors]

Just like his teammate Maclin Malloy did with the Pitching List, a member from the Warriors cracked this Top 5 list. Although Woods only played in one tournament, it would be very hard to leave him off the list. Woods not only showed patience at the plate, (7 BB's in 29 plate appearances) he also showed great power and timely hitting (2 HR's, 4 RBI's). His 11 hits propelled him to a very impressive .500 Batting Average, but Nick's two most impressive stats were his .621 On Base Percentage (OBP), and his .818 Slugging Percentage (SLG).

#4 Brandon Corbett [Flying Squirrels]

Teammate Brandon Corbett comes in at #4. Along with his #2 Pitching Ranking, it sure makes him a dual threat player. Before I get into his stats, my favorite wiffle memory of him was during round robin play at last year's Flag-a-Palooza tournament. Corbett and Chad Hoppe were having a pitching dual, and with the score 0-0 in the bottom of the 5th, Corbett hit a solo HR to win the game. It's good to have a guy like that on your team. In the three tournaments Corbett has played in, he has a lifetime .345 Batting Average, .637 SLG%, 6 HR's, and 14 RBI's. Also in every tournament, he's been over .500 in OBP. So as you see, he can hit for both power and average.

#3 Dennis Pearson [Git r Done]

Dennis just missed getting ranked for top pitchers, but he cracks the list at #3 for Best Hitters. When Git r Done first burst onto the wiffle scene in the August of 2009 tournament, Dennis was the lone bright spot in a team that went 0-2. Although he didn't show his power then, everyone knew this kid could hit. The following year at the Flag-a-Palooza, Dennis along with a surprise offensive showing from Dylan Braden, shocked everyone and reached the finals. Dennis continued to pound the ball at the Hoppe’s Fall Tournament, and was once again the lone bright spot for them. Dennis is one of the most dangerous hitters in the league, because at any time he can send one over the fence. Although his stats won't blow you away just yet, (.279 career BA, 6 HR's, 11 RBI's) I have a good feeling they will after this year. Dennis is easily my prediction for Home Run King.

#2 Brian Constanti [Newport Ass Kickers]

Along with Corbett, Brian Constanti also made both the Top Pitchers and Batters Lists. I really didn't want to rank Brian this high knowing he only played in one tournament, but I just can't ignore his stats. We already know they won the only tournament they played in led by Brian's pitching. Well, they had to score some runs too, and Brian did just that. Brian led his team in every single offensive category. He went 19 for 38, (.500 BA) had 6 walks, 4 HR's, and 8 RBI's. It doesn't stop there, he also scored 7 runs, had a .568 OBP, and an incredible .921 SLG%. It is hard to believe that these stats are from one tournament!

#1 Joey DeLano [Wiffling DeLoppes]

For the veterans out there, this may shock you: a Wiffling DeLoppe as the top hitter in the league?!?! I've played against and watched Joey play, and no batter in the league is a tougher out than him. The most dangerous part of Joey's game is his speed. I would bet that he is the fastest guy in the league. You better be on top of your game when you're playing defense against him, because any ball he hits on the ground he will most likely leg out for a base hit. In the August of 2009 tournament, Joey went an astounding 11 for 19 (.579 BA) and also hit 1 HR and had 7 RBI's. He also only struck out twice and had one walk, which shows that this guy loves to swing the bat. Did Joey carry the DeLoppes on offense that day? Well he did have 7 of his team 9 RBI's, so the answer is easy. In last year's Flag-A-Paloozas he cooled off a little bit, but not by much. He still finished the day with 10 hits and another HR. Joey's .466 career BA, along with his killer speed made him an easy choice to be #1.

That concludes the rankings of the Preseason Top 5 Hitters. Once the season is about a 1/4 of the way through I will take a look at everyone's stats and redo them to see how this stacks up. But for now, the guys who I just mentioned, enjoy the bragging rights!

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Carl Coffee
Flying Squirrels, 18, SS
Chief Wiffling Officer