Can Big Wood Perform on the Big Stage?

by  Alex Shore

 

Bold predictions, smack talk, and a little bit of love were present in the WSEM NWLA Inaugural Tournament podcast. Sure, we got some heat from the other seven leagues, but I must say, it started to get people excited for the NWLA Inaugural Tournament. Now, I had WSEM as the best team, but not only was that a pump up for my team, but I feel if we want to see success, we will have to do much more than actually believe in ourselves. I will present to you want needs to be done by each player in order for WSEM to get their first ever National Championship.

1)  Austin Bischoff Austin needs to do what he is known for, pitch dominantly. And by dominantly, I mean the Austin that only gives up a run approximately 2% of the time he pitches, a jaw dropping statistic. In addition, Austin has to get the bats moving, as he could be one of the games deadliest hitters with his power. Considering he has hit three homers in one game this year, two of which were over 135 feet in distance!! 2) Dennis Pearson Dennis has taken a little bit of a slump this year, he isn’t exactly dominant on the hill, and his batting is down. What needs to happen out of Dennis is a massive 2011-esque pitching performance. I’m talking the Dennis who pitched 47 innings in last year’s championship series and, I kid you not, did not give up a single run. Oh did I mention he struck out 83? Or that was all in one day?? Anyway, he also needs to step up the bat. He is one of the most powerful people I have seen, and can hit the ball a country mile. If Dennis does this, we will be tough to beat. 3) Brandon Corbett Corbett needs to keep on keeping on! By that I mean continue his pace and play. He had a down year in 2011, but right now he is killing the ball and also pitching well. If he can do this, Brandon could be a useful reliever and also a batting threat as well. His 22 RBI’s through 22 games speak volumes. Meaning if Corbett knocks in one run per game in Columbus, and is in addition complemented by the rest of the lineup, this team has prime chances of winning games! 4) Sam Hatt Mr. Perfect! And by that I mean the fact that he has thrown a perfect game this year and also has an ERA of 0.12 and a 7-1 record!! He is a pitching threat and he is on a roll this year! If he brings that to Columbus other teams will have a tough time getting on base, let alone a hit!! Sam’s batting stats of an OBP of .417 and 34 total bases make him an offensive threat, as well. If Hatt can continue to get on base, that will make it tough for other teams to beat us, when he is complimented by the others in this lineup. 5) Evan Bortmas Evan has not only pitched a perfect game but he is without a doubt one of the league’s best hitters. No matter how hard you pitch, Evan can hit you. His .314 batting average, .450 OBP, .721 SLG and 1.170 OPS speak volumes. Evan also has a 0.45 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 72K’s and a 6-1 record on the hill! If Evan just does what he does, I see him having a lot of success in Columbus! 6) Alex Shore I need to elevate my level of play. As captain of this team, I feel that leading by example will lead these guys to out do me. If I get on base, I feel they will drive me in. 2012 has been a down year for me, but I need to rekindle my 2011 season in which my batting average was .417, my OBP was .516, and my SLG was. 787. My base-running needs to be at its peak considering that is what I do best. Speed and power are a deadly combo, and that has to be present for us to see success in Columbus.

Captain’s Final Note: I know my guys can play with the best of them, I know my guys are tough to beat, and I know for a fact, that we have the best pitching around. It is an honor to have been elected to lead this team as captain. It is an honor to play against some of the best leagues around. It is an even bigger honor to feel that we can walk away champions.

Best of luck to all teams competing. I hope to meet some of you and also have a great time.


Alex Shore ^C
#33 Big Wood - WSEM

Interviews with Your Co-Commissioners

		Captains Corner
		with David Buhr

Most of us have or have had dreams of making it big in some venue somewhere, whether it be sports, music, or television, we would like to have either the fame or the fortune, or both! Why? Because we're selfish, vain, egotistical human beings. As such, we also would love to have our story told by a famous journalist. Sure, I am neither famous nor am I wealthy, but I am here now to feed that egotistical nature, to ask questions about you, not just as a wiffleball player, but as a person as well.

Every couple of weeks I will be interviewing a player, starting with the captains of each team. The first to be interviewed are none other than your co-commissioners and co-captains of the Squirrels, Carl Coffee and Brandon Corbett.




Name: Carl Coffee Jr.
Birthdate: December 18, 1982
Height: Possibly 6 feet
Weight: I like food

1. What gave you the idea to start a Wiffleball League?

It was the only way I could get people to play with me. It's all here - http://wiffleinsemitheskinny.blogspot.com/2011/01/getting-wiffleball-in-palm-of-hand.html

2. How were you able to find people?

God Bless the Internet.

3. How did you come up with the name for your team?

Searched Minor League names, Flying Squirrels stood out.

4. What was your favorite sport growing up?

Baseball with Basketball a close 2nd

5. Favorite Hobby?

Throwing pennies away, SNES, claymation.

6. Were you ever given any cool or weird nicknames?

Triple C, Crazy Carl, Coff, Randy, Doug, The German Giraffe.

7. Ideally, where would you like to see WSEM in 5 years?

I hope it is in good hands. I have two years left in me to stay on as Commish, but hope to captain a team until my legs fall off. I also really hope we can be a top 5 league in the NWLA.

8. Have you ever had any unusual injuries?

You can't hurt me.

9. Since wiffleball is really a smaller scale baseball game, I'd like to ask you who is your favorite MLB player of all time?

90's- Cecil Fielder
00's- Pudge
10's- Cabrera

10. How do you feel about the trash talk that goes on in our league? Do you feel that it's good for the league? Or would you like it to be toned down some?

I hate when people get personal, i.e. making fun of someones appearance, grammar, etc. Trash talk in the field is awesome though!





Name: Brandon Reginald Barclay Corbett, Esq.
Birthdate: The near future
Height: Less than tall
Weight: 40 lb less than my license says

1. What gave you the idea to start a Wiffleball League?

I'm pretty sure I was hoodwinked into it... It wasn't so much wanting to start a Wiffleball league, but more just not wanting Carl to hurt himself. Having done it, though, I have to say the escapism and God-complex in crafting this surreal little nook of the world is pretty fantastic. Oh, and some of the guys are pretty classy dudes, too.

2. How were you able to find people?

It still amazes me that any people came out, and still come out. Early on it was a lot of high school friends, then slowly guys interested in Wiffle, like you and Chad, found us online; Carl's the one who has done almost all of the work when it comes to bringing in new people, but I do know that kidnapping has been very effective.

3. How did you come up with the name for your team?

Well, the London (OH) Tournament that got us started playing this game required teams to have MLB or MiLB team names, and Carl always brought the name back with him. First it was Lugnuts, then Jammers (Jamestown), and finally Flying Squirrels (Richmond). We always just looked for a silly kind of name for this silly kind of game. Squirrels seems to have stuck, though I am subtly trying to replace "Flying" with the abbreviated "F'ing" - you know, for class.

4. What was your favorite sport growing up?

Neighborhood-wide squirt gun fight / tag / capture the flag. More sportingly: lacrosse; nobody knew anything about it. It had mythical qualities.

5. Favorite Hobby?

Does making websites for silly things and going way over the top with them count as a hobby?

6. Were you ever given any cool or weird nicknames?

I wish. My compadres never got past the hockey nickname scheme: Corbs, Corby, etc. Want to bestow one on me now? ... Please?

7. Ideally, where would you like to see WSEM in 5 years?

Sixty strange guys in Chad's backyard having a barbecue. I'd be elated with that.

8. Have you ever had any unusual injuries?

I'm unbreakable, which is shocking since I hate milk.

9. Since wiffleball is really a smaller scale baseball game, I'd like to ask you who is your favorite MLB player of all time?

This is a hard one for me. I root more for the team than the guy in the jersey. I don't really care about the "old-timers" either; no personal investment in any of them. So, it comes down to guys who I just like (or liked) watching play. It has to be Rick "the Wild Thing" Vaughn.

10. How do you feel about the trash talk that goes on in our league? Do you feel that it's good for the league? Or would you like it to be toned down some?

As long as it is kept in a context related to the game it can be cool. Maybe throw in some "yo mama" jokes. When it spills over into personal lifestyle, means, etc. it becomes a problem. Two guys going back and forth ripping on each other's play or hair in the heat of the game can definitely add something to the competitive atmosphere. Obviously, not all sixty of us are going to be "tight bros," but we are all in this silly, little Wiffle community together. I'll steal GSWL's slogan, "a kid's game taken way too far," because I think it says it best; what we're doing out here really is reliving a childhood game and the excitement and fun that goes along with it by going over the top with things like a website, ridiculous articles and a podcast. None of us are world-beaters; we're going back to when baseball was larger than life for us, and we're trying our best to realize Wiffle in that larger than life way now.

Coffee Time: London 2011

		Coffee Time
		by Carl Coffee

For the third straight year and the fifth time in history, Wiffle in Southeast Michigan will bring a team down to London, Ohio, to play in one of the largest slow pitch wiffleball tournaments in the world. Captain Carl Coffee decided awhile back that they would not participate in this years tournament because of the date coinciding with WSEM's final regular season weekend. After changing some dates around, he realized they could go to London.

This years tournament format is different than in years past. Every team will play four round robin games and then will be seeded in a single elimination playoff. The tournament schedule has not yet been released.

In 2004 & 2005, the boys from Downrver Wiffle were the Lugnuts. Tournament Director Brian Wheeler gave the Lugnuts franchise to another group of guys, so when they returned in 2009, they became the Jammers. The Jammers only lasted one year however, because in 2010 they became the Flying Squirrels. This year, they return as the Flying Squirrels and will wear their WSEM light blue jerseys. Here is a year by year look at our tournament records.

2004 Lugnuts: 3-3
2005 Lugnuts: 3-3
2009 Jammers: 6-2
2010 Flying Squirrels: 2-3
Overall: 14-11



Once again, the roster will be different than the year before. Meet the Squirrels!


#18 Carl Coffee ^C - P (5th Year)

Carl Coffee will be making his fifth trip to London. He has been the starting pitcher every year and he will once again hold that position. Carl's veteran leadership is vital this year because he has two rookies on his roster. Carl also brings a solid bat to the lineup and will bat 4th. He can hit to all fields, and thrives when runners are in scoring position.




#17 Brandon Corbett ^A - SS (4th Year)

Brandon Corbett is Carl's only returning player from last years 2-3 team. He has been a part of every London team except for the 2004 Lugnuts. Corbett is the teams shortstop and is a vacuum when ground balls are hit his way. As the teams best all around hitter, he will bat 3rd in the lineup. Corbett has the bat speed to rack up a high home run total.



#0 Chuck Sharkey - RF (2nd Year)

Chuck Sharkey will once again be joining the boys from Michigan. Chuck was an important part of the 2009 team that went 3-0 in round robin play, and then won three more games in the playoffs. Chuck is from the Boston area which is known to produce top notch wiffle talent. He now resides in Virginia, and is excited to return to London. Chuck knows how to get on base and move runners over, so he will bat 2nd. He also is a great defender and covers the field very well.




#5 Alex Shore - LF (1st Year)

Alex Shore will be making his first appearance at London this year. He is the captain of the Westside Warriors and is an important part of WSEM. Speed and baserunning have always been a problem for the Flying Squirrels, so Captain Carl Coffee recruited one of the fastest guys in WSEM. Alex will be asked to play the leftfield, the most important position in the tournament. He also is going to bat leadoff. Oh, and did I mention he is a lefty?



#24 Matt Murtha - UT (1st Year)

Matt Murtha has been a consistent part of the Flying Squirrels in WSEM. He also has tournament experience. In 2009, he participated in Wifflefest, which is an overhand medium pitch tournament near Chicago. Murtha can play any position so he will move around and sub in for the other players at their respective positions. Murtha is also strong pull hitter with good extra base power. He will bat 5th for the Flying Squirrels.