Top 5 Hitters at the Halfway Point

		The Castle Chronicle
		by David Castle

Kyle Tomlinson (El Diablos) It’s no surprise that this kid is on the top of the list, after facing the likes of Farkas and Austin Bischoff, he is still batting an astounding .370 while compiling a league best 34 hits. In my opinion, he is the toughest out in WSEM. .370 AVG | .707 SLG% | 7 HR | 26 RBI		David Castle (King Friday) Castle is picking up right where he left off in 2013 with a solid first half of the 2014 season. He is near the top in every offensive category with a .365 average and 6 big jacks. He quietly putting together a solid 2014 campaign. .365 AVG | .746 SLG% | 6 HR | 19 RBI
Dennis Pearson (Holy Balls) After a very slow start, Dennis is back in the upper echelon in just about every hitting category with 9 homers and 25 RBIs. He also is touting a pretty good average for a guy not really known for his plate discipline with a .343 average. .362 AVG | .768 SLG% | 9 HR | 25 RBI		Evan Bortmas (Westside Warriors) Having only 10 games played this year, I didn’t really look at his stats for his ranking. Everyone in the league knows this guy can hit the ball, and he will continue to do so. .311 AVG | .422 SLG% | 1 HR | 10 RBI

Dylan Braden (Holy Balls) D is having a very good year that is going unnoticed. He has a .324 average and has managed to hit 7 bombs to go along with 22 RBI. This guy deserves more recognition and will get it if he continues to rip the cover off the ball. .324 AVG | .732 SLG% | 7 HR | 22 RBI

Early Season Top 5 Pitchers

		Coffee Time
		by Carl Coffee

5. – Trey Jardine

(Oakland County Onanism)

The most important asset a team can have is a steady ace pitcher who can throw strikes. Teamed up with Kiefer Haffey, the two Onanism pitchers have given the mostly rookie expansion squad a nice 5-3 early start. Trey is responsible for three of those wins, which is tied for the league lead. Trey has a unique pitching technique as he pitches from the stretch instead of winding up. He is also a rare lefty pitcher. Trey will be given the opportunity to pitch every other game for the Onanism, and if he continues his hot start, he should easily be in the Ringler pitcher All-Star conversation.

4. – Brandon D'Agnese

(Flying Squirrels)

It is probably not fair to put a pitcher who has only thrown one game on this list, but when that one game is 18 innings long and he had 41 strike outs and allowed no runs, that pitcher deserves to be on this list. The non-Constanti lookalike D’Agnese is the ace pitcher the Squirrels desperately needed in order to be competitive. His one game was truly a game for the ages, as Brandon went toe to toe against another stud rookie pitcher, Stephen Farkas. We will know a lot more about Brandon in the upcoming weeks as the Squirrels play eight games the next two weeks, and if everything falls into place, he will get four of those starts.

3. – Craig Skinner

(El Diablos)

All Craig has done this season is go 3-1 with a 0.68 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP, and that puts him at #3?!? Yep. We have seen some outstanding pitching performances in the league, and Craig has once again shined early in the season. The reigning Clown Shu and El Diablos ace has picked up right where he left off in 2013, and I don’t ever expect him to fall off of this list for the next two additions. The Garcia division is no longer the pushover division it used to be, so Craig will really need to step up and carry the load if the ‘Blos want to repeat as division champs.

2. – Austin Bischoff

(Wicked Aces)

Mr. Reliable, Austin Bischoff, remains on the list to no one’s surprise. The Aces only play four games in the first five weeks, so we have a very small sample size for the defending champs in the early season. The games Austin did play were very windy, but he managed to go 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. His six walks in only 7 2/3 innings is high for Austin, but it’s probably due to the wind. Like Craig, Austin will stay on this list all season unless his arm falls off, but where on the list is the real question? We now have the reigning Clown Shu at #3 and the National Pitcher of the Year at #2. #deargoodness

1. – Stephen Farkas

(Belgian Wiffles)

Belgian’s ace rookie has video game stats, and I always have to look at them 4-5 times to make sure they are real. In three games he already has 82 strike outs and has a WHIP of 0.30. That means on average it takes over three innings for him to allow a runner to reach base. The reality though, Farkas is currently riding a back-to-back perfect game streak where he has struck out 35 of 36 batters. Farkas does have a loss, as he gave up a home run in the 18 inning marathon game vs. the Squirrels, but to his defense he did pitch 17 scoreless innings prior to the homer. Farkas is a unique guy with silly antics, but when he is on the mound it is all business.

Preseason Top 5 Hitters

		The Castle Chronicle
		by David Castle

So far this offseason we have put together rankings for just about everything, from the most underrated players in the league, to the fields we play on in WSEM. This article will just add to that notion as I rank the Top 5 hitters in all of WSEM.

Before the switch to the Griffey and ProStix bats, this was without a doubt a pitchers league, however now it’s a totally different game, one where hitters can thrive. Just like Carl, I will also release the Top 5 Hitters rankings four times throughout the year: preseason, two in the midseason, and after the season is over.

5.  David Castle  -  Westside Warriors

He had his best season offensively in his short 2 years in the league, batting over .400 and coming in second to only “The GOAT” (Dennis Pearson) in home runs with 13. It will be hard to repeat in 2014 with more teams becoming more talented, but not many can say they hit 2 homeruns off of Sam Hatt in the same game; Hatt should be thankful that Castle is on his team this year.

4.  Dakota Ladouceur  -  El Diablos

Dakota can be very clutch, but at times he can be as streaky as my underwear. He knows how to hit the ball all over the field and has above average power. Having a .326 average in a league with some of the most dominant pitching in all of the country isn’t an easy task and I salute him for that. However, this year I look for his average to dip a little and his power numbers to go up to pick up the production lost by Nicco.

3.  Dennis Pearson  -  Holy Balls

I had the privilege to play on Dennis’ team for a handful of games before the Ducks franchise sank. I don’t think I have ever seen any one hit wiffle balls as far as Dennis does, it’s a sight to see. He handedly won the homerun title hitting 22 long balls, 9 more than the second place hitter, and in the 2014 season, he will eclipse the 30 homer mark with ease.

2.  Kyle Tomlinson  -  El Diablos

I think the number two and one spots on this list can be interchangeable, however I put KT here because he isn’t as good of a hitter against top notch pitching as Evan Bortmas is. I’m not saying Kyle is a bad hitter in any way, shape, or form. After all, he did win the 2013 league MVP by batting over .400, having over 40 RBIs, and hitting 10 big jacks. I can see him repeating his MVP season with no problem.

1.  Evan Bortmas  -  Westside Warriors

Evan Bortmas can straight up hit the ball. He can utilize the whole field and can also hit for monster power. He had an awesome season last year hitting over .400, having just under 40 RBIs, and 10 homers. The way he can hit proven pitching is just amazing, he can take over an entire series with his bat, which not many players can do. I believe he will win his second MVP this year, by putting on a clinic at the plate.

Preseason Top 5 Pitchers

		Coffee Time
		by Carl Coffee

Back in 2011 I used to only rank the Top Five pitchers in the league. Pitching dominance at that time was so rare, guys like Maclin Malloy and Joe Seto would be on the list. Then for the next two seasons I changed it to a Top Ten list. I had no trouble including everyone who deserved to be included. I could once again go with ten, but I think the best way to have any sort of debate or controversy is to go back to only five.

As the Power Ranking Czar of WSEM, I get bored limiting it to just the teams. My hope for the 2014 season is to release the Top Five pitcher rankings four times throughout the season: preseason, two in the midseason, and after the season.

5.  Chandler Phillips  –  El Diablos

Everything that RJ Fisher is as a #2, Chandler is the exact opposite. He doesn’t fly under the radar, he isn’t quiet, and he is the face of the Fighting Chickens, which isn’t an easy task since the team has both the MVP and the Clown Shu. Chandler doesn’t have a single award, but he is still a feared pitcher. He knows Skinner is the ace, and excels as a #2. Even though I didn’t take this into account, all he did in the NWLA Tournament as the youngest player there was finish 2nd in ERA behind Ryan Bush. I expect Chandler to be in the Top Five all season. He is only going to get better.

4.  RJ Fisher  –  Whiteford Wicked Aces

I want to put Sam Hatt here, but it doesn’t appear he will get to the 30 inning mark, which is what you need to be eligible for the league leaders. Instead, I put a guy here who only pitched 21 1/3 innings last year. RJ was the #2 pitcher for the champion Wicked Aces last season and quietly was dominate. He only went 3-0 in five starts, but I expect him to pitch a lot more in 2014. He should be around 8-10 starts, and could very well win each of them. RJ in my opinion is the most underrated player in the league and probably hates being ranked this high. He will no longer fly under the radar though, and expect him to have an All-Star caliber season.

3.  Will Mundel  -  Islanders

This one was tough for me, especially when you look at Mundel’s stats from 2013. However, you can’t look at his 2013 stats at all if you want to fairly evaluate him. It was on the job training for Mundel last season as he was found playing catch on Belle Isle before an Islanders game. Those first few starts for him at their windy home field were disastrous. The more he pitched, the more accurate he got. He still earned an All-Star spot and pitched very well in the All-Star game. For this season, you may still see a lot of walks from Mundel because like I pointed out earlier, he plays on one of the windier fields in the league. So you probably won’t see his WHIP dip below the 1.00 mark. He will however be up there in strike outs and wins, and could very well be in the Clown Shu conversation.

2.  Craig Skinner  –  El Diablos

2013 was the year of Craig Skinner. In 11 starts, Skinner went 9-2 with a 0.37 ERA and a 0.72 WHIP. The new bats and the three extra feet had zero negative effect on El Diablos ace, as he took home the Clown Shu. Skinner is expected to once again get a lot of work on the mound this season, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him close to 12 starts. Skinner has the best chance to take the #1 spot away from Austin, and could be our first two-time Clown Shu winner.

1.  Austin Bischoff  –  Whiteford Wicked Aces

Nobody is going to be surprised with the first two guys on this list, but I still have to rank them. Austin is the ace on a team full of aces. He is extremely unselfish which ended up costing him the Clown Shu last season. He won’t be close to 14 starts in 2014, but will probably be in the 8-10 range. Austin is very dominant at home where he benefits from an inclined mound, but also can shut down teams on the road. Austin has made a name for himself on the national stage as well, winning the National Pitcher of the Year Wiffy Award in 2013. If Austin wants to stay at #1 all year, he can, he just needs to be a little more selfish.

Honorable Mention:  Evan Bischoff (Whiteford Wicked Aces),  Dennis Pearson (Holy Balls),  Evan Bortmas (Westside Warriors)

Top 5 Hitters at the Halfway Point

		Coffee Time
		by Carl Coffee

#5 - Dylan Braden - Git r' Done

Preseason Rank: Not Ranked

Dylan Braden cracks the list at #5, narrowly beating out Bobby Hoppe, Jeff Biegas, and Brian Constanti. The deciding factor are his power numbers. Dylan is tied for 2nd in home runs at 7, and his 21 RBIs rank 3rd. Dylan is one half of the DD Boys, and I did predict these two would both be Top 5 In home runs this year. I have no doubt that prediction will come true when the season closes.

#4 - Alex Shore - Westside Warriors

Preseason Rank: Not Ranked

In the mess that is the Westside Warriors, their only consistent player has been captain Alex Shore. Their four wins are all because of clutch hitting performances from Alex, and I put clutch performances on a pedestal. Alex is easily the most powerful and dangerous lefty in the league with 6 home runs, and many times that lefty power can cause trouble for opposing defenses. With Nick Woods leaving the team, Alex now has to carry the load as the offensive leader for the Warriors.

#3 - Joe Seto - Campus Commandos

Preseason Rank: Not Ranked

What doesn't Joe Seto do? Mr. Seto made both lists at #3. In the very first game of WSEM history, Joe went 5 for 7 with 4 home runs and 10 RBIs. We knew he couldn't keep up a pace like that, but he hasn't fallen off very far. His AVG, SLG, and OPS numbers are among the best in the league, and his six home runs put him in a tie for 3rd. Who would have thought this Donkey would make such a big splash as a Commando?

#2 - Dennis Pearson - Git r' Done

Preseason Rank: #3

Dennis Pearson joins Joe Seto as another player on both lists. Dennis barely missed being #1 on both lists, but I wouldn't put it past him to have that honor when the season closes. Dennis leads the league in 2 of the 3 Triple Crown categories (HR, RBI), and is 2nd in AVG. Dennis has one simple strategy when at the plate, and it is the same strategy when he pitches: HE GOES ALL OUT! Dennis swings for the fences every at bat, and that strategy has obviously paid off.

#1 - Joey DeLano - Wiffling DeLoppes

Preseason Rank: #1

Did I put Joey at #1 so I could get one of my predictions right, or because I didn't want Dennis to be #1 on both lists? How dare you ask that! Joey DeLano deserves this spot. He leads the league in AVG, and I also say he leads in OBP, since the two guys ahead of him are part timers. When you break down every stat, AVG and OBP are the two most important stats offensively [Ed. note: Really? Not SLG?]. Another reason DeLano beat out Dennis is because of his lightning quick speed. His nine doubles and three triples both lead the league, and he leads his team in home runs at four. I've often said there's only two ways of getting Joey DeLano out: striking him out, or have him pop out. When this guy puts one on the ground, he will be on base.

I did a little better in the hitters' rankings, getting 2 of 5 right. #5 Nick Woods (WW), #4 Brandon Corbett (FS), and #2 Brian Constanti (AK) all dropped out of the rankings. When I do an end of the year rankings for hitters, I will change it to top 10. Too many players with great half seasons were left off this list. On podcast #4, I will make sure the guys left out will get some love.

Top 5 Pitchers at the Halfway Point

		Coffee Time
		by Carl Coffee

With most teams at or near the half way point of the season, it is time for new Top 5 rankings! Well, before the season even started I ranked both the Top 5 pitchers and the Top 5 hitters. Those rankings were based on past stats and the potential I saw in those players. These rankings will be a lot easier, since I have actual stats to base the rankings off of. Looking at the new rankings: I was more wrong than right. But hey, who takes preseason rankings seriously? Enjoy!

#5 - Chuck Weiler - Belgian Wiffles

Preseason Rank: Not Ranked

When I ranked the Top 5 pitchers, I had no problem figuring out the first four, #5 was tough though. It was a toss up between Cliff Comstock of the Wiffling DeLoppes and Chuck, but in the end I had to give it to Chuck. Even though the Belgian Wiffles have only played eight games, it is obvious that Chuck has the stuff of an ace. If I had to put money on it, I would even say he will move up in the Top 5 rankings when I do them one last time at the end of the season. Chuck leads the league in ERA, and as the season progresses, he will be right up there in strike outs and wins too.

#4 - Michael Constanti - Ass Kickers

Preseason Rank: Not Ranked

No, this is not a typo; Michael is now the better pitcher of the two Constanti brothers. No one fell farther from my preseason list than #1 ranked Brian Constanti, and no one on the new list surprised me more than Michael. With rumors of Brian holding back his best stuff, Michael has not been shy to bring it. His 69 K's rank 3rd, while his 2.06 ERA ranks 4th. The Ass Kickers are very fortunate Michael has performed this way, and I am very curious to see if he can keep it up.

#3 - Joe Seto - Campus Commandos

Preseason Rank: Not Ranked

Joe Seto has put the Commandos on his back and carried them to a shocking and very impressive start. Joe eats up many innings for his team, and you have to wonder if he will hold up. Joe leads the league in innings at 38, but yet, only has walked 11 batters. He also is 2nd in K's at 74, and many of those come at clutch times. Joe won't over power you with lightning stuff, but it doesn't seem to matter.

#2 - Chad Hoppe - Wiffling DeLoppes

Preseason Rank: #3

Oh hey, one of my preseason ranked guys made this list! Is Chad Hoppe the ace of the Wiffling DeLoppes? Yes. Is Chad Hoppe the reason for the DeLoppes impressive start? Kinda. The Wiffling DeLoppes have a deep roster with two starting pitchers (C.Hoppe, Comstack) and two relief pitchers (B. Hoppe, McDonald). I make these points not to downplay anything Chad has done, but to praise him for his superior managing skills. Now lets talk about his own pitching talents. Chad is second in the league in ERA at 1.43, and 4th in K's at 63. I have no doubt when the playoffs start, Chad will even take his stuff a notch or two higher, and that will be frightening.

#1 - Dennis Pearson - Git r' Done

Preseason Rank: Not Ranked

I was skeptical to put Dennis in my preseason rankings because of his wild throwing. He is much improved in that category, and his 37 walks compared to 82 K's is why I put him at #1. You can also look at his 2.32 ERA which ranks him 5th and ask, how that is #1 worthy? Well in the opening weekend, Dennis was injured from pitching too much in our April tournament and was pitching at probably 50%. He got knocked around by the DeLoppes and the Mattseals but he is back at full strength now. One reason why he is back at full strength and staying healthy is he has given Dylan Braden 23 innings. When Dennis is on, he is unhittable, simple as that.

Well, I got 1 out of 5 right. Mendoza lined it. The four pitchers who dropped from my rankings are: #5 Dylan Braden (GD), #4 Maclin Malloy (WW), #2 Brandon Corbett (FS), and #1 Brian Constanti (AK). It has been a very unpredictable half season and if that is any measure to how the rest plays out, the next rankings could change just as much.

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!

-
Carl Coffee
Flying Squirrels, 18, SS
Chief Wiffling Officer

Coffee Time: Top 5 Pitchers

		Coffee Time
		by Carl Coffee

My first "Coffee Time" article for The Skinny will focus on the most important player on any wiffleball team: the pitcher. From when we first started hosting wiffleball tournaments in 2005 to this past year, every winning team road the coattails of a hot pitcher. David Negele, Joe Emery, Eric Falletich, Brian Constanti, and Brandon Corbett all were the reasons why their teams won their respective tournaments. We currently have six teams signed up for our inaugural season, so this will rank the top 5 pitchers in the league from those teams. I am going to use past stats, personal experience hitting off of these pitchers, and future potential. Enjoy!

#5 Dylan Braden [Git r Done]

Dylan of Git r Done is one the youngest and most talented players in the league. His team shocked everyone in the 2010 Flag-a-Palooza by reaching the finals. This young gun was the reason for their success that day. He won 3 games for his team with a 2.83 ERA while striking out 36 batters, which included 4 first pitch strike outs. Dylan is only going to get better this season and in my opinion is a potential MVP. Although he made this list at #5, he may not even pitch much this season. Teammate Dennis Pearson appears to be his team’s number one pitcher. If that's the case, then Dylan will easily be the best number two pitcher in the league.

#4 Maclin Malloy [Westside Warriors]

Maclin Malloy is next on the list at four, but ranks first in the league for coolest name. When the Warriors made their debut at the Flag-a-Palooza last year it appeared they used trial and error to find their number one pitcher. After watching Whelan, Woods, and Shore all try their hand, Malloy took the mound and ran away with the job. He pitched 21 innings that day: winning 3 games, striking out 26, including 4 first-pitch K's, and had a 1.43 ERA. Malloy wasn't able to play at the Hoppes September tournament, so I haven't been able to see that much of him, but his stats do not lie. I expect big things from him this summer.

#3 Chad Hoppe [Wiffling DeLoppes]

Although Chad Hoppe ranks in at #3, in my opinion he is the poster boy for pitchers in our league. There isn't a team out there who depends more on one player. With that said, I have to rank him here because in the three tournaments his team has played in he hasn't been to a championship game. The one thing that is stopping Chad from being #1 is run support. When you see Chad on the mound, you think to yourself "I can hit this guy", then before you know it he hangs a curveball on the first pitch that somehow hits the corner and you are out. In the three tournaments Chad has played in he has put up some incredible stats. His three ERA's have been (1.54, 1.56, and 1.38) and he has a combined 98 Ks! I've gone to bat against Chad many times and you definitely have to be on your toes. Along with his pitching he is also one of the best defensive pitchers in the league, and always knows where to be when the ball is in play. I may regret putting him at #3...

#2 Brandon Corbett [Flying Squirrels]

I've been playing wiffleball with and against Brandon now for over six years and it is crazy to see him dominate at pitching like this. When we first started playing competitive wiffleball in 2005, this guy wasn't even a pitcher! It wasn't until 2009 when we put together a team and realized none of us were pitchers that he jumped on the mound and quickly learned the role. You can easily notice the improvement Brandon has made if you look at the stats from the three tournaments he has pitched in. First case in point, ERA: (2.94, 1.11, 0.26). Second case in point, Ks: (13, 17, 20). Third and final case in point, Wins: (1, 2, 4). In every single tournament Brandon has gotten better. At the Hoppe's September tournament he only gave up one earned run in 19 innings! Getting about one per inning he doesn't rack up the strike outs like Chad does, but as his short stop I know what he does better than anyone in the league... get ground ball outs. Brandon is a very accurate pitcher which means the batters take a lot of defensive swings against him. Defensive swings equal ground balls, which equal easy outs. It is going to be tough to improve on his last pitching performance at the Hoppes, but I wouldn't bet against him!

#1 Brian Constanti [Newport Ass Kickers]

I had a tough time deciding whether or not to rank a player at #1 who has only pitched in one tournament over two guys (Chad, Brandon) who have pitched in three. I thought if over and then I reread Brian's stats from the 2010 Flag-a-Palooza tournament; at that point my decision was easy. Much like the Warriors, Brian and team Kickass did not know who their pitcher would be at the start of the day. Once Brian took the hill, they found their guy. Brian won an amazing 5 games for his team that day, and only allowed 2 runs in 29 innings (0.34 ERA). His fastball had so much late movement, it was virtually unhittable. Brian struck out 42 batters in the tournament and easily won the MVP award. When I found out that his team was joining our league, (Newport Ass Kickers) it got me very excited. Having the chance to bat against great pitchers is an exciting challenge, and there is nothing more satisfying than getting a big hit off them or beating them on the field. If he can continue to pitch like he did in the Flag-a-Palooza, Brian and his team will be a favorite to win it all.

I hope you enjoyed my rankings. When the season gets underway and we start playing some games, I will adjust the rankings every month or so. I look forward to hitting against all of you!

-
Carl Coffee, 18, SS
Flying Squirrels Captain
Commissioner of WSEM