7/8 7/12 7/13 7/13 7/13 7/13 7/13 7/27 7/27 7/27 7/27 7/27 8/2 8/3 8/3 8/9 8/9 8/16 8/23
FS 3|3 FS 0|0 HB 0|2 BW 0|4 EL 1|1 ON 0|0 IS 0|13 EL 1|1 IS 0|0 WW 0|0 ON 3|0 KF 6|3 KF 0|1|0 FS 0 BW 1|2 EL 1|2 R★ 2 BW 0 The
WW 0|0 WA 1|1 KF 1|3 KF 1|10 HB 0|0 WA 3|3 WO 11|8 WA 0|2 WA 3|3 ON 3|3 WW 1|1 WO 0|0 EL 4|0|1 BW 2 WA 0|1 BW 0|0 G★ 0 EL 2 Thrill
MVP
  Evan Bortmas
  Manchester Punchouts
   Batting:  .329 AVG,  .524 OBP,  .861 SLG,  56 H,  20 HR,  8 2B,  55 RBI,  55 R
   Pitching:  0.70 ERA,  0.94 WHIP,  10 W,  136 K,  4.0 K/BB,  2.76 KPI


Clown Shu
  Austin Bischoff
  Whiteford Wicked Aces
   0.49 ERA,  0.68 WHIP,  141 K,  5.22 K/BB,  2.75 KPI,  7 W,  51.1 IP


Rookie of the Year
  Kyle Tomlinson
  Belgian Wiffles
   .346 AVG,  .426 OBP,  .515 SLG,  45 H,  6 HR,  4 2B,  20 RBI,  16 R


Most Improved Player
  Alex Linebrink
  Campus Commandos
   2012 Batting: .260 AVG,  .388 OBP,  .427 SLG,  5 HR,  16 RBI,  11 R
   2011 Batting:  .223 AVG,  .391 OBP,  .289 SLG,  1 HR,  14 RBI

   2012 Pitching: 6.02 ERA,  2.49 WHIP,  84 K,  1.18 K/BB
   2011 Pitching:  8.78 ERA,  3.51 WHIP,  57 K,  0.89 K/BB


Batting Champion
  Evan Bortmas
  Manchester Punchouts
   .389 AVG


Home Run Kings
  Evan Bortmas  and  Dakota LaDouceur
  Manchester Punchouts
   20 HR


Diamond Digits
  Ryan Bullard   Joe Seto
  Flying Squirrels   Donkeys
  Greg Franzen   Sam Hatt
  Mattseals   Manchester Punchouts



Schedule


9 3


6 10


11 3


5 15


6 1


5 5


0 10



Quintin Berries		 7 2
Effin' Squirrels


We had a blast! Racquetball racquets were the favorites, we were proud when we did not strike out with wacky noodles, the "dizzy spin" was hilarious the couple times it got used, all the balls in play (generally used to block bases) were hilariously fun, and this was everything we were hoping for. Okay, the All-Star Game was as one-sided as predicted: 10-0 in favor of Ringler ["Congratulations to Sam Hatt on being named All-Star game MVP. He went 1-3 with a HR, had 4 RBI's and also struck out 5 on the mound. I was very happy to see all 10 All-Stars come to The Club!" - Commish Coffee], but everything else was as off the wall and unpredictable as could be. The Commandos - including Chris Kincaide and Evan Bortmas - scored 14 runs, King Friday - made up of Dennis Pearson, Dylan Braden, Austin Crabtree, and Sam Hatt - scored 16 runs, the Squirrels scored 24, and the Mattseals Quintin Berries scored 25 in the three game pool play. That set the championship at a decided-upon seven inning game between the Squirrels and Mattseals Quintin Berries.

The Berries were made up of Greg Franzen, Chris Paquin (both Seals), Brandon Corbett, Chris Lewis, and Nick Braden. Strangely, the team did best with the yellow bats and the aluminum Easton bat. They almost refused to score runs with the bigger barreled bats, although they loved the racquetball racquets and lit it up with those. Carl Coffee led the Squirrels with a booming, "dad" worthy 4 home runs - 3 with the screwball and 1 with the Pro Stik. Meanwhile, Alex Linebrink put together an impressive "inside the park" cycle in pool play with an inside the park home run (hilariously flag assisted), triple, double and oft-forgotten single.

Stephanie Franzen has this to say about the event:

I felt today was an excellent way to bring friends together from all around the league for a great day of laughs and fun. I notice a lot of times teams don't take the chance to sit and get to know each other when they play their weekly games against each other and today was all about that and showed the true meaning of the league.

Nick Braden similarly chimed in:

I felt like this tournament today was like Columbus but without all the competitiveness.
By which he means a lot of hootenanny, shenanigans, and mischief. All primary qualities in Wiffleball!

Gameday: 8/18 - Finals - Punchouts @ Wicked Aces

Saturday    August 18th    4:30 PM    Poolside Park    Ottawa Lake, MI

  - Whiteford leads series 2-0.
  - Manchester won season series 3-1.
  - Both pitching staffs had a sub-1.00 ERA on the season.
  - Hatt and A. Bischoff are leading candidates for the 2012 Clown Shu.
  - A. Bischoff, Crozier, Hatt, and Bortmas make up 4/5 of the Ringler All-Star team.

Game 3
0 @ 3
  Manchester forfeits  



Game 4
0 @ 3
  Manchester forfeits  



Manchester forfeits on Friday night give Whiteford a 2-0 series lead.

Series Preview:

The two teams everyone has been counting on to show up here. Two "rookie" expansion teams where "rookie" means, "has played longer than most of us have." Two dominant pitching staffs. Two twenty-plus win teams. Two teams that have cracked the NWLA top ten this season. Five perfect game pitchers, all expected to throw in the championship series. Two of the most friendly teams to share the field with.

Pitching
Regular Season
Runs Allowed: 32 
Team ERA: 0.97 
Strike Outs: 365 
BB Allowed: 101 
Hits Allowed: 63 
Team WHIP: 1.00 
Hitting
Regular Season
Runs Scored: 71 
Hits: 147 
Team AVG: .245 
Team OBP: .372 
Team SLG%: .362 
Home Runs: 18 
Pitching
Regular Season
Runs Allowed: 10 
Team ERA: 0.38 
Strike Outs: 338 
BB Allowed: 85 
Hits Allowed: 34 
Team WHIP: 0.91 
Hitting
Regular Season
Runs Scored: 156 
Hits: 173 
Team AVG: .329 
Team OBP: .481 
Team SLG%: .641 
Home Runs: 47 
No one is surprised to see the Punchouts and Aces squaring off for the 2012 Championship, and everyone is excited to see how it plays out. Manchester took the season series 3-1, sweeping the final two games in Whiteford in surprising fashion with twelve unanswered runs. The first two games, however, were decided by one run - 1-0 and 3-2; including an eleven inning game played late into the night under the lights. It is more of the latter that is expected in this championship series than one-sided dominance. Both teams have excellent pitching staffs, including two perfect game throwers for Manchester (Hatt and Bortmas) and three on the roster for Whiteford (Hughes and the brother Bischoff, Austin and Evan). Austin added his second perfect game, the first ever of the WSEM playoffs, in the first game of the semi-finals against the Ducks. Just look to the left or right to see what these staffs are capable of: allowing less than one run per game, and striking out more than 2.2 batters for every one they allow on base.

The Punchouts' 0.59 lower ERA and 29 hits is one thing, both teams numbers are great in that regard, but the one place they truly seem to have the edge is at the plate: 47 home runs (2.61x Whiteford), 156 runs scored (2.2x Whiteford), a team batting average 84 points higher than Whiteford, a team on-base percentage 109 points higher, and a team slugging percentage 278 points higher. It shined in the teams' second meeting, Manchester's best asset is their ability to hit good pitching. They had two 20 home run hitters in Bortmas and LaDouceur during the season, and Bortmas has continued in the playoffs: hitting three in the semi-finals, including a clutch grand-slam.

So, who are the favorites? Most chips will likely fall behind the Punchouts, their 3-1 season series win, and powerhouse offense-pitching combo. However, do not ignore the minority report. The playoffs are a completely different beast than the regular season; things often stand on head, and this would be more of a case of a one-armed push-up in place of using two than any sort of inversion. The Aces are outscoring their opponents (Mattseals and Thunder Ducks) 14-2 in the postseason, with both runs given up on solo home runs. The Punchouts are outscoring their opponent (Belgian Wiffles, excluding Commandos forfeits) 16-7, with all but two runs scored on walks. The Aces seem to have clicked into high gear at the right time to make a charge. Sweeping the reigning champs was a statement, and they will have to keep that momentum going to take down the Punchouts. Manchester just needs to keep doing what they have been doing; their only loss since May was due to lack of control on the mound in inclement weather. Seven games. Who can come out on top four times? This is the most exciting series possible to decide the championship!

Gameday: 8/17 - Finals - Manchester Punchouts @ Whiteford Wicked Aces

Friday    August 17th    6:30 PM    Knockout Park    Manchester, MI

  - Manchester won season series 3-1.
  - Both pitching staffs had a sub-1.00 ERA on the season.
  - Whiteford is undefeated in the playoffs.
  - Hatt and A. Bischoff are leading candidates for the 2012 Clown Shu.
  - A. Bischoff, Crozier, Hatt, and Bortmas make up 4/5 of the Ringler All-Star team.

Game 1
3 @ 0
Manchester Forfeit



Game 2
3 @ 0
Manchester Forfeit


Series Preview:

The two teams everyone has been counting on to show up here. Two "rookie" expansion teams where "rookie" means, "has played longer than most of us have." Two dominant pitching staffs. Two twenty-plus win teams. Two teams that have cracked the NWLA top ten this season. Five perfect game pitchers, all expected to throw in the championship series. Two of the most friendly teams to share the field with.

Pitching
Regular Season
Runs Allowed: 32 
Team ERA: 0.97 
Strike Outs: 365 
BB Allowed: 101 
Hits Allowed: 63 
Team WHIP: 1.00 
Hitting
Regular Season
Runs Scored: 71 
Hits: 147 
Team AVG: .245 
Team OBP: .372 
Team SLG%: .362 
Home Runs: 18 
Pitching
Regular Season
Runs Allowed: 10 
Team ERA: 0.38 
Strike Outs: 338 
BB Allowed: 85 
Hits Allowed: 34 
Team WHIP: 0.91 
Hitting
Regular Season
Runs Scored: 156 
Hits: 173 
Team AVG: .329 
Team OBP: .481 
Team SLG%: .641 
Home Runs: 47 
No one is surprised to see the Punchouts and Aces squaring off for the 2012 Championship, and everyone is excited to see how it plays out. Manchester took the season series 3-1, sweeping the final two games in Whiteford in surprising fashion with twelve unanswered runs. The first two games, however, were decided by one run - 1-0 and 3-2; including an eleven inning game played late into the night under the lights. It is more of the latter that is expected in this championship series than one-sided dominance. Both teams have excellent pitching staffs, including two perfect game throwers for Manchester (Hatt and Bortmas) and three on the roster for Whiteford (Hughes and the brother Bischoff, Austin and Evan). Austin added his second perfect game, the first ever of the WSEM playoffs, in the first game of the semi-finals against the Ducks. Just look to the left or right to see what these staffs are capable of: allowing less than one run per game, and striking out more than 2.2 batters for every one they allow on base.

The Punchouts' 0.59 lower ERA and 29 hits is one thing, both teams numbers are great in that regard, but the one place they truly seem to have the edge is at the plate: 47 home runs (2.61x Whiteford), 156 runs scored (2.2x Whiteford), a team batting average 84 points higher than Whiteford, a team on-base percentage 109 points higher, and a team slugging percentage 278 points higher. It shined in the teams' second meeting, Manchester's best asset is their ability to hit good pitching. They had two 20 home run hitters in Bortmas and LaDouceur during the season, and Bortmas has continued in the playoffs: hitting three in the semi-finals, including a clutch grand-slam.

So, who are the favorites? Most chips will likely fall behind the Punchouts, their 3-1 season series win, and powerhouse offense-pitching combo. However, do not ignore the minority report. The playoffs are a completely different beast than the regular season; things often stand on head, and this would be more of a case of a one-armed push-up in place of using two than any sort of inversion. The Aces are outscoring their opponents (Mattseals and Thunder Ducks) 14-2 in the postseason, with both runs given up on solo home runs. The Punchouts are outscoring their opponent (Belgian Wiffles, excluding Commandos forfeits) 16-7, with all but two runs scored on walks. The Aces seem to have clicked into high gear at the right time to make a charge. Sweeping the reigning champs was a statement, and they will have to keep that momentum going to take down the Punchouts. Manchester just needs to keep doing what they have been doing; their only loss since May was due to lack of control on the mound in inclement weather. Seven games. Who can come out on top four times? This is the most exciting series possible to decide the championship!

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