*** Finals Update: Well, it was an impressive run, but it ended for all three Saturday 11/3. King Friday finding their way late in the season finally caught up with them in the Dangerfield Tournament, as they lost out to the 0-10 Pirates of SWBL. Freaky Franchise (OCWA) is the favorite to win the Large League Tourney, so their defeat of our Punchouts was expected. Bad Meets Evil (BWBLPA) versus the Wicked Aces was more up in the air, as their league is lesser known. Bad Meets Evil's 20-0 record was enough to keep their charge going, though, and now we see the two 20-0 juggernauts face off for the championship. Franchise has a lot of backing to be sure, but I think many voters will go with to the "underdog" "undersung" Evil as a push back against all the hype around Franchise. Either way it goes, it is already a win for BWLBPA. This appearance is bringing a lot of new attention to BWBLPA - formerly known only for recently building this beautiful field - and has already brought a few of their players onto the boards, getting their league more involved NWLA.
No championships for WSEM, but many across the NWLA are impressed with two WSEM teams reaching the Large League Final Four, while no teams from perennial power houses like KWL, HRL, or CCWA were able to. Good season, boys! ***
*** 2nd Update: The Punchouts and Wicked Aces are both representing WSEM in the Final Four! They are on opposite sides of the bracket; the Punchouts face Freaky Franchise (OCWA), champions from the NWLA Tournament in July, and the Aces are lined up against Bad Meets Evil (BWBLPA). Both Franchise and Bad Meets Evil both went 20-0 on their seasons, so our Punchouts will have to pull off an upset for the first time this tournament, while it's business as usual for the Aces - having pulled off three straight upsets to get to this position. Carl has put together a piece about the reasons why voters should get behind the Punchouts and Aces; you can listen to that here.
Not to be outdone, King Friday has also advanced to the Dangerfield championship! It seems the universe was well aware of their forfeit-inflated win column and did not punish them for that at all this tournament. Now, that will be tested again though against a no-win team, the 0-10 Pirates from SWBL.
Regardless of performance from here out WSEM has shown very well this year! Having two teams reach the final four in the Large League Tournament is an incredible feat, and tack on another team in the championship of the Dangerfield... Fantastic! Now, someone bring home an e-championship! ***
*** Update: All three teams have advanced. The Punchouts now face the Rough Riders of the WATL in the Riser Region championship. The Wicked Aces upset the two-seed Captains and now play in the Fastball Region championship against the Quackers of the WWL; Real-life anecdote: Austin Bischoff played against Quackers players Regis Pollard and Jordan Shelton at the NWLA Tournament in July. Moving to the Dangerfield Tournament, King Friday finds themselves in the Final Four playing against yet another instate rival, J.A.W.S. of the KWL! ***
The NWLA's annual tournaments are again underway. WSEM is represented in the 64-team Large League Tournament (leagues with 6+ teams), as well as the venerable Dangerfield Tournament to decide the nation's worst team. King Friday carries the banner as an 8-seed in the latter, and has advanced to the second round with a rousing upset of the top-seeded Bakios Ballers from the Mick Fenway Wiffleball League. They now face the Highland Yankees, the fourth seed, from the Hudson Valley Wiffleball League. The winner will move on to play for the Knuckleball Region championship in the "Elite" 8.
In the Large League bracket the Manchester Punchouts and Whiteford Wicked Aces continue the charge in the sweet 16. Most recently the duo dispatched a pair of interstate rivals from the Kalamazoo Wiffleball League in the Round of 32. The sixth seeded Aces garnered respect and dropped Scared Hitless, the 3 seed, in the Fastball Region, and the one-seed Punchouts defeated the storied Friars. To quote Commissioner Coffee, "East side of the state proves we are best!" The Aces also have a win over an Home Run League (Twin Cities) franchise, the Phillies, notched into their belt from the first round. The Punchouts first-round victory in the Riser Region came over the Pirates from the Oatka Wiffle League.
The Thunder Ducks and Flying Squirrels also gained entry to the tournament as a 12 and 15 seed, respectively, in the Curve Region. Both were eliminated in the first round.
No championships for WSEM, but many across the NWLA are impressed with two WSEM teams reaching the Large League Final Four, while no teams from perennial power houses like KWL, HRL, or CCWA were able to. Good season, boys! ***
*** 2nd Update: The Punchouts and Wicked Aces are both representing WSEM in the Final Four! They are on opposite sides of the bracket; the Punchouts face Freaky Franchise (OCWA), champions from the NWLA Tournament in July, and the Aces are lined up against Bad Meets Evil (BWBLPA). Both Franchise and Bad Meets Evil both went 20-0 on their seasons, so our Punchouts will have to pull off an upset for the first time this tournament, while it's business as usual for the Aces - having pulled off three straight upsets to get to this position. Carl has put together a piece about the reasons why voters should get behind the Punchouts and Aces; you can listen to that here.
Not to be outdone, King Friday has also advanced to the Dangerfield championship! It seems the universe was well aware of their forfeit-inflated win column and did not punish them for that at all this tournament. Now, that will be tested again though against a no-win team, the 0-10 Pirates from SWBL.
Regardless of performance from here out WSEM has shown very well this year! Having two teams reach the final four in the Large League Tournament is an incredible feat, and tack on another team in the championship of the Dangerfield... Fantastic! Now, someone bring home an e-championship! ***
*** Update: All three teams have advanced. The Punchouts now face the Rough Riders of the WATL in the Riser Region championship. The Wicked Aces upset the two-seed Captains and now play in the Fastball Region championship against the Quackers of the WWL; Real-life anecdote: Austin Bischoff played against Quackers players Regis Pollard and Jordan Shelton at the NWLA Tournament in July. Moving to the Dangerfield Tournament, King Friday finds themselves in the Final Four playing against yet another instate rival, J.A.W.S. of the KWL! ***
The NWLA's annual tournaments are again underway. WSEM is represented in the 64-team Large League Tournament (leagues with 6+ teams), as well as the venerable Dangerfield Tournament to decide the nation's worst team. King Friday carries the banner as an 8-seed in the latter, and has advanced to the second round with a rousing upset of the top-seeded Bakios Ballers from the Mick Fenway Wiffleball League. They now face the Highland Yankees, the fourth seed, from the Hudson Valley Wiffleball League. The winner will move on to play for the Knuckleball Region championship in the "Elite" 8.
In the Large League bracket the Manchester Punchouts and Whiteford Wicked Aces continue the charge in the sweet 16. Most recently the duo dispatched a pair of interstate rivals from the Kalamazoo Wiffleball League in the Round of 32. The sixth seeded Aces garnered respect and dropped Scared Hitless, the 3 seed, in the Fastball Region, and the one-seed Punchouts defeated the storied Friars. To quote Commissioner Coffee, "East side of the state proves we are best!" The Aces also have a win over an Home Run League (Twin Cities) franchise, the Phillies, notched into their belt from the first round. The Punchouts first-round victory in the Riser Region came over the Pirates from the Oatka Wiffle League.
The Thunder Ducks and Flying Squirrels also gained entry to the tournament as a 12 and 15 seed, respectively, in the Curve Region. Both were eliminated in the first round.
