Derek Radek

Derek Radek

K-9’s (UWIFFS) | DINOS (MAW) | PORK COUNTY PORKERS (LEROY) | LWA RIOT (NWLAT)
ILLINOIS

Wifflers that start playing full time before they are of legal drinking age more-often-than-not end up disappearing from the game for a few years only to get the “itch” once again when their life is a little more settled. Such was the case for Derek Radek who first competed in major competitive Wiffle®Ball tournament in the mid-to-late 2000’s and continued as both a player and organizer in GSWL in the 2010’s before fading out for a few years.

Radek returned for the 2020 United Wiffle®Ball NCT and was immediately re-bitten by the Wiffle® bug. Now in his early 30’s, Derek jumped back into the game headfirst in 2021, competing in two leagues and making it out to both major fast pitch national tournaments.

It was a mixed bag for this Chicagoland player in 2021. He played well in 19 games in Leroy, experienced ups and downs in MAW, struggled with his clean ball command at the NWLA Tournament but kept his team in games, and couldn’t quite recapture his 2020 magic at the 2021 NCT. Nonetheless, not many players logged as many miles as Radek – how many others drove 200 miles to a tournament, played in the morning, drove 200 miles back for a wedding, and then drove 200 miles back to play on Sunday? – or tested himself the way Radek did this year. Now that he’s gotten the reps in and his feet back under him, it wouldn’t be surprising if turns that experience into more consistent success in 2022.