[MAW] 9 Random Opening Day Tournament Observations

By: Nick Schaefer

Let’s go around the field.

1. Two Firsts

The first tournament is important. You want to get off to a good start to the season and begin the journey towards the playoffs in September. The first game of the tournament is also important. With 3 pool play games, winning or losing the first game often determines whether a team makes it to the playoff round.

Opening day showed another important first…the first pitch.

There were 2 massive first pitch homeruns. Jordan Robles hit a first pitch homerun against Ty Wegrzyn in the top of the first in the quarterfinals to give his Voodoo squad a 1-0 lead against the Stags. That homerun set the tone for the rest of the game.

Perhaps the day’s biggest (and most exciting) homerun was Mike Hogan of the Great Lakes Legion.  Hogan hit a walk-off grand slam that changed the course of the day for 2 teams. More on this below.

Warning: Be careful pitchers. Don’t assume someone won’t swing at the first pitch, whether it is the start of a game, inning or extra innings.

2. Smile, camera, action

The Great Lakes Legion incredible win in extra innings against the Wiffaholics brought them so much joy. The grand slam in the bottom of the 6th by Mike Hogan was as unlikely/unexpected as it was incredible. Great Lakes were having some trouble, to say the least, against Mike Tuohy from the Wiffaholics.

The Great Lakes batters didn’t put a ball in play, not even sure they even had a foul ball. The walk-off grand slam not only won the game but it also got Great Lakes into the play-in playoff game. Seeing them celebrate this unlikely victory was a thrill for all those watching, except the Wiffaholics of course.

3. Terrific Talent

Talent, talent, and more talent. It was like the who’s who of wiffle ball. There were players trying to make a name for themselves, experienced stars, many past tournament champions, and lots of national champs. Oh and of course past legends, including welcome back Joe Nord and Kenny “Moonlight” Rodgers.

4. The Wild Wild South-Central Pennsylvania

Wiffleball is consistently has a lot of unusual events and plays during the tournament. Opening day was without exception. We saw not 1, but 2 games effected/decided by wild pitches.

Nobody would have predicted the first run in the opening game between the NY Meats and Unleashed would have been scored by a wild pitch. Most would have guessed Jimmy Cole would have hit one of his deep blasts or that Joe Nord would have sent one over the fence. But instead, in a scoreless game in extra innings, Cole stunningly missed the backstop to allow the game’s first run. The Meats ultimately went on to lose 3-1 to Unleashed.

Surprisingly, we saw a similar situation later in the day. Except it was an even bigger moment. In the semi finals in extra innings, Johnny Costa of ERL threw a wild pitch and the Juggs won the game on a walk off wild pitch. Yes, that is correct. A walk off wild pitch. It completed the Juggs comeback to secure a place in the finals.

5. A winner despite the loss

Mike Tuohy of the Wiffaholics might have been the losing pitcher against Great Lakes, but his performance was magnificent. Tuohy was dominant, striking out the first 15 batters of the game. The Wiffaholics ultimately lost the game, but Tuohy should keep his head up. The end result doesn’t tell the true story of his performance. He was in total control and basically un-hittable for the first 15 batters!

 6. The Juggernauts are Elite

The Juggs showed they mean business on opening day. They earned the first seed after going 3-0 in pool play then beat ERL in the semis and East Coast Elite to capture the belt. They set the tone for what they are hoping results in winning the championship in the fall.

7. Strategy game

Take over the world in this game of strategy conquest. In this game, the goal is simple: players aim to conquer their enemies’ territories by building an army, moving their troops in, and engaging in battle. Depending on the roll of the dice, a player will either defeat the enemy or be defeated. This exciting game is filled with betrayal, alliances, and surprise attacks. On the battlefield, anything goes!

That is actually the description of Risk from Hasbro Gaming, but it could have easily described some of the strategy going on during the wiffleball tournament. Opening day featured a ton of strategy: pitching rotations, relief pitchers, sitting players out, DHing players and batting 3, to name a few.  

Wiffleball has evolved a lot over the years, and strategy is one of those areas.

8. Low and high velocity

Well, technically both represent hard hits, but there were a number of homeruns that off the bat seemed like the third baseman could have a play on the ball, only for it to go over the wall. For example, Rob Piervinanzi seemed like he might have a play on Tim McElrath’s walk-off grand slam until it kept rising, Kenny Stengel both hit low line drive homer in pool play, and Mike Hogan’s game winner versus Wiffaholics barely made it over the fence on Buffalo.

On the other side, Ben Stant and Tim McElrath decided to not mess around and crushed homers into the trees during the finals.

9. Sportsmanship

Wiffle remains a unique sport were lots of players were former or even current (different leagues) teammates.

The friendliness doesn’t end there. Despite wanting to destroy each other during the games, there was a lot incredible sportsmanship on display. From check swings, to calling off a fly ball tag because it was said too late, to deciding whether the ball hit the strike zone. No other professional sport is played by and umpired by the players.