Fresh from Japan, the Wiffle Tigers highlight packed Saturday in York
At an event like the United Wiffle Ball (UWiffs) World Championship Tournament (WCT), there tend to be a few teams that command a disproportionate amount of attention from the sport’s community. Usually, these are past champions or stacked powerhouses, teams like C4, the Phenoms, the Juggernauts, and Black Dog Country Club. Of course, famous teams like MLW become a part of this group as well, attracting the biggest crowds and the most eyes, much like their more accomplished in the play style counterparts. This Saturday, when pool play began at UWiffs WCT, this rule held true, as fans flocked to watch the well-known and highly favored teams. However, there was one team that drew more eyes and interest than any other on this day: the Wiffle Tigers of Saitama, Japan.
Longtime players were already on record talking about how excited they were for the Tigers to be attending the WCT, and what it meant for the sport. As for the Tigers themselves, the feeling was very apparently mutual, as, through their interpreter, they said that when they took the field for their first game, a brutal opening draw facing C4, “it was just a very happy time.”
As for how they became interested in the sport, and the tournament specifically, the Tigers cited having seen the videos and being in contact with Tim Cooke as two major reasons for their eventual involvement in this year’s event at UWiffs. They also mentioned an anecdote wherein they, “received a bat, and using it, it became clear that [they] had to play here.”
While the levels of excitement were astronomical, and they were certainly welcomed jovially by the other teams, the Tigers’ aforementioned on-field debut against C4 was not as smooth as they had hoped; C4 shut them out by a score of 7-0. The Tigers still viewed it as a positive experience after the fact though, saying, “it was good. Getting to play with them was really good.”
With the opening loss, the Tigers had a battle in front of them if they hoped to make it out of Contenders Bracket A, needing at least one win in their next two games to guarantee a fourth game for themselves. In their second game, the Tigers drew K2 (formerly K9), a veteran squad who dropped their own opener by a 10-9 score to the team TC35. It was in this second game that the Tigers were able to fully show their talent live at the competitive scene for the first time, with a 6-2 victory and a spot clinched in at least the Survivors Bracket.
Unfortunately, that would be the only win on the day for this fledgling Tigers team, as they fell to the Ridley Park Magic in their third game of pool play, relegating them to the Survivors Bracket. There they would also come up short against the team Punishment, putting an end to the Tigers’ championship hopes.
While a 1-3 record on the day is not the most impressive on paper, the three teams that beat the Tigers all reached the Elimination Bracket, showing the stiff competition the Tigers drew during the WCT. “It would definitely have been nice to win a little more,” was how the players on the Tigers evaluated their performance on the day. They did seem to be generally pleased with how they fit in though, especially since, according to them, “there is absolutely nothing like this anywhere in Japan.” They truly did fit in talent wise as well, firing in hard, screwing drops and showing impressive plate discipline all day long.
Even if they performed not quite how they had hoped on the field, the presence of the Tigers still loomed large over the People’s Bank Park crowd on Saturday, whether it was with their merchandise being sold, the other players asking for pictures, or the prospect of what they mean for Wiffle ball’s future. To that last point, the Tigers responded with “absolutely” when asked if they will be back next year. And they will continue to grow the game internationally, mentioning knowing or knowing of, “other teams who would love to come here from Japan,” and “teams in South Korea and Australia, at least.” The Tigers have arrived at the world of UWiffs WCT. Thanks to them, the world may soon arrive there too.
