Leaning Golden Man Gathers More Dust as Wiffle House Completes Four-Peat

COWEN PARK — The 2025 World Series brought together two of the league’s most successful franchises in the post-Rish era: the defending champion Wiffle House, chasing a fourth straight title in their fifth consecutive finals, and the Bilabial Stops, making their fifth appearance since 2019 and aiming for their second championship.

The opening ceremonies were the best yet, as Jeff Hanschmann represented his American Dreams with a sweeping solo guitar performance of the national anthem. As Jeff jammed out his final chords, assistant groundskeeper Oscar Rogers fired the ceremonial first pitch, a resounding strike.

What followed was two games that showcased everything Seattle Wiffleball is about — grit, patience, power, and pressure — before the Leaning Golden Man was lifted once again by Wiffle House.

Game 1: Race For Leaning Golden Man Starts With a Marathon

The series opened with fireworks. The Stops stormed out of the gate with four runs in the first inning, keyed by hits from Eddie Brown, Paul Rogers, Kevin Do, Greg Nyssen, and Gideon Manahan.

But House answered, as Rogers found himself unable to put the clamp down from the hill. Liam McFeely went deep in the second, and by the fourth the game was tied at 5–5. The Stops regained a 7–5 lead in the fifth, only for Reed McFeely to turn the game on its head in the bottom of the inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, he crushed a grand slam to left, giving House its first lead of the night.

The Stops fought back in the sixth, trimming the deficit to one and loading the bases with two outs. On pitch number 160, Phillip Thomas reached back and nicked the outside corner for one last strikeout, sealing a 9–8 win and stranding the tying run 45 feet away.

Reed finished the game 3-for-3 with five RBI. Brown had four hits, Nyssen three, and Purcell reached base six times, but 12 runners left on base proved costly.

Game 2: The Dynasty Will Not Be Stopped This Year

The Stops again struck first in Game 2, with Brown and Rogers reaching before Gideon Manahan drove them both in with a two-run double.

From there, it was all House. In the second inning, they sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six, with Sam Thomas delivering a bases-clearing triple and later adding a run-scoring double. He finished with three hits and seven RBIs, stamping his MVP case on the biggest stage.

The McFeely brothers kept the pressure on, combining for seven hits, four RBIs, and seven runs scored. Phillip Thomas crossed the plate three times, while Dustin Diemond reached base three times, scored twice, and added an RBI.

Sam controlled the rest on the mound, scattering seven hits across six innings with six strikeouts on just 82 pitches. The Stops had chances — Brown logged two more hits, while Do, Nyssen, and Purcell reached — but 12 runners were stranded as Wiffle House pulled away to a 13–2 win and the sweep.

Series MVP: Reed McFeely

While Sam Thomas’s Game 2 brilliance stood out, the defining swing of the series came in Game 1. Reed McFeely’s grand slam turned the opener and set the tone. Across two games, he reached base 10 times, scored seven runs, and drove in the most critical RBIs. For that, he was named Series MVP. Maybe there’s something to putting your body on the line and sacrificing a working shoulder in the playoffs.

Respect to Noah and the Unrelenting Stops

The Bilabial Stops once again touted their championship-caliber talent, making their fifth appearance in seven years. Brown’s batting title, Rogers’ two-way play, and Purcell’s poised leadership kept them dangerous throughout. They came within one swing of flipping Game 1, and while Game 2 got away from them, their consistency and presence was evident.

The Stops will forever remain the team you don’t want to face. Between the lines, they are uber competitive and will do just about anything to win. We all know why teams don’t want to see their faces on a Sunday afternoon in Cowen Park — the Stops simply have more talent, and damn do they know it.

A Dynasty Stands Tall

For Wiffle House, the dynasty rolls on: five straight finals, four consecutive titles, and the Leaning Golden Man still firmly in their grip.

Game 1 was survival. Game 2 was dominance. They usually win pretty, but they can certainly win ugly. Together, they underline the same truth — in 2025, the House always wins.