The 2021 World Series began with pageantry (a Bobby Vandais national anthem, along with old-timey bunting hung from the outfield fence), and proved entertaining for a presumably record crowd.
Game 1 featured the two staff aces going head to head, with Karl Koch on the mound for the Washout and Sam Thomas for Wiffle House. The two kept offenses at bay, while both teams played small ball. Reed McFeely doubled home the first run of the World Series for Wiffle House, and Jason Ciummo had two RBI singles to give the Washout a 3-1 lead after four innings. Quinn Thomas provided the game’s biggest hit in the top of the 5th, a 3-run go-ahead blast to give Wiffle House a 4-3 lead. With backs against the wall, Matt McGiveron doubled home the tying run for the Washout in the final frame, only to have Sam Thomas strand the winning run at 3rd with consecutive clutch strikeouts. After Jonathan Stevens ended the top of the 7th with an unassisted lineout double play, he also ended the game with a two-out walk-off jack, his second walkoff of the playoffs.
With their #1 pitcher spent, Wiffle House turned to Quinn Thomas to save their season. He delivered a shutdown performance, stranding 15 baserunners to allow two runs over six innings. This one was over early, with the House taking a 5-1 first inning lead thanks to 4 RBI walks and a Quinn Thomas single, a lead which slowly increased and was never threatened. Literally the most interesting part of this game was the arrival of Wiffle House fans bringing a full sized couch to Cowen Park.
In the critical third game, the momentum swung back and forth. The offenses came back to life, with the lead seesawing between the teams. The third inning came to define the game. With a “two outs, who cares” attitude, the Washout plated 7, turning a 5-4 deficit into an 11-5 advantage. The rally featured a game-breaking grand slam from Jonathan Stevens followed by a two-run blast from Andrew Winter. The game felt in control for the Washout, only to have Phil Thomas provide a clutch homer in a fifth inning rally to cut the deficit to 11-9 and put Wiffle House back in striking distance. Matt McGiveron plated Daniel Rish in a pinch hit appearance in the bottom of the 5th, and Jeff Hanschmann recorded the final outs with the tying run on deck to put the series on ice.
Wiffle House ends the 2021 season having earned the respect of the league, battling back from a 1-5 start to an 11-7 regular season, 2 playoff series victories, and with the crown in reach until the final outs were recorded. The Washout finished the season proving beatable, but unconquerable, recording 4 regular season series sweeps, 5 splits, and no series losses. Both playoff series went the distance but ended with the Washout on top for their first title since 2015.
Hanschmann Wins Home Run Derby
Jeff Hanschmann of the West Coast Washout won the home run derby Sunday, recording 10 homeruns in the final round to defeat finalists Nick Usoff and Sam Thomas. Hanschmann recorded 10, 9 & 10 home runs in the timed rounds. Rounds were 90, 60 & 60 seconds.
Brown wins Fastest Strike competition
Eddie Brown won the fastest strike competition, throwing a pitch 85 mph right down the pike. Andrew Winter was 2nd at 83 mph. Nick Usoff gets an honorable mention for throwing a 90 mph strike in warmups, but none of his 3 official pitches hit the zone.
Winter's Buckler wins Filthiest Pitch Competition
After lighting up the radar gun in the Fastest Strike competition, Andrew Winter featured a nasty slurve to win the first ever filthiest pitch competition. Three judges scored pitchers on a scale of 1-5, considering deceptiveness, movement, and location. Paul Rogers' submarine "rise and fade" led the scoring in the first round before Winter found his location to snatch the victory.
Uncharacteristically Awesome Photography
Shoutout to Hin Kei Wong for the great photos, thank you!
