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End of Regular Season Captains Poll
by: Steve Dotzel
(posted Saturday, August 28, 2021)
And just like that, the season is over. 2021 had its ups and downs but overall I think the BWBL had a pretty good season and kept things interesting right down to the final few series of the year. I wanted to wrap things up with one last Captain’s Poll, the first since July 18th, just to gauge what everyone was thinking headed into the playoffs. I imagine this will be the last article I write for the season, except for maybe an Awards run-down, so I hope you’ve enjoyed the polls, milestones, stats, and scenarios I have posted over the course of the year. Let’s see how the Captains have voted.
8. Waffle Bombers
No surprise here of course after finishing the season 0-20. If looking for a silver lining, the last BWBL team to go winless turned around and won the championship the following season. I’m not sure that will be in the cards for the Bombers but if they come back, I’d certainly expect some improvement. Anybody will tell you experience is a huge factor in wiffleball.
7. Roadkill
A disappointing debut season I’d imagine for the Kraus brothers, but with a roster as large and in-flux as there’s was all year, it’s hard to have much consistency. A positive takeaway for Roadkill however is some of these guys can actually hit. A more consistent roster and some pitching development and these guys could certainly find themselves in the Bases Loaded-Wiffleball Junkies level of teams next season.
6. Bases Loaded
I think Bases Loaded pretty much finished the season right about where they would have expected to be, fighting for the final playoff spot right down to the last week of the season. Unfortunately for them that went to the Junkies but Bases Loaded had some bright spots, such as Gerald who threw some really good games throughout the season.
5. Wiffleball Junkies
It came down to the wire but the Junkies were able to secure a playoff spot in the final series of the year. The Junkies had their struggles this year but despite that do end the season with wins over Kings of the North, Scared Hitless (2), and False Idols. It’s no secret their playoffs will go as far as my arm will take them, hopefully that can be pretty far. The Junkies will meet Scared Hitless in the play-in game.
4. Scared Hitless
After some struggles early in part to a difficult schedule, Scared Hitless was able to find their way into the playoffs fairly easily. They head into the playoffs in a similar spot to their 2020 championship run, with a matchup against the Junkies in the play in game. Last year they won that game 1-0 on a 5th inning RBI single. On paper, this looks to be another tight one with the Junkies. The Junkies swept the season series but one of those games went to extra innings and the other was decided by just 1 run. I expect Nick Pugh to get the nod and we’ll see if the 2020 hero can carry the team once again.
3. Kings of the North
Speaking of early season struggles that could also be said for the Kings who were winless all the way up until July 11th. Of course, they didn’t play that many games up until then but they made up for it with plenty down the stretch.
2. 1776
For the first time this season, 1776 does not find themselves at the top of the poll. It is also the first time they did not receive the majority of the 1st place votes, 3 this time around. I think the drop is more of a compliment to False Idols than a knock on 1776. While everyone was anticipating the 1776 – Idols show down last week, with little to play for 1776 pumped the brakes and didn’t show too much. If we are to get that long awaited matchup, it’ll be in the championship.
1. False Idols
With 5 1st place votes, False Idols jump to the top spot for the final poll of 2021. On the mound the Caladie brothers put together one of the best 1-2 punch performances in league history. Brett became the first pitcher in BWBL history to go 10-0 and Anthony finished the year with a league leading 0.40 ERA to along with a 0.88 WHIP. Both are top 3 marks all-time for a Medium Pitch season. It will be interesting to see what False Idols does with their lineup for the playoffs, regardless you know the Caladies will be at the top. Brett has put together one of the most incredible stats in league history, playing all 20 games and only striking out twice the entire season. False Idols await the winner of the one game playoff meaning they will either see a rematch of last year’s championship with Scared Hitless or the Junkies who Idols went 3-1 against this year.
Recent Milestones
Brett Caladie became the 1st pitcher in BWBL history to achieve 10 wins in a single season, going a perfect 10-0.
Anthony Caladie finished the season with a 0.40 ERA, which is the 2nd lowest mark in Medium Pitch history and the 3rd lowest all-time.
Zach Artim finished the season with a 0.47 ERA, which is the 3rd lowest mark in Medium Pitch history and the 5th lowest all-time.
Zach Artim finished the season with a 0.62 WHIP which is the lowest mark in BWBL history.
Anthony Caladie finished the season with a 0.88 WHIP which is the 3rd lowest mark in Medium Pitch history.
Andy Peck passed Doug Novitski for 4th on the BWBL all-time HR list with 95.
Steve Dotzel passed Steve Owazany for 9th on the BWBL all-time HR list with 83.
Alex Fuchylo achieved 400 RBIs for his career, making him the 5th player in BWBL history to reach that mark.
8. Waffle Bombers
No surprise here of course after finishing the season 0-20. If looking for a silver lining, the last BWBL team to go winless turned around and won the championship the following season. I’m not sure that will be in the cards for the Bombers but if they come back, I’d certainly expect some improvement. Anybody will tell you experience is a huge factor in wiffleball.
7. Roadkill
A disappointing debut season I’d imagine for the Kraus brothers, but with a roster as large and in-flux as there’s was all year, it’s hard to have much consistency. A positive takeaway for Roadkill however is some of these guys can actually hit. A more consistent roster and some pitching development and these guys could certainly find themselves in the Bases Loaded-Wiffleball Junkies level of teams next season.
6. Bases Loaded
I think Bases Loaded pretty much finished the season right about where they would have expected to be, fighting for the final playoff spot right down to the last week of the season. Unfortunately for them that went to the Junkies but Bases Loaded had some bright spots, such as Gerald who threw some really good games throughout the season.
5. Wiffleball Junkies
It came down to the wire but the Junkies were able to secure a playoff spot in the final series of the year. The Junkies had their struggles this year but despite that do end the season with wins over Kings of the North, Scared Hitless (2), and False Idols. It’s no secret their playoffs will go as far as my arm will take them, hopefully that can be pretty far. The Junkies will meet Scared Hitless in the play-in game.
4. Scared Hitless
After some struggles early in part to a difficult schedule, Scared Hitless was able to find their way into the playoffs fairly easily. They head into the playoffs in a similar spot to their 2020 championship run, with a matchup against the Junkies in the play in game. Last year they won that game 1-0 on a 5th inning RBI single. On paper, this looks to be another tight one with the Junkies. The Junkies swept the season series but one of those games went to extra innings and the other was decided by just 1 run. I expect Nick Pugh to get the nod and we’ll see if the 2020 hero can carry the team once again.
3. Kings of the North
Speaking of early season struggles that could also be said for the Kings who were winless all the way up until July 11th. Of course, they didn’t play that many games up until then but they made up for it with plenty down the stretch.
2. 1776
For the first time this season, 1776 does not find themselves at the top of the poll. It is also the first time they did not receive the majority of the 1st place votes, 3 this time around. I think the drop is more of a compliment to False Idols than a knock on 1776. While everyone was anticipating the 1776 – Idols show down last week, with little to play for 1776 pumped the brakes and didn’t show too much. If we are to get that long awaited matchup, it’ll be in the championship.
1. False Idols
With 5 1st place votes, False Idols jump to the top spot for the final poll of 2021. On the mound the Caladie brothers put together one of the best 1-2 punch performances in league history. Brett became the first pitcher in BWBL history to go 10-0 and Anthony finished the year with a league leading 0.40 ERA to along with a 0.88 WHIP. Both are top 3 marks all-time for a Medium Pitch season. It will be interesting to see what False Idols does with their lineup for the playoffs, regardless you know the Caladies will be at the top. Brett has put together one of the most incredible stats in league history, playing all 20 games and only striking out twice the entire season. False Idols await the winner of the one game playoff meaning they will either see a rematch of last year’s championship with Scared Hitless or the Junkies who Idols went 3-1 against this year.
Recent Milestones
Brett Caladie became the 1st pitcher in BWBL history to achieve 10 wins in a single season, going a perfect 10-0.
Anthony Caladie finished the season with a 0.40 ERA, which is the 2nd lowest mark in Medium Pitch history and the 3rd lowest all-time.
Zach Artim finished the season with a 0.47 ERA, which is the 3rd lowest mark in Medium Pitch history and the 5th lowest all-time.
Zach Artim finished the season with a 0.62 WHIP which is the lowest mark in BWBL history.
Anthony Caladie finished the season with a 0.88 WHIP which is the 3rd lowest mark in Medium Pitch history.
Andy Peck passed Doug Novitski for 4th on the BWBL all-time HR list with 95.
Steve Dotzel passed Steve Owazany for 9th on the BWBL all-time HR list with 83.
Alex Fuchylo achieved 400 RBIs for his career, making him the 5th player in BWBL history to reach that mark.
BWBL Hall of Fame, Class of 2021
In continuing to commemorate the efforts of great players and organizers, the Backyard Wiffle® Ball League is proud to announce the BWBL Hall of Fame, Class of 2021!
Members are elected to the Hall of Fame through a vote of BWBL Council members and still-active Hall of Famers. In order to become a member of the Hall of Fame, players/organizers must first be nominated by the Council and then receive 75% of the vote.
The league is proud to announce the BWBL Hall of Fame, Class of 2021:
Mark Belles – Since entering the BWBL in 2006 with Saturday Crush Belles has become known as one of the best all-around players in the league. Belles has proven himself to be a vital player at the plate, on the mound, and in the field. This makes Belles a potential game changer anytime he touches the Wiffle ball. Proof of that is in Belles’ career history. During his 15 seasons with the league thus far Belles has competed in 8 championship series with 5 championship wins, cementing him as a top player in BWBL history.
Alex Fuchylo – Few players in league history have had as much success on both sides of the field as Alex. He has won three Season MVP awards, a Playoff MVP, two Silver Sluggers, and a Cy Young. Alex ranks top 7 all-time in the major offensive categories of home runs, RBI’s, runs, and hits. On the mound, he ranks top 5 in innings pitched, strikeouts, and wins. Beyond individual statistics, Alex is a two time Red Robin Cup Champion bringing home the title with Bases Loaded and two with Jagerbombers. He has also player-managed the Gamecocks, Full Count, and Kings of the North teams throughout his 12 year BWBL career. In addition, Alex is one of the most well-liked and respected players in the league. His integrity and long list of accomplishments makes him a worthy addition to the BWBL Hall of Fame.
Stay tuned for plans for the Hall of Fame Induction!
Members are elected to the Hall of Fame through a vote of BWBL Council members and still-active Hall of Famers. In order to become a member of the Hall of Fame, players/organizers must first be nominated by the Council and then receive 75% of the vote.
The league is proud to announce the BWBL Hall of Fame, Class of 2021:
Mark Belles – Since entering the BWBL in 2006 with Saturday Crush Belles has become known as one of the best all-around players in the league. Belles has proven himself to be a vital player at the plate, on the mound, and in the field. This makes Belles a potential game changer anytime he touches the Wiffle ball. Proof of that is in Belles’ career history. During his 15 seasons with the league thus far Belles has competed in 8 championship series with 5 championship wins, cementing him as a top player in BWBL history.
Alex Fuchylo – Few players in league history have had as much success on both sides of the field as Alex. He has won three Season MVP awards, a Playoff MVP, two Silver Sluggers, and a Cy Young. Alex ranks top 7 all-time in the major offensive categories of home runs, RBI’s, runs, and hits. On the mound, he ranks top 5 in innings pitched, strikeouts, and wins. Beyond individual statistics, Alex is a two time Red Robin Cup Champion bringing home the title with Bases Loaded and two with Jagerbombers. He has also player-managed the Gamecocks, Full Count, and Kings of the North teams throughout his 12 year BWBL career. In addition, Alex is one of the most well-liked and respected players in the league. His integrity and long list of accomplishments makes him a worthy addition to the BWBL Hall of Fame.
Stay tuned for plans for the Hall of Fame Induction!
Scared Hitless Surprise Champions
Congratulations to Scared Hitless as they take home the BWBL Red Robin Cup as champions! They completed one of the most improbable runs in league history to defeat Balls Deep three games to two.
Award Nominees
by: Steve Dotzel
(posted Tuesday, September 8, 2020)
With the 2020 season in the books, it is time to give out some hardware. Let’s take a quick run though the nominees for each award before voting gets underway. Keep in mind, outside of Playoff MVP these are regular season awards.
(Players Listed in Alphabetical Order)
Most Improved
Dave Brigido
2019 Stats: .282 AVG, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 10 R
2020 Stats: .364 AVG, 6 HR, 19 RBI, 24 R
Brigido improved across the board at the plate in 2020 in all major categories. Also on the mound he recorded a 16.38 ERA and while he did not pitch in 2019, that is almost a 4 run improvement compared to his career ERA entering 2020.
Alex Chronowski
2019 Stats: .411 AVG, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 13 R
2020 Stats: .647 AVG, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 17 R
Despite playing in 10 fewer games in 2020 as compared to 2019, Chronowski still outpaced his 2019 stats in a major way.
Mike Cinti
2019 Stats: .128 AVG, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 9 R
2020 Stats: .343 AVG, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 21 R
2019 Stats: (2-1) 14 IP, 4.64 ERA, 2.86 WHIP, 27 K
2020 Stats: (3-6) 40 IP, 8.75 ERA, 2.98 WHIP, 92 K
At the plate Cinti’s numbers improved dramatically after finishing 2019 with the lowest average among qualified hitters. On the mound, his workload nearly tripled and he saw a major uptick in strikeouts, averaging 2.3 per inning up from 1.9 in 2019.
Justin Gober
2016-2018 Stats: .262 AVG, 0 HR, 12 RBI, 21 R
2020 Stats: .306 AVG, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 14 R
With no games played in 2019 and only four in 2018 where Gober hit just .050, I had to go back to 2016 to get a full seasons worth of numbers. But you can see Gober raised his average nearly 50 points and saw a bump in his run production at the plate.
Gerald Johnson
2019 Stats: .290 AVG, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 13 R
2020 Stats: .288 AVG, 7 HR, 20 RBI, 24 R
2019 Stats: (0-4), 9.2 IP, 23.79 ERA, 6.32 WHIP, 17 K
2020 Stats: (1-8), 36.1 IP, 11.28 ERA, 4.07 WHIP, 64 K
Johnson showed improvement offensively and on the mound in his new full time rule with Bases Loaded.
Rookie of the Year
Stew Caladie
Key Stats: .500 AVG, 6 HR, 26 RBI, 25 R, .565 OBP
The newest Caladie finished in the Top 10 in the BWBL in AVG, HR, RBI, and R as a key piece in the Balls Deep offense that finished second in the league with 169 runs scored during the year.
Max Kraus
Key Stats: .333 AVG, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 10 R, .429 OBP
Kraus helped to fill the void in the ECE lineup that was vacated by several off-season departures. He put up solid numbers for just 12 games worth of action.
Nick Pugh
Key Stats: (5-5), 2.60 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 108 K
Pugh led the BWBL in strikeouts with 108, tying him for the 3rd most all-time in BWBL history for a single season. His ERA was 5th best amongst pitchers who threw at least 15 innings and his WHIP ranked 3rd.
Captain of the Year
Joey Dougher
Dougher captained the merger of what was two of the top teams from 2019, guiding the Flying Pierogies and their mix of personalities to an American Division title and league best 19-1 record.
John Kotsko
Kotsko brought in Stew Caladie and James Ziobro to replace the departed Steve Dotzel and Mikey Grebeck and followed up his 2019 championship season with a 15-5 record and National divisional title.
Brett Rooney
Rooney took the reins of Scared Hitless and helped lead a late season charge which culminated in the final playoff spot and a record of 9-11.
Josh Sorber
Sorber brought in Steve Dotzel and Jon Fernandes in the off-season and managed a roster of eight players on a weekly basis to a 10-10 record, a seven game improvement from Wiffleball Junkies 3-17 record in 2019.
Silver Slugger
Brett Caladie
Key Stats (BWBL Ranks): .573 AVG (4th), 12 HR (2ND), 43 RBI (2ND), 39 R (3rd), .627 OBP (4TH)
Christian Faulkner
Key Stats (BWBL Ranks): .574 AVG (3rd), 7 HR (T-6TH), 30 RBI (6TH), 22 R (14th), .676 OBP (2ND)
Alex Fuchylo
Key Stats (BWBL Ranks): .491 AVG (8TH), 11 HR (T-3RD), 37 RBI (3RD), 50 R (1ST), .590 OBP (7TH)
Rob Hess
Key Stats (BWBL Ranks): .452 AVG (11TH), 11 HR (T-3RD), 36 RBI (4TH), 38 R (4TH), .574 OBP (13TH)
Jake Lukachik
Key Stats (BWBL Ranks): .603 AVG (2ND), 13 HR (1ST), 46 RBI (1ST), 30 R (6TH), .622 OBP (5TH)
Cy Young
Zach Artim
Key Stats (BWBL Ranks): 8-0 (T-1ST), 0.38 ERA (1ST), 0.92 WHIP (1ST), 12.4 K/5 (2ND)
Anthony Caladie
Key Stats (BWBL Ranks): 8-2 (T-1ST), 1.63 ERA (3RD), 1.22 WHIP (2ND), 10.3 K/5 (7TH)
Brett Caladie
Key Stats (BWBL Ranks): 4-1 (T-7TH), 1.50 ERA (2ND), 1.50 WHIP (4TH), 10.5 K/5 (5TH)
Christian Faulkner
Key Stats (BWBL Ranks): 7-1 (3RD), 2.16 ERA (4th), 1.73 WHIP (5TH), 12.7 K/5 (1ST)
MVP
Zach Artim
Artim led the entire BWBL in wins, ERA, and WHIP as the ace of the league’s best team. He finished the season with a spotless 8-0 record. At the plate, he finished second on the team in both HR and RBI.
Anthony Caladie
At the plate A. Caladie led the BWBL in doubles with 6 and led Balls Deep in OBP at .636. On the mound he went 8-2 tying him for the league lead in wins and led Balls Deep with 95 strikeouts. He finished top 3 in the BWBL in both ERA and WHIP.
Brett Caladie
B. Caladie finished in the Top 4 in the BWBL in all major offensive categories (AVG, HR, RBI, R, OBP) and was the only player in the league to accomplish this feat. On the mound he went 4-1 and finished 2nd in the BWBL in ERA.
Alex Fuchylo
Fuchylo led the BWBL with 50 runs scored and finished Top 3 in both HR and RBI. On the mound he went 6-3 leading his team in both wins and strikeouts.
Nick Pugh
Pugh tossed 108 strikeouts which led the BWBL and tied him for 3rd most all-time for a single season. He finished with a record of 5-5 and his 2.60 ERA was good for 5th best in the BWBL. His WHIP of 1.48 was 3rd best. At the plate his 19 runs scored led the team.
Playoff MVP
Anthony Caladie
A. Caladie led the Balls Deep staff in the postseason with a 3-1 record and 3.81 ERA. His 8 HR tied him for the postseason lead.
J.J. Neely
Neely led Scared Hitless with 5 postseason HR and a team leading .429 average. On the mound he picked up a pivotal Game 4 win in the Championship series.
Nick Pugh
Pugh led the postseason with 5 wins en route to a 5-1 playoff record. His 1.79 ERA and 61 strikeouts were the best marks among those who pitched at least two games.
Julian Sperazza
Sperazza hit 4 HR and drove in 13 in just nine playoff games, far out producing his entire season totals of 1 and 11 respectively. This included pivotal go-ahead home runs in Game 2 and Game 4 wins of the Championship series for Scared Hitless.
(Players Listed in Alphabetical Order)
Most Improved
Dave Brigido
2019 Stats: .282 AVG, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 10 R
2020 Stats: .364 AVG, 6 HR, 19 RBI, 24 R
Brigido improved across the board at the plate in 2020 in all major categories. Also on the mound he recorded a 16.38 ERA and while he did not pitch in 2019, that is almost a 4 run improvement compared to his career ERA entering 2020.
Alex Chronowski
2019 Stats: .411 AVG, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 13 R
2020 Stats: .647 AVG, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 17 R
Despite playing in 10 fewer games in 2020 as compared to 2019, Chronowski still outpaced his 2019 stats in a major way.
Mike Cinti
2019 Stats: .128 AVG, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 9 R
2020 Stats: .343 AVG, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 21 R
2019 Stats: (2-1) 14 IP, 4.64 ERA, 2.86 WHIP, 27 K
2020 Stats: (3-6) 40 IP, 8.75 ERA, 2.98 WHIP, 92 K
At the plate Cinti’s numbers improved dramatically after finishing 2019 with the lowest average among qualified hitters. On the mound, his workload nearly tripled and he saw a major uptick in strikeouts, averaging 2.3 per inning up from 1.9 in 2019.
Justin Gober
2016-2018 Stats: .262 AVG, 0 HR, 12 RBI, 21 R
2020 Stats: .306 AVG, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 14 R
With no games played in 2019 and only four in 2018 where Gober hit just .050, I had to go back to 2016 to get a full seasons worth of numbers. But you can see Gober raised his average nearly 50 points and saw a bump in his run production at the plate.
Gerald Johnson
2019 Stats: .290 AVG, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 13 R
2020 Stats: .288 AVG, 7 HR, 20 RBI, 24 R
2019 Stats: (0-4), 9.2 IP, 23.79 ERA, 6.32 WHIP, 17 K
2020 Stats: (1-8), 36.1 IP, 11.28 ERA, 4.07 WHIP, 64 K
Johnson showed improvement offensively and on the mound in his new full time rule with Bases Loaded.
Rookie of the Year
Stew Caladie
Key Stats: .500 AVG, 6 HR, 26 RBI, 25 R, .565 OBP
The newest Caladie finished in the Top 10 in the BWBL in AVG, HR, RBI, and R as a key piece in the Balls Deep offense that finished second in the league with 169 runs scored during the year.
Max Kraus
Key Stats: .333 AVG, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 10 R, .429 OBP
Kraus helped to fill the void in the ECE lineup that was vacated by several off-season departures. He put up solid numbers for just 12 games worth of action.
Nick Pugh
Key Stats: (5-5), 2.60 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 108 K
Pugh led the BWBL in strikeouts with 108, tying him for the 3rd most all-time in BWBL history for a single season. His ERA was 5th best amongst pitchers who threw at least 15 innings and his WHIP ranked 3rd.
Captain of the Year
Joey Dougher
Dougher captained the merger of what was two of the top teams from 2019, guiding the Flying Pierogies and their mix of personalities to an American Division title and league best 19-1 record.
John Kotsko
Kotsko brought in Stew Caladie and James Ziobro to replace the departed Steve Dotzel and Mikey Grebeck and followed up his 2019 championship season with a 15-5 record and National divisional title.
Brett Rooney
Rooney took the reins of Scared Hitless and helped lead a late season charge which culminated in the final playoff spot and a record of 9-11.
Josh Sorber
Sorber brought in Steve Dotzel and Jon Fernandes in the off-season and managed a roster of eight players on a weekly basis to a 10-10 record, a seven game improvement from Wiffleball Junkies 3-17 record in 2019.
Silver Slugger
Brett Caladie
Key Stats (BWBL Ranks): .573 AVG (4th), 12 HR (2ND), 43 RBI (2ND), 39 R (3rd), .627 OBP (4TH)
Christian Faulkner
Key Stats (BWBL Ranks): .574 AVG (3rd), 7 HR (T-6TH), 30 RBI (6TH), 22 R (14th), .676 OBP (2ND)
Alex Fuchylo
Key Stats (BWBL Ranks): .491 AVG (8TH), 11 HR (T-3RD), 37 RBI (3RD), 50 R (1ST), .590 OBP (7TH)
Rob Hess
Key Stats (BWBL Ranks): .452 AVG (11TH), 11 HR (T-3RD), 36 RBI (4TH), 38 R (4TH), .574 OBP (13TH)
Jake Lukachik
Key Stats (BWBL Ranks): .603 AVG (2ND), 13 HR (1ST), 46 RBI (1ST), 30 R (6TH), .622 OBP (5TH)
Cy Young
Zach Artim
Key Stats (BWBL Ranks): 8-0 (T-1ST), 0.38 ERA (1ST), 0.92 WHIP (1ST), 12.4 K/5 (2ND)
Anthony Caladie
Key Stats (BWBL Ranks): 8-2 (T-1ST), 1.63 ERA (3RD), 1.22 WHIP (2ND), 10.3 K/5 (7TH)
Brett Caladie
Key Stats (BWBL Ranks): 4-1 (T-7TH), 1.50 ERA (2ND), 1.50 WHIP (4TH), 10.5 K/5 (5TH)
Christian Faulkner
Key Stats (BWBL Ranks): 7-1 (3RD), 2.16 ERA (4th), 1.73 WHIP (5TH), 12.7 K/5 (1ST)
MVP
Zach Artim
Artim led the entire BWBL in wins, ERA, and WHIP as the ace of the league’s best team. He finished the season with a spotless 8-0 record. At the plate, he finished second on the team in both HR and RBI.
Anthony Caladie
At the plate A. Caladie led the BWBL in doubles with 6 and led Balls Deep in OBP at .636. On the mound he went 8-2 tying him for the league lead in wins and led Balls Deep with 95 strikeouts. He finished top 3 in the BWBL in both ERA and WHIP.
Brett Caladie
B. Caladie finished in the Top 4 in the BWBL in all major offensive categories (AVG, HR, RBI, R, OBP) and was the only player in the league to accomplish this feat. On the mound he went 4-1 and finished 2nd in the BWBL in ERA.
Alex Fuchylo
Fuchylo led the BWBL with 50 runs scored and finished Top 3 in both HR and RBI. On the mound he went 6-3 leading his team in both wins and strikeouts.
Nick Pugh
Pugh tossed 108 strikeouts which led the BWBL and tied him for 3rd most all-time for a single season. He finished with a record of 5-5 and his 2.60 ERA was good for 5th best in the BWBL. His WHIP of 1.48 was 3rd best. At the plate his 19 runs scored led the team.
Playoff MVP
Anthony Caladie
A. Caladie led the Balls Deep staff in the postseason with a 3-1 record and 3.81 ERA. His 8 HR tied him for the postseason lead.
J.J. Neely
Neely led Scared Hitless with 5 postseason HR and a team leading .429 average. On the mound he picked up a pivotal Game 4 win in the Championship series.
Nick Pugh
Pugh led the postseason with 5 wins en route to a 5-1 playoff record. His 1.79 ERA and 61 strikeouts were the best marks among those who pitched at least two games.
Julian Sperazza
Sperazza hit 4 HR and drove in 13 in just nine playoff games, far out producing his entire season totals of 1 and 11 respectively. This included pivotal go-ahead home runs in Game 2 and Game 4 wins of the Championship series for Scared Hitless.
BWBL Hall of Fame, Class of 2019
In continuing to commemorate the efforts of great players and organizers, the Backyard Wiffle® Ball League is proud to announce the BWBL Hall of Fame, Class of 2019!
Members are elected to the Hall of Fame through a vote of BWBL Council members and still-active Hall of Famers. In order to become a member of the Hall of Fame, players/organizers must first be nominated by the Council and then receive 75% of the vote.
The league is proud to announce the BWBL Hall of Fame, Class of 2019:
Mikey Holloway -- Player for all 15 years of the league’s existence and was the league’s youngest player at the age of 12 when the league formed. Mikey has transformed his game throught the years, at first relying on his speed and quick hands then becoming an all-around player capable of carrying a team on his back. Don’t be fooled by the lackadaisical effort because if you sleep on him, he will turn a little 15-foot hit into a double. Holloway’s speed and quickness has garnered him some national recognition from the NWLA as a first team fielder and is considered to be one of the most reliable defensive players roaming the outfield at Diamond City Park. With his induction, the Core-4 of not only the 2004 Dragons but the original one-on-one league is now all derservingly in the Hall of Fame.
Bob Sickle -- Father of the league co-creator, without Sickle, the league most likely would have gone under within the first few years. Sickle was routinely at the field early to help set up and get the field in playing condition. Sickle is best known for his supervisory skills and ability to see where improvements could be made. He is also famous for one-liners, with favorite targets being fellow Hall of Famers Tom Hannon, Mike White, and his son Kevin Sickle. Sickle was instrumental in getting Diamond City Park up and running to allow the league to continue well into the future. Athletically, Sickle served as a fill-in during the early years for his son's teams and has two sons who hold BWBL titles (Kevin and Nate with Bases Loaded in 2013). The league, its founders, commissioner son, council, and all players past, present, and future owe a debt of gratitude to Bob.
Stay tuned for plans for the Hall of Fame Induction!
Members are elected to the Hall of Fame through a vote of BWBL Council members and still-active Hall of Famers. In order to become a member of the Hall of Fame, players/organizers must first be nominated by the Council and then receive 75% of the vote.
The league is proud to announce the BWBL Hall of Fame, Class of 2019:
Mikey Holloway -- Player for all 15 years of the league’s existence and was the league’s youngest player at the age of 12 when the league formed. Mikey has transformed his game throught the years, at first relying on his speed and quick hands then becoming an all-around player capable of carrying a team on his back. Don’t be fooled by the lackadaisical effort because if you sleep on him, he will turn a little 15-foot hit into a double. Holloway’s speed and quickness has garnered him some national recognition from the NWLA as a first team fielder and is considered to be one of the most reliable defensive players roaming the outfield at Diamond City Park. With his induction, the Core-4 of not only the 2004 Dragons but the original one-on-one league is now all derservingly in the Hall of Fame.
Bob Sickle -- Father of the league co-creator, without Sickle, the league most likely would have gone under within the first few years. Sickle was routinely at the field early to help set up and get the field in playing condition. Sickle is best known for his supervisory skills and ability to see where improvements could be made. He is also famous for one-liners, with favorite targets being fellow Hall of Famers Tom Hannon, Mike White, and his son Kevin Sickle. Sickle was instrumental in getting Diamond City Park up and running to allow the league to continue well into the future. Athletically, Sickle served as a fill-in during the early years for his son's teams and has two sons who hold BWBL titles (Kevin and Nate with Bases Loaded in 2013). The league, its founders, commissioner son, council, and all players past, present, and future owe a debt of gratitude to Bob.
Stay tuned for plans for the Hall of Fame Induction!
In continuing to commemorate the efforts of great players and organizers, the Backyard Wiffle® Ball League is proud to announce the BWBL Hall of Fame, Class of 2019!
Members are elected to the Hall of Fame through a vote of BWBL Council members and still-active Hall of Famers. In order to become a member of the Hall of Fame, players/organizers must first be nominated by the Council and then receive 75% of the vote.
The league is proud to announce the BWBL Hall of Fame, Class of 2019:
Mikey Holloway -- Player for all 15 years of the league’s existence and was the league’s youngest player at the age of 12 when the league formed. Mikey has transformed his game throught the years, at first relying on his speed and quick hands then becoming an all-around player capable of carrying a team on his back. Don’t be fooled by the lackadaisical effort because if you sleep on him, he will turn a little 15-foot hit into a double. Holloway’s speed and quickness has garnered him some national recognition from the NWLA as a first team fielder and is considered to be one of the most reliable defensive players roaming the outfield at Diamond City Park. With his induction, the Core-4 of not only the 2004 Dragons but the original one-on-one league is now all derservingly in the Hall of Fame.
Bob Sickle -- Father of the league co-creator, without Sickle, the league most likely would have gone under within the first few years. Sickle was routinely at the field early to help set up and get the field in playing condition. Sickle is best known for his supervisory skills and ability to see where improvements could be made. He is also famous for one-liners, with favorite targets being fellow Hall of Famers Tom Hannon, Mike White, and his son Kevin Sickle. Sickle was instrumental in getting Diamond City Park up and running to allow the league to continue well into the future. Athletically, Sickle served as a fill-in during the early years for his son's teams and has two sons who hold BWBL titles (Kevin and Nate with Bases Loaded in 2013). The league, its founders, commissioner son, council, and all players past, present, and future owe a debt of gratitude to Bob.
Members are elected to the Hall of Fame through a vote of BWBL Council members and still-active Hall of Famers. In order to become a member of the Hall of Fame, players/organizers must first be nominated by the Council and then receive 75% of the vote.
The league is proud to announce the BWBL Hall of Fame, Class of 2019:
Mikey Holloway -- Player for all 15 years of the league’s existence and was the league’s youngest player at the age of 12 when the league formed. Mikey has transformed his game throught the years, at first relying on his speed and quick hands then becoming an all-around player capable of carrying a team on his back. Don’t be fooled by the lackadaisical effort because if you sleep on him, he will turn a little 15-foot hit into a double. Holloway’s speed and quickness has garnered him some national recognition from the NWLA as a first team fielder and is considered to be one of the most reliable defensive players roaming the outfield at Diamond City Park. With his induction, the Core-4 of not only the 2004 Dragons but the original one-on-one league is now all derservingly in the Hall of Fame.
Bob Sickle -- Father of the league co-creator, without Sickle, the league most likely would have gone under within the first few years. Sickle was routinely at the field early to help set up and get the field in playing condition. Sickle is best known for his supervisory skills and ability to see where improvements could be made. He is also famous for one-liners, with favorite targets being fellow Hall of Famers Tom Hannon, Mike White, and his son Kevin Sickle. Sickle was instrumental in getting Diamond City Park up and running to allow the league to continue well into the future. Athletically, Sickle served as a fill-in during the early years for his son's teams and has two sons who hold BWBL titles (Kevin and Nate with Bases Loaded in 2013). The league, its founders, commissioner son, council, and all players past, present, and future owe a debt of gratitude to Bob.
The BWBL is officially sanctioned by The Wiffle Ball, Inc., 275 Bridgeport Ave., Shelton, CT 06484
