Ellsworth Wiffleball League

Shady Characters completed their remarkable postseason run by defeating Cheap Goats 5-4 in Game 4 of the 2026 Wiffle Series, sweeping the best-of-seven championship series and capturing their fifth EWL title in franchise history. As they did in the three previous Wiffle Series games, Shady Characters built an early lead and held onto it, and Nate’s second home run of the game, a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth, provided a crucial insurance run that sealed the game and the series. Cheap Goats pulled within a run in the top of the sixth and had the tying run racing toward home plate, but the runner was thrown out by an amazing outfield assist from Thomas, ending the most unlikely playoff run in EWL history in dramatic fashion. After entering the playoffs as the #4 seed, Shady Characters went on a miraculous tear winning seven consecutive games to eliminate defending champion Guac Boys and sweep Cheap Goats on their way to another EWL championship, becoming the first #4 seed in league history to win the title.

Tom took the mound for Shady Characters with a chance to close out the Wiffle Series, and he opened Game 4 by retiring Joey and Kevin in order.

Dinger got the start for Cheap Goats, and Shady Characters immediately put pressure on him in the bottom of the first. Zach led off with a double and Billy followed with a single, putting runners on the corners with nobody out. Tom helped his own cause with an RBI groundout to score Zach, giving Shady Characters a 1-0 lead. Dinger then retired Thomas on a fly ball to strand Billy and limit the damage.

Tom continued to cruise in the second, retiring Courtlen and Christian in order.

Lucas led off the bottom of the second with a single, and Nate followed with a two-run home run to extend the Shady Characters lead to 3-0. Zach added a single, but Dinger recovered to retire Billy and Tom, keeping Cheap Goats within three runs.

Cheap Goats remained unable to get anything going in the third. Tom retired Dinger on a groundout and Conor on a fly ball, completing three scoreless innings to begin the game.

Shady Characters added another run in the bottom half of the third. Thomas led off with a double before Dinger retired Lucas for the first out. Nate followed with an RBI single to score Thomas, pushing the lead to 4-0. Zach added his third hit in as many at-bats, but Dinger retired Billy to strand the runners and prevent Shady Characters from breaking the game open.

With their season down to its final three innings, Cheap Goats’ offense finally came to life in the fourth. Joey led off with a solo home run, breaking up Tom’s perfect game and cutting the deficit to 4-1. Kevin immediately followed with a solo homer of his own, and the back-to-back shots suddenly made it 4-2. Courtlen then doubled, bringing the tying run to the plate with nobody out. Christian followed with an RBI double to score Courtlen, and in the span of four consecutive extra-base hits, Cheap Goats had pulled within a run at 4-3.

Tom stopped the rally there. He struck out Dinger for the first out and retired Conor on a fly ball, stranding Christian in scoring position and preserving the Shady Characters lead.

Dinger retired Tom and Thomas in order in the bottom of the fourth.

Tom quickly restored order in the top of the fifth, retiring Joey and Kevin in succession.

Lucas grounded out to begin the bottom of the fifth, and Dinger had reached his innings limit, so Cheap Goats called Christian to the mound from the bullpen. Nate greeted him by launching his second home run of the game, a solo shot that gave Shady Characters a crucial insurance run and extended the lead to 5-3. Christian retired Zach to end the inning, sending Cheap Goats to the sixth needing two runs to keep their season alive.

Courtlen flew out to begin the final frame, putting Shady Characters one out away from the championship. Christian kept Cheap Goats alive with a double, bringing the tying run to the plate. Dinger followed with an RBI single, scoring Christian and cutting the deficit to 5-4. Cheap Goats had the tying run aboard, and their season remained alive. Conor singled, and Dinger attempted to score from first, but Shady Characters cut him down at the plate with an amazing outfield assist by Thomas. The out ended the game and clinched the 2026 EWL championship for Shady Characters, completing a 5-4 victory and a four-game sweep of Cheap Goats in the Wiffle Series.

Shady Characters entered the postseason as the #4 seed and lost the opening game of their first-round series against the defending champion Guac Boys before putting together one of the most remarkable playoff runs in league history. They won the final three games of that series to advance, then swept Cheap Goats in four straight games to finish the postseason on a seven-game winning streak and capture the fifth EWL championship in franchise history.

W: Tom (4-0)

L: Dinger (1-4)

Box Score

Game Notes:

Tom pitched a complete game win to seal the championship for Shady Characters, allowing four runs on seven hits and striking out one.

Dinger started for Cheap Goats and took the loss, giving up four runs on eight hits in 4.5 innings.

Christian pitched the final 0.5 inning for Cheap Goats, allowing one run on one hit.

Nate led Shady Characters, going 3-for-3 with a single, two home runs, two runs scored, and four RBI.

Zach also had three hits for Shady Characters, going 3-for-4 with two singles, a double, and a run scored.

Christian was the only Cheap Goats player with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with two doubles a run scored, and an RBI.

Shady Characters moved to the brink of another EWL championship with a 7-5 victory over Cheap Goats in Game 3 of the 2026 Wiffle Series, taking a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven championship series as their shocking postseason run continued. Thomas and Nate each went deep twice, and Lucas held the Cheap Goats’ offense in check, keeping the formerly scorching hot bats from generating rallies or momentum. After entering the championship series with a historic stretch of run production, Cheap Goats have now dropped the first three games of the Wiffle Series and must win four straight to prevent Shady Characters from claiming their fifth EWL championship.

Lucas took the mound for Shady Characters, and he retired Joey and Kevin in order in the top of the first.

Dinger got the start for Cheap Goats, and he matched Lucas, retiring Zach and Tom in order in the bottom half of the inning.

Courtlen led off the top of the second with a double, but Lucas stranded him, retiring Christian and Dinger to end the inning.

Thomas put Shady Characters on the board when he led off the bottom of the second with a solo home run, giving Shady Characters a 1-0 lead. Lucas followed with a single before Dinger retired Nate for the first out. Zach then launched a two-run homer, extending the lead to 3-0. Dinger retired Tom to finally end the inning, but Shady Characters had struck first for the third consecutive game of the Wiffle Series.

Cheap Goats answered in the third. After Lucas retired Conor, Joey launched a solo home run to cut the deficit to 3-1. Lucas then retired Kevin to end the inning and keep Shady Characters in front by two runs.

Dinger retired Thomas and Lucas in order in the bottom of the third to keep Cheap Goats within striking distance.

Courtlen led off the top of the fourth with a triple, his second extra-base hit of the game, and Christian brought him home with an RBI groundout to make the score 3-2. Dinger followed with a double, putting the potential tying run in scoring position, but Lucas got Conor to ground out and strand him, preserving a one-run Shady Characters lead.

Nate led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run to extend the Shady Characters’ advantage to 4-2. Zach singled, and after Dinger retired Tom for the first out, Thomas launched his second homer of the game, a two-run shot that pushed the Shady Characters lead to 6-2. Cheap Goats made a call to the bullpen, removing Dinger and bringing Conor to the mound. Conor retired Lucas to end the inning, but Cheap Goats now faced a four-run deficit with only two innings remaining and were in danger of falling into a 3-0 hole in the championship series.

Joey led off the top of the fifth with a drive off the fence, but he was thrown out attempting to stretch the hit into an inside-the-park home run. Kevin followed with a solo homer to cut the deficit to 6-3. Courtlen then ripped his second triple of the game and third extra-base hit, and Christian singled him home to make it 6-4. Dinger followed with an RBI double to score Christian, his second two-bagger of the game, and suddenly Cheap Goats had pulled within a run at 6-5. Shady Characters went to the bullpen, replacing Lucas with Tom. With Cheap Goats threatening a comeback, Tom retired Conor on a fly ball to end the inning and preserve a one-run lead.

Once again, Shady Characters immediately answered a Cheap Goats rally. Nate led off the bottom of the fifth with his second solo shot of the game, restoring a two-run lead at 7-5. Conor retired Zach and Tom to end the inning, but Cheap Goats entered the final frame needing two runs to extend the game.

Shady Characters returned the ball to Lucas for the sixth. He retired Joey on a groundout, putting Shady Characters one out away from victory. Kevin stepped to the plate representing Cheap Goats’ final chance to keep the game alive, but Lucas got him to fly out, closing the door on a 7-5 victory.

Shady Characters have now won six consecutive postseason games, and the four-time champions hold a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven championship series, one victory away from another EWL title.

W: Lucas (3-1)

L: Dinger (1-3)

Box Score

Game Notes:

Lucas earned the victory for Shady Characters, allowing five runs on nine hits over 5.5 innings.
Tom recorded the final out of the fifth in relief before Lucas returned to the mound for the sixth.
Dinger started for Cheap Goats and took the loss, allowing six runs on six hits over 3.5 innings.
Conor pitched 1.5 innings of relief for Cheap Goats, allowing one run on one hit.
Thomas and Nate led Shady Characters on offense, both going 2-for-3. Nate had two solo home runs, and Thomas had a solo shot and a two-run homer.
Zach also had multiple hits for Shady Characters, going 2-for-4 with a single, a homer, two runs scored, and two RBI.
Courtlen led Cheap Goats in the loss, going 3-for-3 with a double, two triples, and two runs scored.
Joey and Dinger also had multiple hits for Cheap Goats. Joey went 2-for-4 with a triple, a homer, a run scored, and an RBI. Dinger went 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI.

Shady Characters sustained their postseason run with a 5-2 victory over Cheap Goats in Game 2 of the 2026 EWL Wiffle Series Championship, taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Tom continued to swing a hot bat, launching two solo home runs, while Thomas, Nate, and Zach each went deep as Shady Characters accounted for all five of their runs with solo homers. Tom also delivered a complete-game victory on the mound, holding Cheap Goats to two runs on seven hits as the once-dominant Cheap Goats offense continued to sputter on the big stage. After eliminating the defending champion Guac Boys in the first round, Shady Characters have now won five consecutive playoff games and moved within two victories of another EWL championship.

Dinger got the start for Cheap Goats, and he retired Zach and Tom in order in the top of the first.

Tom responded by retiring Joey and Kevin in order in the bottom of the first, and the game was scoreless after the first frame.

Shady Characters broke through in the top of the second when Thomas led off with a solo home run, giving his team a 1-0 lead. Dinger recovered to retire Lucas on a groundout and Nate on a fly ball, preventing Shady Characters from adding to their early advantage.

Cheap Goats threatened to answer in the bottom half. Courtlen led off with a single, and Christian followed with another single to put two runners aboard with nobody out. Dinger then lifted a fly ball deep enough for Courtlen to attempt to tag and score, but Shady Characters threw him out at the plate, completing a double play and ending the inning without allowing a run.

Dinger retired Zach to begin the third, but Tom launched a solo home run, his third homer of the Wiffle Series, extending the Shady Characters lead to 2-0. Dinger retired Thomas to end the inning, but Cheap Goats now trailed by two runs.

Cheap Goats finally got on the board in the bottom of the third. After Conor grounded out, Joey launched a solo home run to cut the deficit to 2-1. Kevin followed with a single, putting the tying run aboard with one out, but Tom retired Courtlen on a fly ball to strand the runner and preserve the one-run lead.

Shady Characters answered in the fourth, extending their lead. Lucas flew out to begin the inning, but Nate followed with a solo homer to push the lead to 3-1. Zach then launched another solo shot, giving Shady Characters back-to-back home runs and making the score 4-1. Tom followed with a single, continuing the rally, but Dinger struck out Thomas to end the inning and prevent further damage.

Cheap Goats responded in the bottom half. Christian led off with a solo home run, cutting the Shady Characters lead to 4-2. Dinger followed with a double, putting another runner in scoring position with nobody out and giving Cheap Goats an opportunity to pull even. Tom buckled down, retiring Conor on a groundout before getting Joey to fly out, stranding Dinger at second and preserving the two-run lead.

Dinger retired Lucas and Nate in order in the top of the fifth for his first scoreless inning since the first.

Cheap Goats were unable to capitalize, however, as Tom retired Kevin and Courtlen in order in the bottom of the fifth. Shady Characters carried their 4-2 advantage into the sixth, with Cheap Goats running out of opportunities to get back into the game.

Shady Characters added an insurance run in their final turn at the plate. After Dinger retired Zach to begin the sixth, Tom launched his second solo home run of the game, extending the lead to 5-2. Dinger retired Thomas to end the inning, but Cheap Goats now needed three runs in the bottom of the sixth to extend the game.

Tom returned to the mound looking to close out Game 2. He struck out Christian to begin the inning, putting Shady Characters one out away from taking a commanding 2-0 series lead. Dinger kept Cheap Goats alive with a single, bringing the tying run to the plate, but Tom retired Conor on a fly ball to end the game and secure the 5-2 victory.

The four-time former champions hold a 2-0 lead over Cheap Goats in the best-of-seven championship series.

W: Tom (3-0)

L: Dinger (1-2)

Box Score

Game Notes:

Tom earned the complete-game victory for Shady Characters, allowing two runs on seven hits and striking out one.
Dinger took the loss for Cheap Goats, allowing five runs on six hits and striking out one in a complete-game effort.
Tom once again led Shady Characters at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a single, two home runs, two runs scored, and two RBI.
Thomas, Nate, and Zach each added a solo home run for Shady Characters, accounting for the team’s other three runs.
Christian and Dinger were the only Cheap Goats players with multiple hits, both going 2-for-3. Christian had a single and a solo homer, and Dinger had a single and a double.

Shady Characters carried the momentum of their first-round upset of Guac Boys into the 2026 EWL Wiffle Series Championship, defeating Cheap Goats 9-5 in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series. Tom homered twice and drove in three runs, Lucas and Thomas each added two-run homers, and Shady Characters scored in all but one inning to pull ahead and stay ahead of Cheap Goats throughout the series-opening contest. Lucas went the distance on the mound, muzzling a Cheap Goats offense that scored thirty-five combined runs over their previous two games, giving Shady Characters a 1-0 series lead.

Christian got the start for Cheap Goats, and Shady Characters struck first. After Zach grounded out to begin the game, Tom launched a solo home run to give Shady Characters a 1-0 lead. Thomas followed with a single, and Lucas added another base hit, but Thomas was thrown out attempting to score on the play, ending the inning and preventing Shady Characters from adding to their early advantage.

Lucas took the mound for Shady Characters and opened the Wiffle Series by retiring Joey and Kevin in order, preserving the one-run lead.

Shady Characters added to their advantage in the second. Nate led off with a single before Christian retired Zach for the first out. Tom then delivered his second home run in as many at-bats, a two-run shot that extended the Shady Characters lead to 3-0. Thomas followed with his second single of the game, but Christian retired Lucas to end the inning.

Lucas continued to cruise in the bottom of the second, retiring Courtlen and Christian in order. Cheap Goats had been held hitless through two innings, and Shady Characters carried a three-run lead into the third.

Christian retired Nate and Zach in order in the third for his first (and only) scoreless inning of the game.

Cheap Goats finally broke through in the bottom half of the third. Dinger led off with a double, giving Cheap Goats their first baserunner of the game, and Conor followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 3-1. Joey added another single, but Conor was caught out on the play. Lucas then retired Kevin on a groundout to end the inning and prevent Cheap Goats from drawing any closer.

Shady Characters answered immediately in the fourth. Tom led off with a single, his third consecutive hit, before Christian retired Thomas for the first out. Lucas then launched a two-run homer, extending the Shady Characters lead to 5-1. Nate followed with a solo shot of his own, giving Shady Characters back-to-back home runs and pushing the advantage to 6-1. Cheap Goats made a call to the bullpen, removing Christian and bringing Conor to the mound. Conor retired Zach to end the inning, but Shady Characters had opened up a five-run lead.

Cheap Goats responded with their biggest inning of the game in the bottom of the fourth. Courtlen led off with a single and Christian followed with a double, putting two runners in scoring position with nobody out. Dinger delivered a sacrifice fly to score Courtlen, cutting the deficit to 6-2. Conor then ripped an RBI triple to bring Christian home, making the score 6-3, and Joey followed with an RBI double to score Conor, pulling Cheap Goats within two runs at 6-4. Lucas finally retired Kevin on a fly ball to end the three-run rally, stranding Joey in scoring position.

After seeing their five-run lead shrink to two, Shady Characters wasted little time reclaiming control in the fifth. Tom led off with his fourth hit of the game, a single, and Thomas followed with a two-run homer to extend the lead to 8-4. Conor recovered to retire Lucas and Nate in order, but Shady Characters had answered Cheap Goats’ fourth-inning rally with two more runs.

Cheap Goats continued to fight back in the bottom of the fifth. Lucas retired Courtlen to begin the inning, but Christian launched a solo home run to cut the deficit to 8-5. Lucas retired Dinger to end the inning, leaving Cheap Goats trailing by three runs heading into the sixth.

Shady Characters added another insurance run in their final turn at the plate. Zach led off the sixth with a solo homer, extending the lead to 9-5. Conor retired Tom on a groundout before striking out Thomas to end the inning, but Cheap Goats now needed four runs in the bottom of the sixth to extend the game.

Lucas returned to the mound looking to finish off the complete-game victory. He retired Conor on a fly ball before getting Joey to ground out, ending the game and securing the 9-5 win for Shady Characters.

After eliminating the defending champion Guac Boys in the first round, Shady Characters opened the Wiffle Series with another victory, taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven championship series against Cheap Goats. The four-time former champions moved three wins away from another EWL title.

W: Lucas (2-1)

L: Christian (2-1)

Box Score

Game Notes:

Lucas earned the complete game victory for Shady Characters, allowing five runs on eight hits.
Christian started for Cheap Goats and took the loss, allowing six runs on nine hits in 3.5 innings.
Conor pitched 2.5 innings of relief for Cheap Goats, giving up three runs on three hits and striking out one.
Tom led Shady Characters at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two singles, two home runs, four runs scored, and three RBI.
Thomas also had a big game for Shady Characters, going 3-for-5 with two singles, a home run, a run scored, and two RBI.
Joey, Christian, and Conor were the only Cheap Goats players with multiple hits. Joey went 2-for-4 with a single, a double, and an RBI. Christian went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, two runs scored, and an RBI. And Conor went 2-for-3 with a single, a triple, a run scored, and two RBI.

After a thrilling Game 2 win to even the best-of-five first round series with Jack Shack at 1-1, Cheap Goats exploded in games 3 and 4, outscoring Jack Shack 35-14, winning both games and advancing to the Wiffle Series for the second consecutive year. The dominant Cheap Goats offense was paced by Joey, who hit his stride in the series, delivering his best performances of the 2026 season to date. As a result, he was named Wiffler of the Week for week 2 of the 2026 EWL Playoffs.

In a 14-10 Game 3 victory, Joey went 4-for-5 with a double, a triple, two home runs, three runs scored, and three RBI.

In the series clinching 21-4 Game Four rout, he went 5-for-7 with a double, four home runs, four runs scored, and four RBI.

In total, Joey went 9-for-12 with a two doubles, a triple, six home runs, seven runs scored, and seven RBI across the two Cheap Goats wins, launching them back to the Wiffle Series.

This is the twenty-first time Joey has been named Wiffler of the Week in his wiffle career, and the second time this season (week 9). He also earned the honors in 2011, 2013 (twice), 2014 (twice), 2015 (twice), 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 (three times), 2020 (twice), 2023 (three times), and 2025.