Reilly pitched a gem as Questionable Outfit started their 2014 season with a 2-0 win over Cookies & Cream
In a rematch of the hotly contested 2013 EWL Wiffle series, Questionable Outfit, who are out to avenge their Wiffle Series loss, got their first taste of revenge in 2014 with a 2-0 win over 2013 champions Cookies & Cream.
The two best squads in the EWL looked very similar to their 2013 editions, with one major difference. Morrison, who some consider the greatest wiffler of all time, changed sides, and will play for Questionable Outfit in 2014. Mike, Questionable Outfit’s All-EWL cleanup hitter, may be out in 2013 due to childbirth, so Morrison has been traded to Questionable Outfit for the betterment of the league. Cookies & Cream returns all four starters, but also added 2011 EWL Wiffler of the Year, Blose, who returns after a limited season due to birthing his first child in 2013.
Questionable Outfit started Reilly, who pitched in a limited capacity in 2013, and he delivered the best performance of his career. He retired Guthrie to start the game, and after Joey singled with one out, he retired Vassallo to end the inning.
Guthrie, the Cy Young of the Ellsworth Wiffleball League, started on the mound for Cookies & Cream. He pitched a perfect frame in the bottom of the first, and the game remained scoreless.
Guthrie, the 2013 EWL Pitch King, pitched a good game, but got no run support from the Cookies & Cream offense
Reilly retired Dinger for the first out in the top of the second, and after a Blose single, he stranded the runner by getting Guthrie to ground out for the second out of the inning.
Questionable Outfit broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the second thanks to poor fielding by Cookies & Cream. Morrison, in his first at-bat with his new squad, doubled to lead off the inning. He moved to third when Reilly Jr. grounded out for the first out of the inning. With one out and a runner in scoring position, Reilly hit a shallow fly ball to center, and the usually sure-handed Joey bobbled the pop up, allowing Reilly to reach base safely and Morrison to score from third, putting Questionable Outfit ahead 1-0. Guthrie retired the next batter, but Reilly had provided the only run support he would need in the game.
Joey singled to lead off the top of the third, but Cookies & Cream could not capitalize, as Reilly send down the next two hitters to end the inning.
Morrison singled to start the bottom of the third, but Guthrie buckled down, retiring both Reillys and stranding the runner.
Reilly cruised through the top of the fourth, and he would not allow another hit the rest of the way. Bob added additional run support in the bottom of the inning, leading off with a solo blast to right-center, his first hit of the season. Morrison singled for his third consecutive hit, and it looked as if Questionable Outfit would blow it open, but Guthrie retired the next two batters to minimize the damage.
Bob, the 2013 Wiffler of the Year, went deep in the bottom of the fourth, putting Questionable Outfit up 2-0
Down 2-0, Cookies & Cream couldn’t rally in the top of the fifth, going down in order. Guthrie matched Reilly in the bottom of the fifth, retiring the side without allowing a hit.
Morrison, in his first game with Questionable Outfit, slides back into third safely after overrunning the base
Down to their final at-bat, Cookies & Cream couldn’t get the bats going in the top of the sixth. They were stymied by Reilly’s pitching and Questionable Outfit’s fielding prowess, as Reilly send Dinger and Blose down in order to end the game, earning the complete game victory.
The win moved Questionable Outfit to 1-0 on the season, and the loss dropped Cookies & Cream to 0-1.
W: Reilly (1-0)
L: Guthrie (0-1)
Game Notes:
– Reilly pitched six strong innings, allowing only three hits and no earned runs in the complete game shutout.
– Guthrie also pitched well, allowing two runs while scattering five hits, but had no run support in the loss.
– Morrison led Questionable Outfit in his first game with the team, going 3-for-4 with two singles and a double.
I didn’t know Mike and Blose had it in them to birth children. The Wiffle Force is strong in those two