
Despite being hobbled by an ankle injury, Joey went 4-for-5 and pitched the complete game win to lead Cookies & Cream back to the Wiffle Series with a win in game 5
Cookies & Cream clinched a return trip to the Wiffle Series and completed their comeback against the Ham Slams by winning the final two games in their first round series, capped by an 8-5 win in game 5. Joey homered in his first three at-bats, went 4-for-5 with 6 RBI, and pitched the complete game win to lead Cookies & Cream to victory, setting the stage for a Wiffle Series rematch against Questionable Outfit next week.
After winning game 4, Joey took the mound again for Cookies & Cream in game 5. Dan went 3-for-5 against Joey in game 4, and he continued to have success in game 5. After Joey retired Josh to start the game, Dan hit a solo bomb to left field, putting the Ham Slams up 1-0. Joey then retired Joe to end the inning, and Cookies trailed by a run.

Kessler and Dan celebrate at the plate after Dan’s solo homer in the first inning put the Ham Slams ahead 1-0
Joey would provide his own run support in the bottom of the first. After Blose singled with one out, Joey hit a two-run homer to left, putting Cookies & Cream ahead 2-1. Joe, the Ham Slams starter, then retired Dinger to end the inning.
Josh tripled with one out in the top of the second, but the Ham Slams couldn’t even the score, as Dan grounded out to left to end the inning, stranding the runner.
Cookies & Cream would add to their lead in the bottom of the second. Guthrie started the inning with a solo homer, making the score 3-1. Blose followed with a single, and for the second consecutive inning, Joey hit a two-run blast to drive him in. Joe retired Dinger to end the inning, but Cookies had pulled out to a 5-1 lead through two innings.
Joe helped himself out in the top of the third, starting the inning with a deep solo homer to left, making the score 5-2. Joey retired the next two batters, Kessler and Josh, to end the inning.
Cookies continued to hit Joe hard in the bottom of the third. Joey led off the inning with a solo homer, his third consecutive bomb, and Cookies led 6-2. Dinger followed with a single, and two batters later, Blose hit a one-out triple to drive him in, making the score 7-2. Joey then singled, scoring Blose, pushing the score to 8-2. Joey, hobbled by an ankle injury, was caught in between first and second for the second out of the inning.
Joe singled with one out in the top of the third, and he moved to second when Kessler followed with a single. The Ham Slams had two runners on, but Josh flew out to left for the second out of the inning, stranding both runners.
Joe pitched his first perfect frame in the bottom of the fourth, retiring Dinger and Guthrie in order, and the score remained 8-2.
The Ham Slams were running out of time, and they started a comeback in the top of the fifth. Joe tripled with one out, and he scored when Kessler followed with an RBI double, making the score 8-3. Josh then hit a ball off the fence, and after a series of fielding errors, raced around the bases for a two-run inside-the-park homer. Cookies were showing signs similar to their collapse in the final game of the season against Questionable Outfit, and the Ham Slams were gaining momentum. Dan hit a double, and the Ham Slams trailed 8-5 with one out and a runner on second. Joey buckled down, retiring Joe for the second out of the inning, stranding the runner at second.
Cookies & Cream couldn’t add any insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth, as Joe retired the side in order, including sending Joey down for the first time in the game.
The Ham Slams were down to their final at-bat of the season, trailing 8-5 in the top of the sixth. Joey got the first batter, Kessler, to fly out to center, and Cookies & Cream were one out away from advancing to the Wiffle Series. The next batter, Josh, hit a towering fly ball to left. Blose camped under it, caught the ball for the second out of the inning, and Cookies & Cream had won game 5 by the score of 8-5.
The victory clinched a Wiffle Series berth for Cookies & Cream, where they will face Questionable Outfit for the fourth consecutive season. The loss ended the Ham Slams season, and they will look to contend for a title in 2017.
W: Joey (2-0)
L: Joe (2-1)
Game Notes:
– Joey pitched the complete game win for Cookies & Cream, allowing 5 runs on 9 hits in 6 innings.
– Joe took the loss for the Ham Slams, giving up 8 runs on 10 hits in 5 innings.
– Joey led Cookies & Cream on offense, going 4-for-5 with a single, three home runs, three runs scored, and six RBI.
– Joe led the Ham Slams at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a single, a triple, a homer, 2 runs scored, and one RBI.
– Cookies & Cream are now 4-0 in game 5s in franchise history.