Joey, who hit for the cycle in game 4, stands at the plate while teammate Erich watches on. The two players combined for ten hits and ten runs in the game 4 win.
After losing games one and two of their first round series with the Ham Slams, Cookies & Cream followed a narrow victory in game three with a runaway win in game four, beating the Ham Slams 11-6. Joey, Erich, and Jordan each contributed five hits as Cookies forced a deciding game five, which will determine who will play Questionable Outfit in the 2017 EWL Wiffle Series. This will mark the fifth consecutive postseason that Cookies & Cream will play in game five of a first round series. Cookies & Cream has a 4-0 record in game five of the first round, including 2-0 against the Ham Slams.
Josh started on the mound for the Ham Slams, and he fell behind early. Joey led off the game with a solo homer to left, and Cookies & Cream led 1-0 immediately. Erich followed with a triple, and he scored when Jordan grounded out to left for the first out of the inning. Josh retired Dinger to end the inning, and the Ham Slams trailed 2-0.
Jordan returned to the mound for Cookies & Cream after earning the win in game three, and he made quick work of the Ham Slams in the bottom of the first, retiring the side in order.
Joey started the top of the second with a double, and two batters later, Jordan drove him in with an RBI single that extended the Cookies lead to 3-0. Josh retired Dinger to end the inning, and Cookies & Cream led by three.
The Ham Slams would get on the board in the bottom of the second and cut into the Cookies & Cream lead. With one out, Kessler, in only his second game of 2017, crushed a solo homer to deep left field, making the score 3-1. Jordan retired Steve to the the inning, and the Slams had narrowed the deficit to two runs.
Cookies & Cream made up the run right away in the top of the third. Joey tripled to start the inning, and two batters later, Jordan drove him in with a one-out RBI single that made the score 4-1. Dinger followed with a single, putting runners on first and third with one out, but Josh avoided further damage. He retired Joey for the second out of the inning, stranding both runners.
Josh singled with one out in the bottom of the third, and he moved to second when Kessler followed with a single. The Ham Slams were threatening, with two runners on and the tying run at the plate, but Jordan escaped the inning. He retired Steve, who flew out to deep center, stranding both runners and ending the inning with the score 4-1.
Jordan earned the win on the mound for Cookies & Cream in game 4, and he also had five hits at the plate.
Cookies & Cream would open up a big lead in the top of the fourth. Erich singled to lead off, and two batters later, he moved from first to third on a Dinger single. With one out and runners on the corners, Joey tripled, clearing the bases and putting Cookies & Cream ahead 6-1. Erich singled for the second time in the inning, scoring Joey from third to extend the Cookies lead to 7-1. Jordan drove in Erich with an RBI triple, and the score was 8-1. Josh retired Dinger for the second out of the inning, and the Ham Slams trailed by seven.
Jordan retired the first batter in the bottom of the fourth, Dustin, and then was removed from the game. Dinger came to the mound, and he retired the first batter that he faced as well, Josh, ending the inning.
Cookies & Cream added a few insurance runs in the top of the fifth. Joey led off with a single, giving him the cycle for the game, and he moved to second when Erich followed with a single. Jordan then doubled, scoring Joey to make the score 9-1. Josh got Dinger to ground out for the first out of the inning, but Erich scored on the play, and Cookies & Cream led 10-1. Joey flew out to left to end the inning, leaving Jordan stranded at second.
Dinger retired the Ham Slams in order in the bottom of the fifth, sending Kessler and Steve down consecutively.
Erich added one more run to the Cookies & Cream lead when he started the top of the sixth with a solo homer, which pushed the score to 11-1. Jordan followed with a single, his fifth hit of the game, but Josh stranded him, retiring Dinger and Joey to end the inning.
The Ham Slams would head into the bottom of the sixth down ten runs, and they would need a miraculous inning to extend the game. If any team in the EWL has been known for an inability to close games, it is Cookies & Cream, and it looked as if they may experience deja vu early in the sixth inning. Dustin started the inning with a triple, and two batters later, Kessler drove him in with an RBI double that cut the score to 11-2. Steve followed with a double, scoring Kessler, and the score was 11-3. Dustin then doubled, scoring Steve, and the Ham Slams had narrowed the deficit to 11-4. Josh came to the plate and hit a towering fly ball to right-center that cleared the fence, and his two-run homer made the score 11-6. Just when it looked like Cookies & Cream were on the verge of another epic collapse, Dinger finally escaped the inning. He got Kessler to ground out to center for the second out, ending the game with Cookies & Cream holding on to win 11-6.
The Cookies & Cream win tied the best-of-five first round series at 2-2. The two teams have pushed the series to the distance for the second year in a row, and the winner of game five will face Questionable Outfit in the Wiffle Series.
W: Jordan (2-1)
L: Josh (0-1)
Game Notes:
– Jordan earned the win for Cookies & Cream, allowing one run on three hits in 3.5 innings.
– Dinger pitched 2.5 innings of relief for Cookies & Cream, surrendering five runs on five hits.
– Josh took the loss for the Ham Slams, giving up eleven runs on seventeen hits in six innings.
– Joey led Cookies & Cream on offense, hitting for the cycle while going 5-for-8 with a single, a double, two triples, a home run, five runs scored, and three RBI.
– Erich also had five hits for Cookies & Cream, going 5-for-7 with three singles, a triple, a home run, five runs scored, and two RBI.
– Jordan also reached base safely five times, going 5-for-7 with three singles, a double, a triple, and five RBI.
– Kessler led the Ham Slams at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a single, a double,a home run, two runs scored, and two RBI.
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