Mike was dominant in game 1, going 6-for-6 and hitting for the cycle, carrying his team to victory
Playing without their MVP candidate and team captain Bob, Loss Mitigation relied heavily on their other MVP candidate, Mike, who did the heavy lifting in a game 1 win over the Porkswords. Mike went a perfect 6-for-6 with a single, two doubles, a triple, and two homers, hitting for the cycle and driving in four of the Loss Mitigation runs. His two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth gave Loss Mitigation a two-run lead, which the Porkswords couldn’t overcome in the top of the sixth. Nate pitched the complete game win for Loss Mitigation, and overcame big games from Adam and Frosty on offense.
Nate of Loss Mitigation delivers a pitch to Adam of the Porkswords as members of the league and some fans look on
Nate started on the mound for Loss Mitigation, and after a strong regular season as a starting pitcher, the Porkswords hit him harder than anticipated in game 1. Adam led off the game with a double, and Josh gave the Porkswords a 1-0 lead with an RBI double before Loss Mitigation had recorded an out. Nate buckled down, retiring the next two batters, Bob and Frosty, to strand Josh at second and end the inning.
Frosty, who hadn’t been seen on the wiffle diamond in years, appeared on the Porkswords playoff roster. Here he is with his new teammate, Bob.
Josh took the mound for the Porkswords, and he escaped the first inning unscathed. Mike led off the game with a double, but Loss Mitigation couldn’t capitalize. Josh retired Nate and Norris to end the inning, and the score was 1-0 through an inning.
Nate rolled through the top of the second, retiring the side in order, and Loss Mitigation would provide him with plenty of run support in the bottom of the second. Reggie led off the inning with a single, and Mike drove him in with an RBI triple that tied the game at 1-1. Nate followed with a two-run blast to left-center, and Loss Mitigation led 3-1. Norris then tripled, and Reggie drove him in with a two-run blast to center, putting Loss Mitigation ahead 5-1. Mike then hit a solo shot to the absolute deepest part of center field, and the score was 6-1. Josh retired the next two batters to end the inning, but Loss Mitigation had posted six runs in the bottom of the second, taking an early five-run lead.
Nate, who earned the win on the mound for Loss Mitigation, connects on a two-run homer in the bottom of the second.
The Porkswords bounced back in the top of the second. Frosty, an EWL playoff legend making his first wiffle appearance in years, doubled with one out, and Adam drove him in with an RBI triple that made the score 6-2. Josh followed with a triple, scoring Adam, and the score was 6-3. Nate struck out Bob to end the inning, and Loss Mitigation led by three runs.
Reggie and Mike each singled to start the bottom of the third, but Josh escaped the inning, retiring Nate and Norris to strand both runners, and the score remained 6-3.
Adam snags a fly ball for the Porkswords in left field
The Porkswords would continue to chip away at the Loss Mitigation lead in the top of the fourth. Adam hit a solo homer with one out, cutting the deficit to 6-4. Nate retired Josh to end the inning, and the Porkswords trailed by two runs.
Adam led the Porkswords in the game 1 loss, going 4-for-6 with four extra-base hits, including two doubles, a triple, and a home run.
Josh struck out Reggie to start the bottom of the fourth, and after Mike doubled, Josh retired Nate to strand him at second, ending the inning.
The Porkswords drew closer yet in the top of the fifth. With one out, Frosty connected on a solo homer to right-center, cutting the score to 6-5. Adam followed with a double, but Josh couldn’t tie the game, as Nate retired him to strand the runner, ending the inning with the Porkswords trailing by a run.
Norris connects on one of his two hits for Loss Migitation. He went 2-for-5 with a single and a triple, scoring two runs.
Loss Mitigation hadn’t scored since putting up six runs in the bottom of the second, and their lead had diminished to a run, but Nate would get more run support in the bottom of the fifth. Norris led off the inning with a single, and two batters later, Mike hit a two-run homer, his second blast of the game, putting Loss Mitigation ahead 8-5. Josh retired Nate to end the inning, and the Porkswords trailed by three runs heading into the sixth.
Mike and Loss Mitigation celebrate at the plate after his second homer of the game, a two-run shot that gave Loss Mitigation an unsurmountable lead in the bottom of the fifth
Nate remained in the game to close things out for Loss Mitigation, and he retired Bob for the first out of the inning. Frosty then hit a one-out solo homer, his second round-tripper of the game, giving the Porkswords life and making the score 8-6. The rally would end there, however, as Nate retired Adam for the second out, ending the inning and the game.
The 8-6 win gave Loss Mitigation a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five first round series with the Porkswords.
W: Nate (1-0)
L: Josh (0-1)
Game Notes:
– Nate pitched the complete game win for Loss Mitigation, allowing six runs on nine hits and striking out one in six innings.
– Josh took the loss for the Porkswords, giving up eight runs on twelve hits and striking out one in five innings pitched.
– Mike led Loss Mitigation on offense, going 6-for-6 with a single, two doubles, a triple, two home runs, three runs scored, five RBI, and he hit for the cycle for the second time in his playoff career.
– Adam led the Porkswords at the plate, going 4-for-6 with two doubles, a triple, a home run, three runs scored, and two RBI.
