Nate’s fifth inning grand slam, the first in Wiffle Series history, gave Shady Characters a 9-0 lead and they later won game four 11-3
Nate became the first player in EWL history to hit a grand slam in the Wiffle Series, and it came as part of an eight-run fifth inning that gave Shady Characters an 11-0 lead. Lucas earned the win on the mound and also contributed three hits, including two home runs, as the defending champs stormed ahead and held on to win 11-3, tying the best-of-seven championship series at 2-2.
Jon D started for Jack Shack, and he retired Shady Characters in order in the top of the first, sending Billy and Nate down consecutively.
Lucas took the mound for Shady Characters, and he matched Jon D in the bottom of the first, retiring Josh and Jon M in order.
Jon D rolled through the top of the second, retiring Thomas and Tom.
Ryan led off the bottom of the second with a double, but Lucas stranded him, retiring Jon D and Jacob, and the game was scoreless through two innings.
Jon D retired Lucas to start the top of the third, and he had retired the first five batters he had faced. Billy put Shady Characters on the board when he hit a one-out solo homer, making the score 1-0. Nate followed with a solo shot, and the back-to-back homers gave Shady Characters a 2-0 lead. Jon D retired Thomas to end the inning, and Jack Shack trailed by two runs.
Lucas continued to pitch effectively in the bottom of the third, retiring Josh and Jon M in order.
Jon D retired Tom to start the top of the fourth, but Lucas followed with a solo shot to right-center, making the score 3-0. Jon D retired Billy to end the inning, and Shady Characters led by three runs.
Lucas once again cruised in the bottom of the fourth, retiring Ryan and Jon D in order, and he had retired eight of the first nine batters he had faced.
Up 3-0, Shady Characters blew the game open in the top of the fifth. Nate led off with a single, and Thomas followed with a two-run homer, making the score 5-0. Tom doubled, and Lucas followed with a single, putting runners on first and third. Billy singled, loading the bases for Nate. Nate launched a deep fly to right, and the ball cleared the fence, becoming the first grand slam in the history of the EWL Wiffle Series. The towering shot gave Shady Characters a 9-0 lead, and Jon D had not recorded an out in the fifth. He finally retired Thomas for the first out, but Tom followed with a single. Lucas clubbed a two-run homer, and Shady Characters led 11-0. Jon D retired Billy to end the inning, and Jack Shack would need a major rally to stay alive in game four.
Jacob led off the bottom of the fifth with a single, and he moved to second when Josh followed with a single. Jack Shack had collected more hits in the fifth than they had in the previous four innings, and Jon M emptied the bases with a three-run homer, making the score 11-3. It looked as if Jack Shack may make the game interesting, but Lucas buckled down. He retired Ryan and Jon D, ending the inning, and Jack Shack contiuned to trail by eight runs.
Nate led off the top of the sixth with a double, but Shady Characters couldn’t add any additional insurance runs. Jon D retired Thomas and Tom to strand Nate at second, and Shady Characters led by eight runs heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Lucas stayed on the mound to close things out for Shady Characters, and he made quick work of Jack Shack in the bottom of the sixth. He retired Jacob and Josh in order, ending the inning and the game, giving Shady Characters an 11-3 game four victory.
Lucas pitched the complete game win, allowing only three runs on four hits, and went 3-for-4 at the plate with a single, and two home runs
Shady Characters’ win tied the best-of-five championship series at 2-2.
W: Lucas (3-0)
L: Jon D (1-3)
Game Notes:
– Lucas pitched the complete game win for Shady Characters, allowing three runs on four hits.
– Jon D took the loss in a complete game effort for Jack Shack, giving up eleven runs on twelve hits in six innings.
– Nate led the way for Shady Characters, going 4-for-5 with a single, a double, two home runs, three runs scored, and five RBI. He became the first player in EWL history to hit a grand slam in the Wiffle Series, and the first player since his teammate Dylan, in 2022, to hit a playoff Grand Slam. It was the fifth grand slam in EWL playoff history.
– Lucas also went 3-for-4 for Shady Characters, with a single, two home runs, three runs scored, and three RBI.
– Josh (single), Jon M (three-run homer), Ryan (double), and Jacob (single) each had one hit for Jack Shack in the loss.