Shady Characters celebrate after Tom’s walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth gave them a 6-5 win
Four-time defending champions Shady Characters only led once in their season-opening matchup with Cheap Goats, but when they took the lead, it was with a walk-off two-run homer by Tom, continuing a multi-season run of clutch late-game hits. Trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth and having trailed the entire game, 2024 Wiffler of the Year Thomas singled, putting the tying run on base and the winning run at the plate. Tom capitalized, crushing a two-run homer to right-center, giving Shady Characters a dramatic win and an impressive start to their campaign to become the first team in league history to five-peat.
Tom took the mound for Shady Characters and the first batter he faced, Joey, doubled. Two batters later, Christian hit a one-out RBI single to score Joey, and Cheap Goats led 1-0. Tom then retired Dinger to end the inning, stranding Christian at first.
Tom delivers a pitch to Joey, who went 5-for-5 with three doubles, two homers, four runs scored, and two RBI in the Cheap Goats loss
Dinger started for Cheap Goats, and after allowing a leadoff single to Bobby, he retired Thomas and Tom to strand the runner, ending the inning.
Joey hit a one-out double in the top of the second, and Courtlen followed with an RBI double to score him, putting Cheap Goats ahead 2-0. Christian then singled, scoring Courtlen, and the lead was 3-0. Tom retired Dinger to strand Christian at first, ending the inning, and Shady Characters trailed by three runs.
Billy hit a one-out triple in the bottom of the second, but Dinger stranded him, retiring Thomas to end the inning, maintaining a three-run lead.
Billy went 4-for-5 with two singles, a double, a triple, and two runs scored in Shady Characters’ season-opening win
With one out in the top of the third, Joey doubled for the third consecutive inning and at-bat, but Tom avoided further damage, retiring Courtlen to strand him at third, ending the inning.
Dinger rolled through the bottom of the third, retiring Tom and Lucas in order, and Cheap Goats led 3-0 through three innings.
Christian doubled to lead off the top of the fourth, but Tom once again stranded a Cheap Goats runner. He struck out Dinger and then retired Kevin, and the Cheap Goats lead remained 3-0.
Billy led off the bottom of the fourth with a single, and Thomas put Shady Characters on the board with a two-run homer to make the score 3-2. Dinger retired Tom and Lucas to end the inning, and Shady Characters had cut the Cheap Goats lead to a run.
Joey led off the top of the fifth with a solo homer, putting Cheap Goats ahead 4-2. Courtlen followed with a single, but Tom stranded another Cheap Goats runner, retiring Christian and Dinger to end the inning.
Shady Characters continued to chip away at the Cheap Goats lead in the bottom of the fifth. Billy led off with a double, and for the second consecutive inning, Thomas hit a two-run homer, tying the game at 4-4. Dinger retired the next two batters, Tom and Lucas, to end the inning, and heading into the sixth inning, the game was tied.
Thomas, who had a pair of two-run homers and scored the game-tying run, celebrates with his squad at the plate
Tom retired Kevin to start the top of the sixth, but Joey followed with his second solo shot in as many at-bats, putting Cheap Goats back in front 5-4. Courtlen singled, and he moved from first to third when Christian followed with a double. Cheap Goats had two runners on and a chance to add a few insurance runs, but once again, Tom stranded runners. He retired Dinger, leaving two on, and Shady Characters trailed by a run heading into their final at-bat.
Dinger retired Billy to start the bottom of the sixth, and Cheap Goats were an out away from a win. Thomas followed with a single, putting the tying run on base and the winning run at the plate. Like he has time and again over the last several seasons, Tom came to the plate, and despite going 0-for-4 to start the game, he came through in the clutch. He launched a home run to right-center, and his walk-off shot ended the game, giving Shady Characters a dramatic 6-5 win.
The win moved Shady Characters to 1-0 on the season, and the loss dropped Cheap Goats to 0-1.
W: Tom (1-0)
L: Dinger (0-1)
Game Notes:
– Tom earned the win for Shady Characters, pitching the complete game and allowing five runs on twelve hits, striking out one.
– Dinger took the loss in a complete game effort for Cheap Goats, giving up six runs on eight hits in 5.5 innings.
– Thomas led Shady Characters in the season opening win, going 3-for-5 with a double, two home runs, three runs scored, and four RBI.
– Billy also went 4-for-5 with two singles, a double, a triple, and two runs scored for Shady Characters.
– Tom’s two-run walk-off homer won the game for Shady Characters. It was the fifth walk-off homer of his wiffle career.
– Joey led Cheap Goats in the loss, going 5-for-5 with three doubles, two home runs, four runs scored, and two RBI.
– Christian also went 4-for-5 with two singles, two doubles, and two RBI in the Cheap Goats loss.