After dropping game one, Shady Characters erupted for five runs in the opening inning of game two and never let up, cruising to a 10-1 victory over Guac Boys to even their best-of-five first-round playoff series at one game apiece. The four-time former champions were in elite form, racking up runs and stifling the potent Guac Boys offense. Tom homered twice and drove in three runs, Shady Characters pounded out seventeen hits, and Tom backed his offensive performance with a dominant complete game on the mound, holding the defending champions to just two hits.
Jan took the mound for Guac Boys, and after a narrow game one loss, Shady Characters wasted no time taking control of game two. Zach led off the game with a single, and Billy doubled to put two runners in scoring position with no outs. Tom followed with an RBI single to score Zach, giving Shady Characters a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, with one out, Lucas lined a two-run single to clear the bases and extend the advantage to 3-0. Nate followed with a double, and Zach capped the rally with a two-run single, giving Shady Characters a commanding 5-0 lead. Billy grounded out to end the inning, but Guac Boys faced an early five-run deficit.
Tom started for Shady Characters and retired Bohn and Tone in order in the bottom of the first.
Shady Characters added another run in the second. Tom led off with a double, and Thomas followed with an RBI single to make it 6-0. Nate later singled with one out, but Jan limited the damage by retiring Zach to end the inning.
Tom continued to dominate in the bottom of the second, striking out Jan and Form in order to keep Guac Boys off the scoreboard.
Billy was retired to begin the third before Tom crushed a solo homer, stretching the lead to 7-0. Thomas and Lucas followed with back-to-back singles, but Nate flew out to end the inning, and Jan stranded two runners to avoid further damage.
Bohn and Tone were both retired in the bottom of the third as Tom remained in complete control.
Shady Characters put the game away in the fourth. Zach singled to open the inning, and two batters later, Tom then launched a two-run homer to extend the lead to 9-0. Thomas followed immediately with a solo shot, making it 10-0. Lucas was retired to end the inning, but Shady Characters had built a double-digit advantage.
Tom struck out Jan to begin the bottom of the fourth before retiring Form on a groundout, and he was perfect through four innings.
Nate doubled to begin the fifth, but Guac Boys avoided further damage by retiring Zach and Billy to end the inning.
Guac Boys finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth. Bohn led off with a triple, Guac Boys’ first hit of the game, and after Tone flew out, Jan drove him home with an RBI triple to spoil the shutout and cut the deficit to 10-1. Form flew out to end the inning, and Tom limited the damage to a single run.
Tom singled in the top of the sixth, but Jan retired Thomas and Lucas to send the game to the bottom of the sixth.
Needing nine runs to extend the game, Guac Boys were unable to mount a rally. Tom retired Bohn and Tone to finish off the complete game, securing a 10-1 game two victory for Shady Characters.
The win evened the best-of-five first-round playoff series at one game apiece. The winner of the series advances to the 2026 EWL Wiffle Series Championship.
W: Tom (1-0)
L: Jan (0-1)
Game Notes:
Tom earned the complete game victory for Shady Characters, allowing one run on only two hits while striking out three.
Tom became only the third pitcher in EWL playoff history to strike out the side, joining Dinger (2025) and Dylan (2022) in the Record Book.
Tom also tied the single-game playoff record for strikeouts, with three, tying Dylan (2022).
Shady Characters tied the team-single game playoff record for strikeouts with three. Shady Characters also struck out three batters in a 2022 playoff game.
Jan took the loss for Guac Boys, allowing ten runs on seventeen hits and striking out one in a complete game effort.
Tom led Shady Characters offensively with a monster performance, going 5-for-5 with two singles, a double, two homers, four runs scored, and four RBI.
Zach also had a strong game, going 3-for-5 with three singles, two runs scored, and two RBI.
Thomas went 3-for-5 with two singles, a homer, a run scored, and two RBI.
Bohn and Jan each tripled for Guac Boys’ only two hits in the contest.
Jan tied the single-game record for strikeouts, with two, tying Charlie (2013), Dinger (2015), Doc (2020), and Christian (2023).
Guac Boys tied the single-game team playoff record for strikeouts with three. They tied Cheap Goats, who struck out three times in a 2022 playoff game.
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