Ellsworth Wiffleball League

Vassallo went 3-5 in Game 5 with a single and two home runs, including his series-ending walk-off

It was a fitting end to an incredible five game series that was pushed to the brink. 4 out of 5 Dentists and the Fish Sticks had gone to extra-innings for the second consecutive game, and each team was a run away from winning Game 5 and clinching a spot in the Wiffle Series against the Caucasians. The Fish Sticks, who two innings earlier were two outs away from ending their 2011 season, had come from behind to draw even with the Dentists in the bottom of the sixth. Both teams were scoreless in the seventh, and with darkness setting in, Vassallo led off the bottom of the eighth inning. The homefield advantage the Sticks had clinched only two weeks prior would come to fruition, as Vassallo crushed the first pitch he saw over the centerfield wall to end the game and the series, catapulting his team to the title and bringing the legendary series to a conclusion.

The Dentists and Fish Sticks had gone blow-for-blow in the first four games of the series, with the Sticks winning games 1 and 4 and the Dentists winning games 2 and 3. There was talk to postpone Game 5, but it was decided that the game would be played immediately in order to beat the darkness. Sundown was fast approaching and the stage was set for an amazing finale to the ultra-competitive series.

The Fish Sticks would send Dinger to the mound to start his third game of the series, despite having earned both of the Sticks losses in the series. Ron led off the game, having been responsible for the Dentists only run in Game 4. Dinger retired him, but the next batter, Marr, singled with one out. The Sticks stranded him though, as Dinger retired Braydn to end the first.

The Dentists started Ron for the third consecutive game, with their three best fielders playing where they were most comfortable. Blose led off the game with a single, and moved to third when Dinger grounded out to center. But Joey couldn’t plate the run, as Ron got him to ground out to end the inning, stranding a runner at third.

Dinger started to get in a rhythm in the top of the second, as he retired Spads and Ron in order to keep the game tied at 0-0.

Ron also found himself in a groove, sending Vassallo and Blose down consecutively in the bottom half of the second.

The Dentists couldn’t break the scoreless tie in the top of the third, as both Marr and Braydn grounded out, and Ron kept the train rolling in the bottom of the third, retiring Dinger and Joey in order.

Dinger retired his fifth and sixth consecutive batters in the top of the fourth, getting both Spads and Ron to groundout.

Vassallo singled to lead off the bottom of the fourth, the first baserunner for either team since the first inning. But Blose and Dinger flew out consecutively, unable to move the runner beyond first base, and the game remained tied.

The Dentists would be the first to score in the top of the fifth, as they finally got through Dinger and the Fish Sticks defense. Dinger retired Marr for the first out of the inning, but the next two batters signaled trouble. Braydn launched a solo homer to right-center field, putting the Dentists up 1-0 and giving them the critical first score of the game. The next batter, Spads, who was 0-12 on the day coming in, hit a home run to center field, making back-to-back home runs and putting the Dentists up 2-0. The Sticks made a quick call to the pen to avoid further damage, bringing in Joey from right field. He retired Ron to end the fifth, but the damage had been done and the Dentists had put the Sticks in a hole.

Spads only hit in games 3, 4, and 5 was a timely one, a homer than put the Dentists up 2-0

Ron also showed his first signs of weakness in the fifth inning. Joey led off the bottom of the fifth by flying out to left field, but Vassallo, who had singled in his last at-bat, followed with a one-out solo blast to deep left field, pulling the Fish Sticks within a run at 2-1. Blose was unable to keep the rally alive, as he grounded out for the second out of the inning, and through five innings the Dentists were up a run.

The Dentists couldn’t add to their lead in the top of the sixth, as Marr and Braydn were retired in order.

The Fish Sticks were down to their final at-bat, down a run, with the series and the season on the line. Dinger led off the inning, and he had come through in crucial situations early in the season. He took several pitches, having difficulty picking up the ball. But when he finally swung, he connected, hitting a laser just inches over the left field wall, tying the game in one of the most clutch and dramatic moments in league history. The Sticks had tied the game at 2-2 with no outs and were a run away from taking the game. Ron was unfazed, however, and retired Joey and Adam to end the sixth, pushing the game to extra-innings.

Dinger's home run to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning single-handedly saved the Fish Sticks season

Joey remained on the mound for the Sticks, and he kept the Dentists in check in the top of the seventh, retiring Spads and Ron in order.

Ron pitched into the seventh inning as well, and Blose doubled to lead off the inning. The game-winning run was two bases away with no outs. But Ron clamped down yet again, retiring Dinger and Joey, stranding the winning run on second base, and giving the Dentists another chance.

Blose doubled to lead off the bottom of the seventh as the sky grew darker

Marr led off the top of the eighth by flying out to the pitcher’s mound for the first out of the inning. The next batter, Braydn, singled with one out for his second hit of the game. Spads came to the plate and hit a fly ball to right field which Dinger had trouble seeing. Unable to spot the ball, it fell to the ground as Spads raced to first, Braydn around second, and Dinger grabbed the ball. But the umpires ruled the ball foul. Spads came back to the plate, and was unable to move the runner, grounding out to left field for the second out of the inning.

At this time darkness had crept over the field and the ball was becoming increasingly difficult to see for hitters and fielders. An announcement was made that this would be the final half-inning before the game would be postponed. The Fish Sticks came to the plate with one chance to win the game that night. Vassallo had mentioned earlier that he would swing at the first pitch he could see. He swung at the first pitch Ron delivered, and when the ball came to rest it was on the other side of the fence and the game was over. The Sticks mobbed Vassallo at the plate, as he had won Game 5 and clinched a spot in the Wiffle Series for the Fish Sticks. The Dentists were devastated, having poured their sweat into the 2011 season and this five game series in particular. Their season had set like the sun on the EWL diamond that night, one hit away from playing for a title.

Vassallo's Game 5 performance and game-winning home run will go down in history

The greatest series the EWL may ever see had come to an end. Two games alone combined for 21 innings. The Fish Sticks outscored the Dentists 19-17. The Dentists scored 2 runs three different games; the Sticks scored 3 runs three different games. The fielding, pitching, and timely hitting was remarkable. Four of the five games were decided by a single run; the other game was decided by two runs.

The Fish Sticks will now face the Caucasian Vaginas in a best-of-seven series in the Wiffle Series for the 2011 EWL Title.

Game Notes:
– Ron pitched 7 innings, taking the loss while giving up 3 earned runs on 6 hits
– Dinger earned a no-decision, giving up 2 earned runs on 3 hits in 4.5 innings
– Joey got the win for the Sticks, giving up 1 hit and no runs in 3.5 innings
– Braydn led the Dentists offensively, going 2-5 with a home run and a single
– Vassallo carried the Sticks, going 3-5 with 2 home runs, 2 RBI, and a team-high 7 put-outs

Box Score

Tags: 2011, 4 out of 5 Dentists, EWL Playoffs, Fish Sticks, Game 5

Joey rounds second base after his solo homer gave the Sticks a 3-2 lead in the top of the 13th inning

Two weeks after completing what is considered the greatest game in EWL history, the Fish Sticks and 4 out of 5 Dentists needed 13 innings to decide a winner in Game 4. The Sticks took a 3-2 lead in the top of the 13th inning and held on to win 3-2, tying the series at 2-2 and forcing a game 5.

With the Dentists’ ace Chris out with an injury, Ron started on the mound for the second consecutive game, aware that he could only pitch two innings before reaching his limit. He was effective in game 3, earning a complete game victory and holding the Sticks to three runs. He picked up where he left off to start game 4, fanning the league’s best hitter, Blose for the first out of the game. He then retired Dinger for the second out, and the game was scoreless after the top of the first.

Joey started on the mound for the Sticks. He was hit hard in game 2, as the Dentists started their improbable comeback in the game and series by hitting home runs off of him. He got off to a good start in game 4 though, as he retired Braydn and Marr in the bottom of the second.

Ron retired Joey and Vassallo in order, and he had reached his pitching limit. He pitched two perfect innings to get the Dentists off to a good start.

He helped his own cause in the bottom half of the second, as he led off the inning with a solo homer, his third of the week, which gave the Dentists the first score of the game, a 1-0 lead. Joey wasn’t rattled, though, as he retired Spads and Braydn in order to keep the deficit at one run.

With both of their regular pitchers unavailable, the Dentists would have to turn to a player who had never pitched before to close out the series and send them to the championship. They send Spads to the mound, a southpaw, and the Fish Sticks struggled to hit him. He retired Blose and Dinger in the top of the third, and the Dentists held their 1-0 lead.

Spads made his first pitching appearance of his career in Game 4

After giving up a homer in the bottom of the second, Joey got into gear in the bottom of the third and the Dentists were unable to shake him until he reached his inning limit in the eight inning. He retired Marr and Ron in order for a perfect third inning.

Spads retired Joey for the first out of the top of the fourth, and after going three and a half innings perfect, the Dentists gave up their first hit of the game when Vassallo singled with one out. But Spads stranded him at first, retiring Blose for the second out of the inning.

Joey send Spads and Braydn down in the bottom of the fourth, keeping the score at 1-0.

Joey and Marr collide on the first base line as Joey approached a fly ball in foul territory

Spads brought the Dentists one inning closer to ending the series in the top of the fifth, when he retired Dinger and Joey consecutively.

The Dentists couldn’t add insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth, as Joey retired Marr and Ron in order.

One inning away from advancing to the championship game, Spads needed two outs to end the game. But Vassallo had other plans. The Fish Sticks had their backs against the wall, and with their season on the line, Vassallo led off the top of the sixth with a solo homer, tying the game at 1-1. The Sticks couldn’t take a lead though, as Spads retired Blose and Dinger, maintaining the 1-1 tie.

Vassallo saved the Fish Sticks season, leading off the top of the sixth inning with a game-tying home run

The Dentists came to the plate in the bottom of the sixth needing a run to end the game and the series. This would be the first of eight straight innings where they had a chance to win the game with a run. Joey got both batters, Spads and Braydn, to fly out to the pitchers mound, sending the game to extra innings.

Spads remaining on the mound in the top of the seventh. He retired Joey for the first out of the inning, and Vassallo followed with a single, his third hit of the game, as he had all three of the Sticks hits. But Spads stranded him at first, getting Blose to fly out to center for the second out of the inning.

Joey continued to shut down the Dentists in the bottom of the seventh, retiring Marr and Ron in order.

The Sticks couldn’t score in the top of the eight, as Spads retired Dinger and Joey consecutively.

Spads and the Dentists defense held the Sticks to 2 runs in 8 innings pitched

In his final inning of availability, Joey sent down Spads and Braydn for a scoreless eight, extending the game another inning.

Joey gave up 1 earned run on 1 hit in 8 innings, a blast from Ron in the second inning

Vassallo was retired for the first out of the bottom of the ninth, but the Sticks finally broke the tie with one out. Blose came to the plate and hit a solo homer, his first hit of the game, to put the Fish Sticks up 2-1. Spads retired Dinger for the second out of the inning, and the Sticks were now two outs away from winning Game 4.

With Joey’s innings exhausted, the Sticks opted to save Dinger, who had two innings of availability left, and call Blose from the bullpen for the save opportunity. The decision didn’t work out as planned though, as the first batter of the inning, Marr, crushed a solo homer to left-center field, tying the game at 2-2, saving the Dentists. The back and forth game would continue. Blose avoided the blown save and the loss, however, as he settled down, retiring Ron and Spads, sending the game to the tenth inning.

The tenth inning would be Spads final inning of eligibility. He retired Joey for the first out of the tenth, but Vassallo followed with a single, his fourth hit of the game. But the Sticks couldn’t take another lead, as Spads retired Blose for the second out of the inning.

Blose remained on the mound in the bottom of the tenth. Braydn grounded out to center for the first out of the inning, and the next batter, Marr, crushed a ball into the tree in left. The tree kept the ball in the park, but the Sticks were unable to field it, and Marr had his second consecutive hit off Blose. Ron couldn’t make the Sticks pay though, as he was retired for the second out of the inning, stranding Marr at first.

With Ron and Spads unable to pitch, the Dentists had to utilize their third pitcher of the game. They called Marr from the bullpen to make his first appearance of the season on the mound. He pitched well immediately, retiring Dinger and Joey in order for a scoreless eleventh.

Blose found his groove in the bottom of the eleventh, pitching his first perfect inning by retiring Spads and Braydn in order.

After a shaky start, Blose took control on the mound

Vassallo led off the top of the twelfth inning with a single, his fifth hit of the game. But yet again the Sticks were unable to make the Dentists pay, as Marr retired Blose and Dinger to strand Vassallo at first.

Blose continued to send the Dentists down in the bottom of the twelfth. He retired Marr and Ron in order, and the marathon game would continue into the thirteen inning, making it the longest game in EWL history.

With the score tied at 2-2, and with no runs having been scored for four innings, the Sticks finally put a dent in the Dentists armor. Joey came into this at-bat hitless in his previous 11 at-bats on the day. He finally connected, hitting a solo homer off the top rail of the fence, putting the Fish Sticks up 3-2. Marr held the deficit at one run, retiring Vassallo and Blose.

The Dentists had their backs against the wall for a second time, down 3-2 and needing a run to force a fourteenth inning or two runs to win the game. But Blose clamped down, pitching his third consecutive perfect inning, retiring Spads and Braydn by groundouts, ending the longest game in league history.

The Fish Sticks tied the game in the top of the sixth, went ahead in the top of the ninth only to allow the Dentists to tie the game again, only to take the lead again in the thirteenth inning and hang on to win. The 3-2 victory forced a pivotal game 5 to be played to decide which of the two teams would advance to face the Caucasians in the championship Wiffle Series.

The two teams shake hands before facing off in Game 5

Game Notes:
– Vassallo led the Fish Sticks in victory, going 5 for 8, running out 4 singles and hitting the game-tying home run in the top of the sixth. He also made countless crucial plays in the field.
– Joey set a playoff record with 10 put-outs in the game. He also pitched 8 innings, giving up 1 ER on 1 hit, a solo homer to Ron
– Spads also pitched 8 innings, giving up 2 ER on 5 hits
– Marr took the loss for the Dentists, pitching 3 innings, giving up 1 ER on 2 hits
– Blose claimed the win for the Fish Sticks, giving up 1 ER on 2 hits in 5 innings pitched
– The pitching and defense was spectacular in this game, holding both offenses in check throughout 13 grueling innings

Box Score

Tags: 2011, 4 out of 5 Dentists, EWL Playoffs, Fish Sticks, Game 4