Ellsworth Wiffleball League

Bob turned in another legendary playoff performance, going 6-for-7 at the plate and pitching the complete game win to carry Questionable Outfit back to the Wiffle Series

Bob went 6-for-7 at the plate and pitched a complete game win as Questionable Outfit finished a sweep in their best-of-five first round series with Eastbound & Dahn. The two-time defending champions Questionable Outfit will advance to the Wiffle Series for the fourth consecutive year, and they will await the conclusion of the Ham Slams vs. Cookies & Cream series which will determine their opponent.

BK took the mound for Eastbound & Dahn to start game 3, as Eastbound looked to extend the series and their 2016 season. He allowed a single to the leadoff hitter, Bob, and two batters later, Mike hit an RBI single that scored Bob from first, putting Questionable Outfit ahead 1-0. BK then retired Miller to end the inning.

In an odd managerial decision, Bob started for Questionable Outfit in place of their ace, Miller. After retiring the first batter he faced, Tim, Nate hit a double. Helal followed with an RBI single, scoring Nate to tie the game at 1-1. Helal was caught in between first and second on the play for the second out, ending the inning.

BK allowed a one-out single to Tom in the top of the second, but Questionable couldn’t take another lead, as Mike was retired to end the inning. Bob retired Eastbound in order in the bottom of the second, and the game remained tied.

Miller singled to start the top of the third, but he was caught trying to extend the hit to a double, and BK had the first out of the inning. Bob followed with a solo homer, putting Questionable ahead 2-1. BK then retired Tom to end the inning.

Eastbound bounced back in the bottom of the third, taking the lead. Tim doubled with one out, and Nate followed with an RBI triple that tied the game at 2-2. Helal then hit a triple, scoring Nate, and Eastbound led 3-2. Bob struck out Christian for the second out of the inning, stranding the runner at third.

Nate was solid in the field, recording 9 putouts, and led Eastbound at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and a triple

Eastbound was halfway to forcing a game 4 when Questionable had a big offensive inning, which has become their trademark. Mike led off the top of the fourth with a homer, and Miller followed with a titanic blast. The back-to-back jacks put Questionable Outfit back in front 4-3. Bob then hit a line drive off the fence, and a series of fielding errors led to an inside-the-park homer, and Questionable led 5-3. Tom hit a deep blast to left, and Questionable Outfit had homered in four consecutive at-bats to take a 6-3 lead. BK finally retired Mike for the first out of the inning, but Miller followed with a triple. Bob singled on an error, and although Miller couldn’t score, Questionable had runners on first and third. BK escaped further damage, however, getting Tom to ground out to left to end the inning, stranding both runners.

Bob cruised through the bottom of the fourth, retiring the side in order.

Tom scoops up a ball in center field with Mike looking on

Eastbound removed BK from the mound and turned to the bullpen, inserting Christian into the game in the top of the fifth. After retiring Mike, he gave up a single to Miller and a double to Bob, putting two runners in scoring position with one out. Questionable couldn’t add to their lead though, as Tom grounded out to Tim in center, stranding both runners and ending the inning.

Bob continued to roll in the bottom of the fifth, sending Tim and Nate down consecutively.

Questionable would add one more run of support in the top of the sixth. Mike doubled to start the inning, and two batters later Bob hit an RBI single to make the score 7-3. Christian then retired Tom to end the inning, and Eastbound trailed by four runs heading into the bottom of the sixth.

With their season on the line, Eastbound couldn’t string together enough hits, or any hits, as Bob retired Helal and Christian in order to end the inning.

Questionable Outfit and Eastbound & Dahn exchange handshakes after Questionable completed a three game sweep in the best-of-five first round series

The 7-3 victory put Questionable Outfit back into the Wiffle Series where they will attempt to defend their title and three-peat. Eastbound & Dahn finished a difficult season and will look to return to their 2015 form in 2017.

W: Bob (2-0)
L: BK (0-2)

Box Score

Game Notes:
– Bob pitched the complete game win for Questionable Outfit, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits and striking out one in 6 innings.
– BK took the loss for Eastbound, allowing 6 runs on 11 hits in 4 innings.
– Christian pitched two innings of relief for Eastbound & Dahn, allowing 1 run on 4 hits.
– Bob led Questionable Outfit on offense, going 6-for-7 with 3 singles, a double, a home run, 3 runs scored, and 2 RBI.
– Nate led Eastbound & Dahn at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, 2 runs scored, and an RBI.

Tags: 2016, Eastbound & Dahn, EWL Playoffs, First Round, Game 3, July, Questionable Outfit

Bob went 6-for-7 with a single, 2 doubles, 2 triples, and a homer, hitting for the cycle and earning the win on the mound for Questionable Outfit

Questionable Outfit put Eastbound & Dahn on the brink of elimination and took a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five first round series with a 13-9 win in game 2. Bob and Mike each hit for the cycle, becoming the first teammates to hit for the cycle in the same game in EWL playoff history. Bob had six hits and scored five runs, and Mike had five hits, as Questionable held off a late Eastbound & Dahn rally to win and put themselves one win away from a fourth consecutive Wiffle Series berth.

Bob started on the mound for Questionable Outfit, and he cruised in the top of the first, retiring Nate and Christian in order.

Questionable Outfit would immediately provide Bob with run support, taking a significant lead in the bottom of the first. Bob singled to lead off the inning, and he moved from first to third on a Tom single. Mike then doubled, scoring Bob, and the score was 1-0. Miller came to the plate with runners on second and third, and he cleared the bases with a three-run bomb, putting Questionable Outfit ahead 4-0. Bob followed with a double, and after five consecutive hits to start the game, it looked like Questionable Outfit would have a huge inning. Christian buckled down, however, and avoided further damage, retiring Tom and Mike to strand the runner at second and end the inning.

Eastbound & Dahn showed resolve in the top of the second, bouncing back and cutting into the Questionable Outfit lead. Dustin singled, and he moved to second when BK followed with a single. Two batters later, Christian cleared the bases and rounded them all himself when Questionable Outfit unleashed a series of fielding errors that resulted in a three-run inside-the-park homer. Bob then retired Dustin to end the inning, but Eastbound had cut the lead to 4-3.

Christian’s three-run inside-the-park homer pulled Eastbound & Dahn within a run in the top of the second

Christian pitched a perfect frame in the bottom of the second, sending Miller and Bob down in order. Bob matched him in the top of the third, as BK and Nate were retired consecutively.

Questionable would add to their lead in the bottom of the third. Tom led off the inning with a solo shot, and Mike made it back-to-back homers with a solo homer of his own. Two batters later Bob tripled, and Tom drove him in with an RBI single that made the score 7-3. Mike followed with a single, and Questionable had runners on first and third, but Christian retired Miller to strand both runners and end the inning.

Tom went 6-for-7 with a record-tying four singles, a double, a homer, and four runs scored

Eastbound continued to hang in, narrowing the deficit in the top of the fourth. Christian doubled to start the inning, and he scored when Dustin followed with an RBI triple. BK then singled, scoring Dustin, and Eastbound trailed 7-5. Nate followed with a single, but BK was caught in between first and second for the first out of the inning. Bob then retired Christian to end the inning, and Questionable led by two.

Mike, who hit for the cycle in the Questionable Outfit win, comes up firing in left field

Bob led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo homer, completing the cycle in only five at-bats. Tom followed with a single, but Christian retired Mike and Miller to strand him, and Questionable Outfit led 8-5 after four innings.

Bob retired the side in order in the top of the fifth, and Questionable would extend their lead by a considerable margin in the bottom of the inning.

Bob tripled for the second time in the game to lead off the inning, and he scored when Tom drove him in with an RBI single that made the score 9-5. Mike then tripled, completing the cycle, and Tom scored on the play to put Questionable ahead 10-5. Two batters later, Bob doubled to score Mike, and the score was 11-5. Tom then doubled to score Bob, and Mike followed with an RBI single to score Tom. Christian finally retired Miller to end the inning, but Questionable had scored five runs to pull ahead 13-5.

Nate’s two-run homer cut the Questionable Outfit lead to 13-9, but it was the end of a dramatic late-game rally for Eastbound

Down eight heading into their final at-bat, Eastbound & Dahn made things interesting in the top of the sixth. Nate led off the inning with a triple, and Christian hit a deep sacrifice fly to center, scoring Nate to make the score 13-6. Dustin then singled, and he scored from first when BK hit an RBI single, and the score was 13-7. Nate then hit a towering two-run homer to left-center, and Eastbound had cut the Questionable lead to 13-9. Questionable Outfit removed Bob from the mound and brought in Tom from the bullpen. He immediately put an end to the Eastbound rally, striking out Christian for the second out of the inning, ending the game and giving Questionable Outfit the 13-9 win.

Questionable Outfit pulled ahead 2-0 in the best-of-five first round series with Eastbound & Dahn. A win in game 3 would put them in the Wiffle Series for the fourth consecutive season. No team has come back from an 0-2 deficit to win a first round series.

W: Bob (1-0)
L: Christian (0-1)

Box Score

Game Notes:
– Bob earned the win for Questionable Outfit, allowing 9 runs on 10 hits in 5.5 innings pitched.
– Tom pitched 0.5 innings of relief, and struck out the only batter he faced.
– Christian took the loss for Eastbound in the complete game effort, giving up 13 runs on 18 hits in 5 innings.
– Bob went 6-for-7 and hit for the cycle with a single, 2 doubles, 2 triples, a home run, 5 runs scored, and 3 RBI.
– Mike also hit for the cycle, going 5-for-6 with 2 singles, a double, a triple, a homer, a sacrifice fly, 3 runs scored, and 4 RBI.
– All four Eastbound & Dahn players had at least two hits. They were led by Dustin, who went 3-for-5 with 2 singles, a triple, 3 runs scored, and an RBI.

Tags: 2016, Eastbound & Dahn, EWL Playoffs, First Round, Game 2, July, Questionable Outfit