Ellsworth Wiffleball League

Ivan’s dramatic guest appearance on the wiffle diamond carried Eastbound to their first win of 2016

After completing the worst first half of an EWL season in league history, Eastbound & Dahn picked up their first win of 2016 as their former star Ivan made a guest appearance on the wiffle diamond. He went 4-for-5 and scored three runs, as Eastbound topped the Ham Slams 7-3 and finally earned a tally in the win column.

BK started on the mound for Eastbound & Dahn, and the Ham Slams would get on the board in the top of the first. Josh singled with one out, and he moved to second when Dave, making his first EWL appearance, followed with a single. Tim then singled, scoring Josh to make the score 1-0. The Ham Slams had two runners on, but BK retired Dan to strand them both and end the inning.

Ivan, who was a cornerstone of the Eastbound lineup for years, took the leadoff position in the Eastbound lineup while he was in town from Chicago. He singled in his first at-bat of the season, and moved to second when Nate followed with a sacrifice fly. Christian then hit an RBI triple, and Eastbound had manufactured a run in a way that they had previously been unable to in 2016. The Ham Slams starter, Dan, retired BK to end the inning, and the game was tied at 1-1.

Dave would single with one out in the top of the second, but BK retired Tim to strand the runner, and the game remained tied.

Eastbound would jump out to a lead in the bottom of the second. Nate doubled with one out, and he moved to third on a Christian single. With one down and runners on the corners, BK doubled off the fence, scoring both runners to put Eastbound ahead 3-1. Ivan then followed with an RBI triple, scoring BK, and Eastbound led 4-1. Dan then retired Nate to end the inning, and the Slams trailed by three.

Nate stands on second base after one of his two doubles

Josh would single with one out in the top of the third, but BK continued to strand Ham Slams runners, sending Dave down to maintain the three run lead.

Dan got back to form in the bottom of the third, retiring Christian and BK in order. BK matched him in the top of the fourth, sending Tim and Dan down consecutively.

Eastbound extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth. Ivan led off with a single and moved to third on a Nate double. Christian then grounded out for the first out of the inning, but Ivan scored on the play, putting Eastbound ahead 5-1. Dan avoided further damage, retiring BK to strand Nate and end the inning.

The Slams would cut into the deficit in the top of the fifth. Dave doubled with one out, and Tim drove him in with an RBI double to make the score 5-2. On the play, however, Tim was caught trying to extend the double into a triple, and he was retired for the second out of the inning.

BK pitched the complete game win and drove in two runs with an RBI double in the bottom of the second

Eastbound would make up for the runs in the bottom of the fifth. Ivan started the inning with a single, and Nate followed with a two-run blast to left-center. Dan retired Christian and BK to avoid a big rally, but Eastbound led 7-2 heading into the final frame.

Josh started the top of the sixth with a single, and he moved to third on a Dave double. Tim then followed with an RBI single, scoring Josh, but Dave was caught out trying to score on the play. BK then retired Dan for the second out of the inning, and Eastbound held on to win 7-3.

The win moved Eastbound to 1-10 on the season, and the loss dropped the Ham Slams to 6-5.

W: BK (1-4)
L: Dan (0-1)

Box Score

Game Notes:
– BK pitched the complete game win for Eastbound, allowing 3 runs on 11 hits in 6 innings pitched.
– Dan took the loss for the Ham Slams, giving up 7 runs on 10 hits in 5 innings.
– Ivan led Eastbound & Dahn on offense, going 4-for-5 with 3 singles, a triple, 3 runs scored, and an RBI.
– Nate also went 3-for-5 for Eastbound with 2 doubles, a homer, 2 runs scored, and 2 RBI.
– In his first EWL appearance, Dave led the Ham Slams at the plate, going 4-for-5 with 2 singles, 2 doubles, and a run scored.

Tags: 2016, Eastbound & Dahn, Ham Slams, May, Week 6

Tim doubled in his first three at-bats, and added two more later in the game, setting the single-game record for doubles

Kessler snapped out of an early season slump, going 6-for-8 and hitting for the cycle, and Tim set the single-game record for doubles, with five, as the Ham Slams rolled through Eastbound & Dahn 15-0.

Josh took the mound for the Ham Slams, and he avoided trouble early. Nate doubled with one out in the top of the first, but Josh stranded him, retiring Dustin, making his first appearance of the season, to end the inning.

The Slams would provide immediate run support for Josh in the bottom of the first. Josh singled to lead off the inning, but was caught trying to extend the hit into a double, making the first out of the inning. The Ham Slams would rally with one out to take an early lead. Tim hit the first of his five doubles, and he scored on a Dan triple that made the score 1-0. Kessler then followed with a triple, scoring Dan, and the score was 2-0. Josh doubled on a lazy fly ball, and although Kessler didn’t score on the play, Tim followed with his second double of the inning, scoring one and pushing the lead to 3-0. It looked as if things would get worse for Helal, Eastbound’s starting pitcher, but he retired Dan for the second out of the inning, stranding runners on second and third.

Josh cruised through the top of the second, retiring the side in order.

Kessler led off the bottom of the second with a double, and two batters later, Tim hit his third consecutive double, scoring Kessler and making the score 4-0. Helal buckled down, retiring Dan to end the inning.

Kessler had five extra-base hits, including 2 doubles, a triple, and 2 homers, and added a single to hit for the cycle

Helal went down on strikes for the first out in the top of the third, and after Nate doubled, Dustin was retired, stranding the runner and maintaining the shutout.

Kessler continued to swing a hot bat in the bottom of the third, starting the inning with a solo shot that made the score 5-0. Josh then doubled, and two batters later, Dan hit a one-out double to score him, pushing the score to 6-0. Kessler followed with a double, but Helal avoided further damage, retiring Josh to end the inning.

Josh retired Christian to start the top of the fourth, and BK followed with a out-out double. The next batter, Helal, singled, but BK was caught in between first and second, ending the inning and the scoring threat.

Trailing 6-0, Eastbound removed Helal from the mound in the bottom of the fourth, switching to BK. The first batter he faced, Tim, tripled, and he scored on a Dan groundout, making the score 7-0. BK then retired Kessler, ending the inning.

Nate led off the top of the fifth with a single, his third hit in as many at-bats, but Josh continued to strand Eastbound runners. He fanned Dustin for the first out of the inning, and retired Christian for the second out.

Josh was in control on the mound, scattering six hits and striking out two in a complete game shutout for the Ham Slams

Up 7-0, the Ham Slams would deliver the finishing blow in the bottom of the fifth, adding eight runs to their lead. Josh led off with a single and moved from first to third on Tim’s fourth double of the game. Dan then singled, scoring Josh to make the score 8-0. Kessler then hit a three-run blast, his second homer of the game, and the Slams led 11-0. Josh singled, and two batters later, Dan hit a one-out single, scoring Josh from first and extending the lead to 12-0. Only a single away from the cycle, Kessler singled in his next at-bat, hitting for the cycle for the first time in his career. Dan scored on the play, and the lead was 13-0. Josh then singled, and Tim cleared the bases with his record-setting fifth double of the game. Dan then hit an RBI double, his third hit of the inning, and the Ham Slams led 15-0. BK finally retired Kessler to end the inning, but the Slams had built an insurmountable lead.

Josh remained in the game to close things out in the top of the sixth. BK singled to start the inning, but the next batter, Helal, flew out to the mound, and BK was doubled up at first, ending the inning and the game.

The win moved the Ham Slams to 3-4 on the season, and the loss dropped Eastbound to 0-7.

W: Josh (2-1)
L: Helal (0-1)

Box Score

Game Notes:
– Josh pitched the complete game shutout for the Ham Slams, scattering 6 hits in 6 innings pitched and striking out 2.
– Helal took the loss for Eastbound & Dahn, allowing 6 runs on 12 hits in 3 innings.
– BK pitched 2 innings of relief for Eastbound, giving up 9 runs on 11 hits.
– Kessler hit for the cycle for the Ham Slams, going 6-for-8 with a single, 2 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, 4 runs scored, and 5 RBI.
– Tim set the single-game record for doubles, with five. In total, he went 6-for-8 with 5 doubles, a triple, 3 runs scored, and 3 RBI.

Tags: 2016, Eastbound & Dahn, Ham Slams, May, Week 4

Josh pitched five scoreless innings, and Tim had three extra base hits for the Ham Slams as they picked up their second win of the season

Josh kept the Eastbound & Dahn bats in check through five innings and avoided a bottom of the sixth Eastbound rally to help the Ham Slams hang on to a 7-3 win in the final game of week 3.

BK took the mound for Eastbound, and the Ham Slams hit him hard early. Dan led off with a single, and Josh followed with a two-run bomb, providing his own run support and putting the Slams ahead 2-0 immediately. Tim followed with a solo homer, and the back-to-back jacks gave the Ham Slams a 3-0 lead. Two batters later, Dan hit a one-out double, and Josh drove him in with an RBI single to make the score 4-0. BK then fanned Tim for the second out of the inning, but Eastbound trailed by four runs before taking a swing.

Josh had helped his own cause in the top of the first, and he rolled through the bottom half of the inning, retiring Kyle and Nate in order.

After getting pounded in the first, BK got back on track in the top of the second, retiring the side without allowing a hit, and the score remained 4-0.

BK led off the bottom of the second with a double, but Eastbound couldn’t get on the scoreboard. Christian would later single with one out, but was caught trying to advance to second base for a double, ending the inning without plating the run.

The Ham Slams went down in order in the top of the third, as BK retired Josh and Tim consecutively. Josh matched him in the bottom of the third, retiring the side in order.

Eastbound brought in Cara from the bullpen in the top of the fourth, and after allowing a one-out double to Dan, she escaped the inning without allowing a run, retiring Josh for the second out. Josh sent Bk and Cara down consecutively in the bottom of the fourth, and the score remained 4-0.

Eastbound returned BK to the mound in the top of the fifth, and the first batter he faced, Tim, tripled. Adam then grounded out to left for the first out of the inning, but Tim scored on the play. Dan would ground out for the second out of the inning, and the Ham Slams led 5-0.

Christian led off the bottom of the fifth with a single, and moved to second on a Kyle groundout. Nate then singled, putting runners on first and third with one out, but Josh struck out BK for the second out of the inning, stranding the runner and maintaining the shutout through five innings.

Cara made her second appearance on the mound in the top of the sixth, and the Ham Slams would add to their lead. Tim doubled with one out, and he moved to third on an Adam single, putting runners on the corners. Dan then tripled into the tree, clearing the bases and putting the Ham Slams ahead 7-0. Cara then got Josh to fly out to right for the second out of the inning, and Eastbound trailed by seven runs.

Down to their final at-bat, Eastbound showed life in the bottom of the sixth. Cara singled to start the inning, and Christian followed with a mammoth two-run shot to right, cutting the score to 7-2. Kyle then tripled, and he scored when Nate followed with another triple. Josh had given up four consecutive hits to start the inning and the lead was cut to four runs, but the Ham Slams kept him in the game. He retired the next two batters, BK and Cara, stranding Nate at third and ending the game, giving the Ham Slams a 7-3 win.

The win moved the Slams to 2-4 on the season, and Eastbound remained winless at 0-6.

W: Josh (1-1)
L: BK (0-2)

Box Score

Game Notes:
– Josh pitched the complete game win for the Ham Slams, allowing three runs on eight hits in six innings and striking out one.
– BK took the loss for Eastbound, giving up five runs on six hits in four innings and also striking out one.
– Cara pitched two innings of relief for Eastbound, and she allowed two runs on four hits.
– Tim led the Ham Slams at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, a home run, three runs scored, and an RBI.
– Dan also went 4-for-6 for the Slams with a single, two doubles, a triple, two runs scored, and two RBI.
– Christian led Eastbound & Dahn on offense, going 3-for-3 with two singles, a homer, a run scored, and two RBI.

Tags: 2016, Eastbound & Dahn, Ham Slams, May, Week 3