Mennell Wins Plaoff (August 23)
On a muggy Sunday afternoon Art Borsi, Russ Taliafero and John Mennell each had a solo homer in regular play. Taliafero set the standard early in the playoff with a smash off a car. Mennell answered with two mid-street long balls to take the victory and pull within one HR of the absent Ben DeWalt for the season lead.
Quiet Day with the wind blowing in (August 16)
A strong gus of wind took the Rector's hit to the sidewalk for the only Home Run in today's competition
Bye-Bye Ben (Times Six) (August 9)
In Ben DeWalt's farewell SLAWB appearance before leaving for college, he smashed a record six home runs, shattering the previous best day of four (also a DeWalt record). Ben was not the only star of the day as rookie phenom Nicholas Williams sent two balls long, in his first official SLAWB appearance. Williams first shot was also the 100th home run in the history of SLAWB.
DeWalt Practices Trinitarian Wiffle (July 26)
Three more home runs on Sunday vaulted Ben DeWalt back into the season lead with an amazing .348 average at the mid point of the season. "I am so glad he's going off to college in a couple of weeks," said John Mennell, "It's the only chance we have to maintain Old Guy dominance in the league." DeWalt needs just one HR in the next two weeks to end his season with a higher average than Art Borsi's record setting .243 in the 2008 season. Theo "ther Phil" Hobbie came within inches of notching his first home run and Lilla "Crusher" Murphy continued to regularly pound the ball in last Sunday's play. Anticipation is high for next week, when the first ball to reach the sidewalk will be ensconsed in the Wiffle Ball Hall of Fame as the 100th home run in league history.
Mennell Has Only Homer(July 19)
The only home run in Sunday's play came off the bat of John Mennell, but as the official league statistician there is some debate as to the validitiy of the home
Flanders no Fluke; Booker Bashes (July 12)
When Steve Flanders briefly led the league on opening day, many were considering his solo shot a fluke, after 70 non-productive at-bats in the 2008 season. Flanders answered fans and detractors alike today with two home runs and his first SLAWB victory. An elated Flanders was congratulated at mid-field, by the few old guys who could still sand after the day's competition and his son Stephen "The Heathen" Flanders who had complete confidence in his father.
Flanders' shots had to answer rookie phenom, Walter Booker, Jr who notched his first official SLAWB dinger. Bolstered by his older brother's performance, Maxwell "Sweet Swing" Booker feels confident in his ability to enter the SLAWB Hall-of-Fame when he joins his brother on the list, hoping to be the youngest ever to go long.
The Old Guys dominance of the wiffle bard yard seems at risk. With a barrel of Bookers, fleet of Flanders, house of Hobbies and empire of Edens all coming up through the ranks, the old guys are likely going to be out-numbered and overpowered. The youth in each of these clans has come within inches (Evan Eden narrowly missing today) of joining the leader board.
Rested Reverend Racks Runs (July 5)
John Mennell hit three home runs, coming of two-weeks rest. There is really no other explanation for this unprecedented performance. The Rector plans to ask the Vestry for every other week off for the remainder of the summer in hopes of staying competitive.
Borsi with a Walk off (June14)
Good deed doer and Old Guy Art Borsi was the only one who could find the sidewalk on this Sunday afternoon. Borsi, after driving another parishioner home and forgoing his batting practice, barely made it back to the field of play before nightfall so he could drive three out of the yard.. Not a single home run had been hit until Borsi confidently shuffled up to the plate.
DeWalt Sets Records on Opening Day (June 7)
Spurred on by the 2009 rule changes and an intense off season workout regime Ben DeWalt walked off with five Home Runs on the 2009 opening day of SLAWB. DeWalt's victory was hard earned in extra innings against Rob "The One-Armed Bandit" Smith who ended the day with four long balls. During regulation play Steve "Nicknamed to be Determined Later" Flanders led the league for a brief shining moment scoring the first official home run of the season and of his career, making Steve and Stephen "The Heathen" Flanders he first father-son duo to score in SLAWB. Regular play ended with three people tied with two HRs each. John Mennell was quickly eliminated in the extra innings where Dewalt and Smith battled for three rounds.
The day began with the ceremonial throwing out of the first pitch by Old Guy Extroidinaire Art Borsi, the 2008 SLAWB Champion. With his advanced age, Borsi was unable to make it to the mound under his own strength as was brought out in a wheelchair from which he threw the first pitch. Notable rookies in the opening day line-up included Alison Bolshoi, and a library full of Bookers (Walter, Walter, Jr and Maxwell). Liam and Theo "ther Phil" Hobbie were the first batters of the day, each landing a ball just inches from home run territory.
The rule changes for 2009 include five outs versus five swings and a modified tie breaker.
SLAWB play is planned for Sunday afternoons following coffee hour when weather permits. All (ages/skills) are invited to participate. If you would like to play with us or want more information, contact John Mennell.
HR DERBY OFFICIAL 2009 RULES:
- Home Runs only count if you have received communion that day.
- Only unmodified official Wiffle(R) equipment may be used.
- Batter may choose pitcher of choice.
- Five outs are permitted for each batter. All Swings that are not HRs are considered outs.
- Home Runs are counted when the ball reaches the sidewalk (or beyond) on the fly
- There is no foul territory in Home Run Derby
- Ties will be broken by up single out rounds with the tied competitors (maximum of five rounds). Home Runs in playoff count toward season totals
- Old Guys Rule (Guys, being a generic term for any individual, male or female, over the age of 40)
- By canon law it is likely that the Rector has final say on both rule and equipment disputes
The Rev. John Mennell puts the "wiff" in Wiffle Ball