Jim Hewey & Lexington Brewers calling it quits

2010 CCWA Champion Lexington Brewers
(L-R) Kyle Godinho, Jim Hewey, Matt Bailey, Parker Williamson, Phil Shero

In news that stunned everybody in the league Jim Hewey announced that 2012 will be his last season of wiffleball and that the Lexington Brewers would no longer be fielding a team in the CCWA.  Hewey has been around since day one and was instrumental in helping shape the league and also helping it grow.  He has played in more CCWA games than anybody else at this point.  He has won more Gold Gloves than any CCWA player, won a MVP award and was the team captain for a Championship team.
 
The Brewers have been a fan favorite for many years and their loss will leave a huge void in the Northern League.  The Brew Crew was one of only two teams remaining from the inaugral season with the other being the Jackmove Giants.  The Brewers won the CCWA Championship in 2010 when they defeated the Southeast Athletics. 

Jim hasn't entirely ruled out a return to the league in the future.  "I will definitely be around still and try to check out as much as possble. I just dont have the time anymore with coaching my son with his stuff and my daughter starting to get involved in sports as well, so I dont want to be that guy that people have to schedule around." Jim said, adding "I am sure there would be some times I would like to get some wiffles in, just hard to commit for a full season."

Thanks for all of the good times Brewers, you guys will be missed.

2012 CCWA Award Winners

With the 2012 CCWA Regular season finished here are the Award Winners.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Northern League - Josh Burckhardt, Longview Lumberjacks
Southern League - Justin Ellis, Mid-Town Mariners

CY YOUNG
Northern League - Eric Dorland, Ridgefield Orioles
Southern League - Dan Sefner, Eastside Expos

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Northern League - Marcus Deyo, Lexington Brewers
Southern League - Brian Jolly, Bridgetown Black Barons

MOST IMPROVED
Northern League - Keith Bunn, Ridgefield Orioles
Southern League - Bryan Anderson, Clark County Colt .45's and Dan Woytek, Portland Gothams

TEAM CAPTAIN OF THE YEAR
Northern League - Jim Hewey, Lexington Brewers
Southern League - Andy Kushner, Bridge City Dodgers

COMMISSIONER'S AWARD
Gerald Allen, Jackmove Giants

Extra Innings - Eric Erickson

Eric "Pretentious E" Erickson

Today at Extra Innings we have Eric "Pretentious E" Erickson of the Rose City Royals.  Eric is playing his rookie season in the CCWA and has become quite the presence on the league's message board.  Eric is a lifelong baseball fan and player who was convinced to give wiffleball a try by Royals captain Joey Bock.  His favorite MLB team is the Phillies.  His likes include Tillamook's squeaky cheese, Barry Manilow, and Oregon beers while he dislikes the gingers.  What?

Extra Innings - How long do you plan on playing in the CCWA?
Eric Erickson - You'll have to ask Joey Bock and Jeramey Randall about that.  If I can make it through the season without getting the boot we'll put it in the Win column.

E.I. - What are your favorite restaurants?
E.E. - Amalfi's, Ringside and the Delta Cafe

E.I. - Do you sing in the shower?
E.E. - No, but I pee in there a lot.  Sometimes when I'm not even taking a shower.

E.I. - What's your fondest CCWA memory?
E.E. - The first time I got to the park and saw beers in the cooler.

E.I. - If you could play for any other CCWA team who would it be?
E.E. - I'll fight you if you think you're gonna rip this Royals jersey off my back, son.  But I'd drink with most of 'em.  Does that count?

E.I. - Who's your favorite wrestler?
E.E. - Ricky "the Dragon" Steamboat.  FYI: Dude's real name was Richard Henry Blood.  That might be even cooler than his stage name.

E.I. - What do you love most about wiffleball?
E.E. - To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.
Wait... that was the answer to "What is best in life?" so I'm gonna change my answer to: drinking with the fellas.

E.I. - Name three things that need to go away.
E.E. - Aluminum bats, the DH and soccer

E.I. - What are your three favorite TV shows?
E.E. - Buffy the Vampire Slayer, NCIS, Phillies games

E.I. - If you could face any major leaguer in wiffleball who would it be?
E.E. - Johnny Damon 'cause he throws like an 8 year old girl and that means I'd have a chance of getting a hit.

E.I. - What is your dream job?
E.E. - Married to an old, rich broad who is close to death and has remembered me fondly in her will.

E.I. - What is in your CD player right at this moment?
E.E. - I was listening to The Dead Milkmen in the Volvo this morning.  Jim Rome is on the radio right now.

E.I. - Miracle Whip or Mayo?
E.E. - Mayo

E.I. - What's the best way to spend a Saturday?
E.E. - Watching the Phillies and being manly

E.I. - What is your most embarrassing CCWA moment?
E.E. - Every time I grab a bat.  But having me pick one is like asking someone to pick their favorite child.  Except that I hate kids.  Hold on.  This is the worst analogy ever.  I don't even know what I'm saying at this point.  Can we start this interview over?

2012 CCWA All-Star Teams

The votes are in and they've been tallied.  Here are the 2012 CCWA All-Star Teams!

Northern League All Stars
Josh Burckhardt, Longview Lumberjacks (team captain)
Scott Coleman, Jackmove Giants
Eric Dorland, Ridgefield Orioles
Karlis Liepa, Jackmove Giants
Mike Wilson, Longview Lumberjacks
Eric Keele, Lexington Brewers


Southern League All Stars
Dan Sefner, Eastside Expos (team captain)(most votes received)
Omar Steinberg, Eastside Expos
Mike Benkoski, Buckman Blue Jays
Justin Ellis, Mid-Town Mariners
Brian Jolly, Bridgetown Black Barons
Eddie Francis, Rose City Royals

Here are the teams for the Fun-Star Game


Northern League Fun Stars
Jim Hewey, Lexington Brewers (team captain)
Matt Jones, Jackmove Giants
Rick Meder, Ridgefield Orioles
Erik Doyle, Longview Lumberjacks
Keith Bunn, Ridgefield Orioles
Nate Bullock, Longview Lumberjacks


Southern League Fun Stars
Andy Kushner, Bridge City Dodgers (team captain)
John Savoie, Portland Gothams
Gram McCloud, Buckman Blue Jays
Ryan Oxford, Mid-Town Mariners
Nate Colpron, Clark County Colt .45's
Dan Woytek, Portland Gothams


And last but not least here are the n00bs that will be filling the rosters of the Rookie Stars.  We've lost a team in the Northern League so not all of these players are "rookies" in the true sense of the word.


Northern League Rookie Stars
Tyler Robinson, Columbia Hgts. Cardinals (team captain)
Marcus Deyo, Lexington Brewers
Casey Robinson, Columbia Hgts. Cardinals
Ryan Guizzotti, Ridgefield Orioles
Andy "Red" Huntington, Columbia Hgts. Cardinals
Rob James, Columbia Hgts. Cardinals


Southern League Rookie Stars
Dan Lurie, Bridgetown Black Barons (team captain)
Mark Dec, Beaver State Biscuits
Chris Larkin, Bridge City Dodgers
Eric Erickson, Rose City Royals
Darcy Cordell, Beaver State Biscuits
Bryan Anderson, Clark County Colt .45's


This years game will be held on July 14th at Wahl Field in Washougal, Washington.  The directions to Wahl Field are right here! The All-Star Game kicks off at 2 PM, hope to see you all there!

Week 11 Power Rankings

We haven't posted a new Power Rankings in a few weeks and there has been some changes to the list.  For the first time we have two teams from the same league in the top two spots.  The Buckman Blue Jays have taken the top spot from the Eastside Expos and dropped them down to two.  There are a few other teams moving up and down this week.

1.  Buckman Blue Jays (3) - Jeff Priester and Mike Benkoski's bats have heated up and helped the Blue Jays drive in the most runs in the CCWA.  Mark Sefner's pitching has been another bright spot for the Jays.  Look for the Blue Jays to be the first team to win their division.

2.  Eastside Expos (1) - The Spos have dropped a spot after suffering their first sweep all season.  This should only be a minor setback for the Expos though as Dan Sefner and Omar Steinberg have once again formed the most dangerous pitching rotation in the league.

3.  Longview Lumberjacks (5) - The Jacks have been playing some great ball lately and have an eight game win streak to show for it.  Josh Burckhardt and Erik Doyle have been absolutely plastering the ball.  They should help the Jacks compete for the top seed in the North.

4.  Lexington Brewers (2) - The Brewers have had some of their younger players step up and produce for them this season.  Marcus Deyo is running away with the Rookie of the Year award.  If the Brew Crew can get Eric Keele and Kyle Godinho back on a regular basis they could go very far in the postseason.

5.  Ridgefield Orioles (7) - The O's have been playing some great ball all season long.  Team ace Eric Dorland has been almost untouchable all season long.  Keith Bunn has stepped up his pitching and been a dominant number two starter for the birds.

6.  Jackmove Giants (6) - The Giants lead the CCWA in just about every statistical category.  They've had their fair share of bad luck this season losing a couple of close games.  Scott Coleman and Karlis Liepa's bats have been on fire and they should help the Giants make a deep playoff run.

7.  Bridgetown Black Barons (4) - The Barons recently got swept by the Brew Crew and that hurts their standing a little bit.  Since their sweep they've split two series.  Brian Jolly has been dominant from the mound for the Barons and should help them compete for a division crown.

8.  Mid-Town Mariners (10) - The Mariners started the season slow but have since bounced back.  They are playing some great wiffleball right now behind Justin Ellis's pitching and should compete for the Wild Card in the South.

9.  Rose City Royals (9) - The Royals just keep on performing at a high level week in and week out.  Joey Bock and Eddie Francis have been absolutely amazing on the hill this season and should help the Royals compete for their first ever postseason appearance.

10.  Bridge City Dodgers (8) - The Dodgers have been slipping a little after their hot start and have lost eight of their last twelve.  Team captain Andy Kushner will have to get this team turned around if they are going to try to make the playoffs.

11.  Portland Gothams (11) - The Gothams have been a huge surprise this season as many had predicted a playoff season for them.  They are going to be looking to play the part of spoiler for the rest of the season while they try to knock other teams out of contention.

12.  Columbia Hgts. Cardinals (13) - The Cards have been hitting the cover off the ball as of late and could make the playoff run interesting in the North.  Casey Robinson has turned into a viable number two starter and could help this team with more playing time.

13.  Beaver State Biscuits (12) - The Biscuits postseason chances are starting to flake away but this team is still fighting.  Darcy Cordell has quickly become one of the most feared hitters in the South.

14.  Clark County Colt .45's (14) - Bryan Anderson and company have had a very tough time adapting to the Southern League and are most likely out of the playoff race.  Look for this team to bounce back next year with a second season under their belts.

15.  Cowlitz Black Bears (14) - This team stinks.

Week 11 Northern League Player of the Week

Karlis Liepa

Karlis Liepa of the Jackmove Giants had a monstrous day at the plate to help his team sweep their division rivals, the Columbia Hgts. Cardinals.

Liepa batted an eye-popping .667 on the day going eight for twelve at the plate.  Among his eight hits were two bombs to help him drive in a team high eight RBIs.  He also managed to score six runs during the series.

With Liepa's hot bat leading the Jackmove lineup look for the Giants to go far into the playoffs.  As of right now Karlis is leading the entire CCWA in batting average.

Extra Innings - Rick Meder

Rick Meder (left) and his fan club president Patches

Today at Extra Innings we have Rick "Trizza" Meder who is the captain of the Ridgefield Orioles.  Rick is playing his second season in the CCWA and his team is filled with friends from high school.  Rick's leadership has the team right in the middle of the playoff hunt in the North.  In addition to Rick's wiffleball skills he is also a world-class karaoke singer covering a wide array of hits from Madonna to George Michael.  When Rick's not playing wiffleball or rocking the karaoke he can be found spending time with his newlywed wife.  Rick's grandma also makes some of the most delicious cookies you have ever seen.

Extra Innings - If you could face any major leaguer in wiffleball who would it be and why?
Rick Meder - I would have to say Mark Reynolds, because I may actually be able to strike him out.

E.I. - What is your fondest CCWA memory?
R.M. - Watching Todd Keele hit his first career homer off of Bryan Anderson in the very last game last year.  I was so proud. (it was a Grand Salami)

E.I. - Do you have any pets?  If so, what are they and what are their names?
R.M. - I have 3.  I have a St. Bernard named Jack, I have a fluffy cat named Savannah, and another cat that is 1/4 wild cat named Sahara.

E.I. - What's your favorite cheese?
R.M. - Pepperjack is quite possibly the best thing ever.

E.I. - What's your most embarrassing CCWA moment?
R.M. - Having a meltdown pitching against the Brewers last year when I started screaming profanities and kicked the wiffle bucket a good fifteen yards.

E.I. - Miracle Whip or Mayo?
R.M. - Miracle Whip is hands down superior to mayo.

E.I. - What's in your CD player right at this moment?
R.M. - "The Thing That Ate Larry Livermore" compilation; this is by far one of the best things I've heard in a while!

E.I. - If you were stranded on an island and could only have three things what would they be?
R.M. - Pizza, Playstation and Rihanna.

E.I. - Who's the toughest batter to face in the CCWA?  Toughest pitcher?
R.M. - The toughest batter is no one.  I either strike'em out or walk'em, more of the latter.  The toughest pitcher I would have to say is Eric Keele.  He mixes pitches and speeds real well; hard to figure out.

E.I. - Who's your favorite MLB team and player?
R.M. - The Mariners are far and away my favorite team.  My favorite player of all-time is Jay Buhner; love guys who crush the ball and strike out a ton!

E.I. - How long do you plan on playing in the CCWA?
R.M. - Until my career batting average is .067.

E.I. - Who's your favorite pro wrestler?
R.M. - "The Bad Guy" Razor Ramon.  He had the best finishing move ever, the Razor's Edge.  It was always awesome when at the beginning of the match he would talk shit, then call whoever it was "Chico" and then throw his toothpick in their face.

E.I. - Cologne?
R.M. - Aqua Di Gio........Holla!

E.I. - What are your three favorite albums?
R.M. - 88 Fingers Louie "Back on the Streets", Madonna "True Blue" and ALL "Mass Nerder".

E.I. - What's something about you that we should know but don't?
R.M. - Contrary to popular belief I am not good in bed.

Week 10 Northern League Player of the Week

In week 10 Josh "Burck" Burckhardt led his Longview Lumberjacks to victory over the Columbia Hgts. Cardinals.  The wins helped keep the Lumberjacks at the top of their division.

Burck was absolutely filthy from the mound throwing a perfect game.  He went all six innings and struck out seventeen of the eighteen batters he faced.  He had pin-point control and was placing his pitches exactly where he wanted them.

Burckhardt also helped his team out at the plate.  He had six hits on the day including two round trippers.  He drove in six runs on the day and scored three times himself.

Burck has found his swing again and he should help his team challenge for the top seed in the Northern League.

Extra Innings - Jared Ellis

Jarhead

Today at Extra Innings we have Jared "Jarhead" Ellis of the Mid-Town Mariners.  Jared is one of three Ellis brothers that are playing in the CCWA and they were the first trio of brothers to team up together.  Their lifelong love of the Seattle Mariners inspired their team name choice a few years ago.  Jared is also a big fan of University of Oregon football.  When he's not at the wiffleball field enjoying a cold one and a Newport he's usually spending time with his girlfriend Michelle enjoying the outdoors or a concert.


Extra Innings - If you could play on any other CCWA team which one would it be?
Jared Ellis - When the M’s win a championship, the Ellis brothers agreed to let Ox change the moniker to the A’s. So…the A’s.

E.I. - What's your refreshment of choice during wiffleball?
J.E. - Whatever Ox brings in the cooler. Vitamin Water as well

E.I. - Who’s your favorite MLB team/player?
J.E. - MARINERS! The list of players can get long, current players are Ack-Attack and Felix. My favorite Mariner from my childhood is Joey Cora and I wear his number in wiffle. I hit like him too.

E.I. - What do you like on your cheeseburgers?
J.E. - BBQ Sauce, jalapenos, cheese, burger

E.I. - Who’s the toughest batter to face in the CCWA? Toughest pitcher? 
J.E. - The toughest batter is Kush, we’ve practiced too much together. I don’t think I’ve missed his bat. The most terrifying batters are Moser and Omar. They hit super bombs. The toughest pitcher has always been Bento for me. I broke my o-fer streak against him earlier this year with a couple of blasts, but he’ll always have my number.

E.I. - How long do you plan on playing in the CCWA?
J.E. - As long as I live in the area and have a team, I’m playing.

E.I. - Do you have any pets? If so, what are they and what are their names?
J.E. - I have two cats: Johjima (named after underrated, former M’s catcher Kenji Johjima) and my girlfriend’s retarded cat Diva.

E.I. - Who’s your favorite pro wrestler?
J.E. - Uhhh…The Dudley Boyz?

E.I. - What do you love most about wiffleball?
J.E. - I’ve been playing wiffleball for as long as I can remember. It’s fun to play it in a competitive format against folks other than my brothers. I appreciate hanging with friends and meeting new people. Sitting around in the sun with a beer in hand is nice too.

E.I. - If you were stranded on an island and could only have three things what would they be?
J.E. - A plane, a pilot and Kate Upton.

E.I. - What’s your fondest CCWA memory?
J.E. - Game 2 of the playoffs against the Yankees in my first year. Burck agreed to buy the M’s dinner if we swept them. In a tie game in the last half inning of the game I hit a walk off 3 run blast to complete the sweep. All I saw was the back of Burck’s head as he was making a bee line towards his car. He sped off as the M’s celebrated their first playoff series win.

E.I. - Cologne?
J.E. - Newport smoke.

E.I. - What’s your favorite cheese?
J.E. - Sharp Cheddar, I ate a block of that shit in a week. Out of the block, fuck sandwiches.

E.I. - What’s in your CD player (iPod) right at this moment?
J.E. - The Black Keys – El Camino

E.I. - What’s the best way to spend a Saturday?
J.E. - These days, enjoying the wonder that is the Pacific Northwest. Hiking all around the Portland area. In the fall, GO DUCKS!

Week 9 Northern League Player of the Week

Dr. K

Eric "Dr. K" Keele was lights out for Lexington Brewers as the swept the Bridgetown Black Barons in inter-league play.

Keele was absolutely dominant from the mound as he threw a no-hitter.  Over the course of six innings he struck out eighteen batters while walking only two.

He only had one hit in the series but did score a run and help the Brew Crew get past the Black Barons.

Look for Keele to only improve and challenge for the Cy Young award as the season progresses.

Week 8 Power Rankings

As we get set for the second week of interleague games here are the new Power Rankings.  The Eastside Expos keep their top spot and are the team to beat in the CCWA.  The Brewers remain the top team in the Northern League and stay at the number two spot.  Almost every other team either moved up or down in the rankings.

1.  Eastside Expos (1) - The Spos remain the number one team in the league after last weekend's split with the Barons.  It was the Eastsiders first loss on the season.  Look for this team to win a good majority of their remaining games and enter the postseason ready to defend their title.

2.  Lexington Brewers (2) - The Brew Crew have a HUGE matchup this weekend against the Black Barons and need to win to keep their top spot in the North.  Rookie Marcus Deyo has been on fire at the plate.  Brad Williamson has been a great pitcher in the absence of Godinho and Keele.

3.  Buckman Blue Jays (4) - The Blue Jays are one of the most consistent teams in league and look to be the top challenger to the Expos.  Mike Benkoski is having another amazing season and should help lead this team back to the postseason.

4. Bridgetown Black Barons (6) - The Black Barons are the only team to hand the Expos a loss this season.  Brian Jolly has been flat-out amazing from the mound and should help the Barons make the playoffs in their first season.

5.  Longview Lumberjacks (7) - The Jacks bats finally came to life last weekend when they swept the Orioles.  Josh Burckhardt and Erik Doyle each had big homeruns to help lead the Jacks to victory.  Look for the Loggers to roll into the playoffs.

6.  Jackmove Giants (3) - The Giants drop a few spots but are still one of the best teams statistically.  Scott Coleman has stepped up at the plate and free agent Karlis Liepa has been huge for the Giants.  Look for them to make the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season.

7.  Ridgefield Orioles (5) - The Orioles lost two very close games against the Lumberjacks but bounced back with a victory over the Cardinals.  Keith Bunn has been huge for the O's as their #2 starter and backed up ace Eric Dorland.

8.  Bridge City Dodgers (9) - The Dodgers are fighting hard for the Wild Card and this weekend's matchup against the Expos is going to be huge for them.  California wiffleball star Peter Mocabee will be making his CCWA debut and could help the Dodgers upset the Spos.

9.  Rose City Royals (8) - Eddie Francis has really stepped up his game and been a lights-out pitcher for the Royals.  Rumors have it that Eddie visited Kobe Bryant's doctor in Germany last season during his European vacation and that has led to his pitching resurgence.

10.  Mid-Town Mariners (10) - The Mariners are battling for a playoff spot even though team captain Ryan "Ox" Oxford has been out with an injury.  Justin Ellis's pitching has been a bright spot for the M's who will be battling the Dodgers for the Wild-Card.

11.  Portland Gothams (11) - The Gothams are off to their slowest start in team history and will need to turn things around quickly if they want a shot at the postseason.  They will need to get some wins against their division rivals, the Buckman Blue Jays.

12.  Beaver State Biscuits (15) - The Biscuits jump up a few spots after their second win on the season last weekend.  Darcy Cordell's big bat is quickly becoming the most feared in the Biscuits lineup.  Look for the Biscuits to possibly play the roll of spoiler for playoff-bound teams. 

13.  Columbia Hgts. Cardinals (13) - The Cardinals have had a rough start to their season.  Andy "Red" Huntington has pitched well but he's lost a couple of extremely close games.  Casey Robinson's bat has been big for the Cards but he hasn't been in the lineup enough to make a difference.

14. (tie) Clark County Colt .45's (12) - The .45's have had trouble transitioning from the Northern League to the South.  Bryan Anderson's pitching has been good but he's had trouble winning the close games.  Nate Colpron has stepped up his pitching but needs more innings to improve.

14. (tie) Cowlitz Black Bears (14) - The Black Bears looked good in their series against the Orioles earlier in the season but haven't done much lately.  They have a ton of upcoming games against the Cardinals and Lumberjacks and will need to win a majority of those to make a playoff push.

Week 8 Southern League Player of the Week

Darcy

Darcy Cordell was a one "man" wrecking crew for the Beaver State Biscuits this past weekend.

Facing the Portland Gothams, Darcy became the first female in CCWA Southern Division history to earn a victory on the mound. She went the distance striking out four Gothams as they pulled out the 6-5 win. 


She was also a force at the plate reaching base eight times and driving in three runs.  


In their other round robin matchup vs. The Buckman Blue Jays which they lost 18-15.  Darcy went 2-6 with 5 RBI’s including her first homer of her career capping a marvelous day.  

Week 8 Northern League Player of the Week

Burck

Week 8 saw Josh "Burck" Burckhardt lead the Longview Lumberjacks over their division rivals, the Ridgefield Orioles.  With the win the Jacks take control of first place in the North West Division.

Burck had a great day at the plate collecting four hits including one round-tripper.  He also scored three runs while driving in two to help lead the Loggers' charge.

As good as Burckhardt was at the plate he was even better from the mound.  Josh threw a one-hit shut-out over the course of nine innings.  He struck out 21 batters while walking only 1.  He also collected the other six outs for his team with his fielding.

If the Lumberjacks are going to challenge for a CCWA Championship this season they're going to need Burckhardt to keep playing at this level.

Bye Week Blues

This week was one of the three bye weeks of the CCWA season.  As such, we will not be posting Player of the Week profiles or Power Rankings.

Hope you all had a great Memorial Day.

Week 6 Power Rankings

Our latest set of rankings see the Expos stay in the top spot and are the only undefeated team in the CCWA.  The Orioles drop a few spots due to some recent time off and most other teams stayed put or only moved one spot.  The Brewers are charging up the chart after a slow start and look to be the team to beat in the Northern.

1.  Eastside Expos (1) - The Expos have yet to drop a game with Dan Sefner and Omar Steinberg dominating the competition from the hill.  Look for the Spos to defend their championship this fall when the playoffs start.

2.  Lexington Brewers (3) - The Brewers are looking like the juggernaut they were the last two seasons.  Kyle Godinho hasn't allowed a run in the last 66 innings and has the Brew Crew poised to make a deep postseason run.

3.  Jackmove Giants (5) - The Giants are statistically the best team in the CCWA right now.  They've lost a few close matchups but nobody is hitting the ball better then them right now.  Look for Scott Coleman to compete for the Cy Young this season.

4.  Buckman Blue Jays (4) - The Jays have established themselves as the de facto number two team in the Southern League.  Last year's Cy Young Mike Benkoski has been absolutely filthy from the mound.

5.  Ridgefield Orioles (2) - The Orioles drop a couple of spots but should be right in the mix when the playoffs start.  Eric Dorland has been lights out this season and should keep the Orioles at the top of the division standings.

6.  Bridgetown Black Barons (6) - The expansion Black Barons have surprised everybody in the league with their play to start off the season.  Brian Jolly is making a run at Rookie of the Year with his lights out pitching.

7.  Longview Lumberjacks (7) - The Jacks pitching has been lights out behind Josh Burckhardt and Mike Wilson but they will need to score some more runs to get some wins.  Burckhardt's batting has started to come around and the Jacks will need him to hit to go far in the playoffs.

8.  Rose City Royals (9) - The Royals have had their best start ever this year behind Joey Bock's and Eddie Francis's pitching.  Look for them to challenge for their first postseason appearance as the season winds down.

9.  Bridge City Dodgers (8) - The Dodgers came out of the gates smoking but have dropped a few games as of late.  Look for team captain Andy Kushner to get this team back on track and ready to challenge for the Wild Card.

10.  Mid-Town Mariners (10) - The Mariners have just had some bad luck to start the season.  When team captain Ryan Oxford went down with an injury they lost one of the top fielders in the league.  Look for Justin Ellis's pitching to keep them in contention.

11.  Portland Gothams (11) - The Gothams have been improving slowly but surely after an extremely slow start.  If they can win their upcoming series with the Orioles they should be able to turn the page and compete.

12.  Clark County Colt .45's (13) - The Colt .45's have had a rough time transitioning from the Northern League to the South.  Look for them to turn things around in the second half of the season.

13.  Columbia Hgts. Cardinals (12) - The Cardinals desperately need a good #2 starter to pair with Andy "Red" Huntington.  Rookie Casey Robinson has shown some promise and if he can continue to improve the Cards could challenge.

14.  Cowlitz Black Bears (14) - The Black Bears are having a rough start to their inaugural season.  Their lone win was against the Orioles and hopefully the can capitalize on that and get a win streak going.

15.  Beaver State Biscuits (15) - The Biscuits bats have been almost non-existent so far this season and they need to start hitting the ball to compete.  Look for them to heat up as we approach All-Star weekend.

Week 5 Southern League Player of the Week

Bento

Mike "Bento" Benkoski of the Buckman Blue Jays has been named the Southern League Player of the Week for week five.

Facing the Longview Lumberjacks, Benkoski dominated from the mound tossing a no-hit gem.  He was flat-out brilliant allowing only four walks while striking out fifteen. 

Benkoski was also the hero at the plate going 3-7 in the game.  In the fifth inning he hit a triple that would become the game-winner.

Bento's all around play led the Blue Jays over the Lumberjacks for a 1-0 victory.

Week 5 Northern League Player of the Week

Burck

Josh Burckhardt of the Longview Lumberjacks has been named the U-Dub Pub & Grub Week 5 Player of the Week.

Burckhardt got off the schneid and earned his first pitching victory of the season against the Buckman Blue Jays.  He pitched a complete game shutout and struck out fourteen batters in six innings.  Burck lowered his ERA to 1.50 on the season.

Burck also had a big day at the plate as he hit for the cycle in game two and drove in all four of his teams runs.  His homerun was the 75th of his career.

Week 5 Power Rankings

The top teams in each league held their spots but a few teams moved up or down.  The Blue Jays swept the Dodgers last weekend to help move up the charts.  The Eastside Expos still look like the team to beat.

1.  Eastside Expos (1) - Dan Sefner and Omar Steinberg have been lights out for the Expos and have the team's ERA under 1.  The Expos have also been one of the top hitting teams in the South and look to be the favorites for the CCWA Championship this year.

2.  Ridgefield Orioles (2) - The O's have looked hot this year behind last year's ROY Eric Dorland.  The O's have an inter league matchup with the Gothams this weekend and are the favorites to win the series.  Look for Dorland to lead this team to the postseason.

3.  Lexington Brewers (6) - The Brew Crew has team Ace Kyle Godinho back in the lineup and should continue to improve as the season progresses.  With their great pitching staff the Brew Crew will definitely be in the mix when the playoffs start.

4.  Buckman Blue Jays (8) - The Jays swept the expansion Dodgers last weekend to move up the chart.  These birds have a lot of talent in their lineup and they know what it takes to win.  Team captain Mark Sefner will have these guys ready to make a run at the title.

5.  Jackmove Giants (3) - The Giants started off the season smoking hot but have cooled down as of late.  Statistically speaking they're still the best team in the league.  Look for Scott Coleman to continue his overall great start and carry the Giants through the season.

6.  Bridgetown Black Barons (5) - The Barons have come into the league on fire and have surprised some of their competition.  Brian Jolly is trying to run away with this year's ROY and has the Barons in position to make a playoff run.

7.  Longview Lumberjacks (7) - Josh Burckhardt has been lights-out on the mound but can't seem to get any run support.  If the Lumberjacks can get their bats going they could make a deep run into the postseason.

8.  Bridge City Dodgers (4) - The Dodgers will be looking to bounce back after getting swept by the Jays.  Bryan Moser and Chris Larkin have been great so far this season and team captain Andy Kushner has this team ready to compete.

9.  Rose City Royals (9) - Eddie Francis and Joey Bock have been absolutely amazing on the hill this season for the Royales and them right in the hunt for a postseason berth.  Dustin Weasel and Brooks Karey have supplied some offense and helped Rose City stay competitive.

10.  Mid-Town Mariners (10) - The M's have had some rough times to start the season with team captain Ryan "Ox" Oxford getting injured.  Justin "Jaybird" Ellis has been great from the hill but the M's will have to score some more runs to help out their #2 starters.

11.  Portland Gothams (13) - The Got Hamms are improving every week and have a huge series this weekend against the Orioles.  Look for them to use this inter league series to get back on track and competing in the South.

12.  Columbia Hgts. Cardinals (12) - The Cardinals need Casey Robinson in their lineup if they're going to compete.  Andy "Red" Huntington has been great on the hill but the Cards need to score some more runs if they plan on competing.

13.  Clark County Colt .45's (11) - The Colt .45's just can't seem to catch a break.  Team captain Bryan Anderson has pitched some great games where the .45's couldn't get him enough run support and they lost.  Nicole Colpron's bat should help the Colt .45's knock in some runs.

14. (tie) Cowlitz Black Bears (14) - The Black Bears have had a few moments of greatness this season but they can't string them together frequently enough to get some victories.  This weekend's matchup against the Biscuits is huge for both of these teams.

14. (tie) Beaver State Biscuits (15) - The Biscuits have started off slowly this season but should keep improving as the year progresses.  If the Biscuits can sweep the Black Bears this weekend they should jump up the rankings.

Eight CCWA Teams Nationally Ranked

The National Wiffleball League Association just released their latest National Rankings and the CCWA has an all-time high eight teams ranked.

The Eastside Expos maintain their spot as the #3 team in the nation with their 8-0 record.  The Ridgefield Orioles made a huge jump after sweeping the Giants and are now ranked #14. 

We have no teams ranked in the twenties but we dominate the thirties with the Jackmove Giants (31), Bridgetown Black Barons (32), Bridge City Dodgers (35) and the Buckman Blue Jays (36) all being on the list. 

The Longview Lumberjacks (41) and the Lexington Brewers (44) round out the top 50 for the CCWA.

It should be interesting to see how the CCWA teams stack up with the rest of the teams out there as the season progresses.

Southern League week 4 Player of the Week

Brooks Karey of the Rose City Royals has been named the Southern League Player of the Week for week 4.

Brooks had an epic day at the plate against the Clark County Colt .45's.  Brooks hit two grand slams and drove in a team high nine RBI's to help lead his team to victory 13-0.

His big day at the plate helped the Royals win over their division rival and gave his team captain Joey Bock his first pitching win of the season.

Northern League week 4 Player of the Week

the Monster

Mike "the Monster" Wilson of the Longview Lumberjacks is the week 4 U-Dub Pub & Grub Player of the Week.  Wilson was lights out from the mound in two separate games this past week.

Mike pitched a four inning perfect game against the Columbia Hgts. Cardinals on Tuesday.  He was completely over-powering and struck out every single batter that he faced, leading the Lumberjacks to victory.

On Wednesday Wilson pitched again taking on the Lexington Brewers.  The game went into extra innings and Mike pitched all eleven of them, throwing a no-hitter in the process.  He struck out 29 batters over the course of the eleven innings and the Jacks won 1-0.

Over the two series Wilson batted 6-19 and scored four runs while driving in seven.  His pitching has been a huge reason for the Lumberjacks success this season.

Week 4 Power Rankings

There's lots of movement this week in the Power Rankings.  The Jackmove Giants couldn't handle the pressure of being ranked #1 and got swept by the Orioles who move up in this weeks rankings.  The Eastside Expos won another series to move to 8-0 and reclaim the top spot.

1.  Eastside Expos (2) - Dan Sefner has this Expos team playing extremely well right now and they should be challenging for another CCWA Championship.  Look for the Spos to continue to run their record up in the Southern League.

2.  Ridgefield Orioles (4) - The Orioles raised some eyebrows last week when they swept the Jackmove Giants.  Eric Dorland has been lights out so far this season and if Keith Bunn can keep improving on the mound the O's will go far.

3.  Jackmove Giants (1) - The Giants are still statistically the strongest team in the league but they dropped a series to the Orioles last weekend when a few of their players tried to get eligible for the All-Beer team.  Look for Matt Jones to get this team back on track.

4.  Bridge City Dodgers (3) - The Dodgers have a huge series ahead of them this weekend against the Blue Jays.  Kush has this team playing extremely well and they should be playing in the postseason in their expansion year.

5.  Bridgetown Black Barons (10) - The Black Barons are playing some great wiffleball right now and have surprised a lot of people in the league.  They look like the favorites in the South West Division and Brian Jolly's pitching should keep them right there.

6.  Lexington Brewers (8) - The Brew Crew is starting to get some of their players back and should only improve as the season progresses.  "Big Bad" Brad Williamson pitched a no-hitter in his first game back to the CCWA and helps solidify an already strong rotation.

7.  Longview Lumberjacks (7) - Mike "the Monster" Wilson has been absolutely lights out this season and should continue to dominate from the mound.  The Jacks still need to get the bats going but their pitching should help them make the playoffs.

8.  Buckman Blue Jays (5) - The Jays are looking like they should run away with the South Central division this season.  Their series against the Dodgers this weekend will answer some questions about how good each team really is.

9.  Rose City Royals (9) - The Royals are on a roll but are stuck in a tough division with the Black Barons.  Eddie Francis and Joey Bock have both shown some great pitching to help the Royals win some games.

10.  Mid-Town Mariners (5) - The Sirens look like they may be the odd team out this season.  Justin Ellis's pitching has been top notch as usual but the M's need to score some runs to compete in a loaded South East Division.

11.  Clark County Colt .45's (12) - The Colt .45's are playing a lot better than their record indicates and should start getting some wins as the season progresses.  Look for Nicole Colpron's presence in the lineup help them score some runs.

12.  Columbia Hgts. Cardinals (11) - The Cardinals just can't seem to catch any breaks this season.  Casey Robinson has been hitting the ball extremely well and the Cards need him in the lineup to compete. 

13.  Portland Gothams (14) - Look for the Gothams to continue to improve this season.  Dan Woytek has been pitching well as of late.  The Gothams need Thomas King's pitching to improve if they want to compete for a postseason spot.

14.  Cowlitz Black Bears (13) - The Bears dropped another series, this time to the Brewers.  The Bears have shown that they can hit the ball but they are in desperate need of a reliable #1 starter if they want to compete in the Northern League.

15.  Beaver State Biscuits (15) - The Biscuits have been pretty light & flaky to start out the season.  They look to be improving and should start winning some games soon.

Week 3 Power Rankings

We're three weeks into the season and some teams are still moving up and down the board.  The Jackmove Giants overtake the top spot due to their amazing all-around play.  The Giants have a batting average eighty points higher than the second place team and have triple the homeruns of the next closest team.  The Expos are still undefeated but drop one spot after due to Jackmove's hot start.  The Ridgefield Orioles are the biggest mover this week, jumping up five spots after sweeping the Cardinals in the battle of the birds.

1.  Jackmove Giants (2) - The Giants are playing the best wiffleball in the history of the franchise right now.  This team has had some lights out pitching behind Scott Coleman and Zac Warren and they are absolutely crushing the ball right now.

2.  Eastside Expos (1) - The Expos slip a spot but are still the team to beat in the Southern League.  Look for their pitching to keep them at the top of the heap in the South behind Dan Sefner's golden arm.

3.  Bridge City Dodgers (3) - The Dodgers are smoking out of the gate and look to continue to keep their winning ways going.  This team should go far with Andy Kushner and Bryan Moser leading the way.

4.  Ridgefield Orioles (9) - The Orioles are one of the hottest teams in the league right now.  Eric Dorland has been amazing from the mound this season and Keith Bunn has stepped up his game to give the O's a viable number two option.

5 (tie).  Mid-Town Mariners (6) - Justin Ellis has the Mariner in each and every game he pitches.  If Dawson Marchent can keep his recent streak of unhittable pitching going this team should go far into the postseason.

5 (tie).  Buckman Blue Jays (7) - The Jays have dropped a few close games but Mike Benkoski and Mark Sefner will help this team compete for a division crown.  They battle the Dodgers this weekend in a highly anticipated series.

7.  Longview Lumberjacks (4) - The Jacks drop a few spots in the latest poll due to some atrocious hitting.  Look for the Jacks bats to warm up and give Josh Burckhardt and Mike Wilson some much needed run support.

8.  Lexington Brewers (5) - The Brew Crew is just trying to get by until team ace Kyle Godinho returns.  Parker Williamson and rookie Marcus Deyo have been huge for the Crew this season and should help them get by until their ace returns.

9.  Rose City Royals (8) - The Royals are looking more competitive then ever with Joey Bock and Eddie Francis forming an effective 1-2 pitching rotation.  Dustin Weasel has been amazing hitting the ball this season and should help the Royals compete for their first Division title.

10.  Bridgetown Black Barons (11) - The Triple B's are heating up and Brian Jolly has been a force for them.  Jolly threw his first career no-hitter and smacked two round-trippers as the Barons swept fellow expansion squad the Biscuits.

11.  Columbia Hgts. Cardinals (10) - The Cardinals have had a tough schedule to start the season but look to be heating up.  Rookie Casey Robinson has been absolutely murdering the ball from the plate and should challenge for Rookie of the Year.

12.  Clark County Colt .45's (12) - The .45's stay put in this week rankings but should only improve as the season progresses.  Bryan Anderson is starting to regain his form from last season and Nate Colpron has been an excellent second option.

13.  Cowlitz Black Bears (13) - The Bears are still getting used to league play and should only improve as the season progresses.  The Black Bears are hitting the ball extremely well but they need their pitching to improve if they hope to challenge for a playoff spot.

14.  Portland Gothams (15) - The Gothams are starting to show signs of life as they bounce back from the worst start in franchise history.  Thomas King has been a good option on the mound and should only improve as we get farther into summer.

15.  Beaver State Biscuits (14) - The expansion Biscuits have had a rough few weeks to open the season but look like they are turning their season around.  Mitch Dec's pitching and Darcy Cordell's hitting have been the few bright spots on their young season.

Northern League week 3 Player of the Week



Zac Warren

Zac "Eazy Z" Warren of the Jackmove Giants had a huge all-around day in helping the Giants sweep the Black Bears.

Warren went 5-12 at the plate on the day and drove in seven RBI's.  He added a homerun and scored three runs himself in the series.

Zac took the mound in game two and shut the Black Bears out, leading his team to victory.  He earned the complete game victory going three innings and striking out five.

If Zac can keep playing at this high level he should help the Giants win the Northern League for the second straight season.

Southern League week 3 Player of the Week

Brian Jolly

Brian Jolly, of the Bridgetown Black Barons, was lights out against the Beaver State Biscuits in week three.  Jolly threw a no-hitter while striking out fourteen Biscuit batters.

Jolly was also marvelous at the dish hitting his first two homeruns of his short CCWA career.  He also knocked in five RBI's in the series to help lead the Barons to the sweep.

With Brian Jolly in the lineup the expansion Black Barons are off to a 4-2 record to start the season.  Look for them to continue their winning ways with Jolly leading them.

Week 2 Power Rankings

With two weeks down the Expos and Giants are still the teams to beat.  The expansion Dodgers are playing some great wiffleball right now and move up a few spots.  Expect more teams moving around in the next few weeks as the season progresses.  Previous ranking in parentheses.

1.  Eastside Expos (1) -  Dan Sefner proved why he was the most feared pitcher in the league as he threw a perfect game against the Colt .45's.  Omar Steinberg has continued to be an amazing second option for the Spos as they cruise along.

2.  Jackmove Giants (2) - Scott Coleman has been absolutely filthy this season, he's recorded all of his teams outs by strikeouts while he's on the mound.  Karlis Liepa should give the Giants another clutch bat for their lineup after they lost Kyle Schulz.

3.  Bridge City Dodgers (8) - This is the hottest expansion team in wiffleball right now.  Team captain Andy Kushner has pitched some great games.  Bryan Moser is absolutely annihilating the ball right now crushing three round-trippers so far this season.

4.  Longview Lumberjacks (3) - The Jacks need to get Josh Burckhardt some run support or it's going to be a long season.  He's thrown two gems and lost both of them.  Look for the Lumberjack bats to heat up as the season progresses.

5.  Lexington Brewers (5) - Parker Williamson has started off the season hot and rookie Marcus Deyo has been hitting the ball extremely well.  Look for this team to only improve when Kyle Godinho and Brad Williamson rejoin the roster.

6.  Mid-Town Mariners (4) - The Mariners are really missing team captain Ryan "Ox" Oxford in the field.  Justin Ellis has started the season on fire from the mound and should keep his team's playoff hopes alive.

7.  Buckman Blue Jays (7) - The Jays look like they're starting to heat up after a rough Opening Day.  Mike Benkoski's pitching should come around and Jeff Priester should start hitting the ball.  The BJ's are the favorites in their division right now.

8.  Rose City Royals (11) - The Old Crow and the Weasel have the Royals performing better then they ever have.  Look for the Royals to continue to make a push for their first postseason appearance in team history.

9.  Ridgefield Orioles (6) - The O's split a series against the expansion Black Bears last weekend and drop a few spots as a result.  Eric Dorland is putting together a Cy Young worthy season but Rick "the Handyman" Meder should probably keep himself off of the mound.

10.  Columbia Hgts. Cardinals (9) - Andy "Red" Huntington looks to be getting better and better each outing.  Tyler Robinson has taken the title of "best catcher in the North" from the retired Phil Shero.  Casey Robinson could put up some great numbers in his rookie year.

11.  Bridgetown Black Barons (11) - The expansion Black Barons have lost a couple of close games so far this season but should only improve.  Brian Jolly's pitching has been lights out so far and could help the Black Barons challenge for a playoff position in their first season.

12.  Clark County Colt .45's (11) - The Colt .45's are starting the season slowly but should only improve as they get used to the pitching in the South.  Bryan Anderson and Nate Colpron have pitched well so far but they need some run support to challenge.

13.  Cowlitz Black Bears (14) - Team captain Gordon Murray has gotten his team into the win column with a great pitching performance last weekend.  The Bears have shown that they can hit the ball early on this season, if they get their pitching in order they could be dangerous.

14.  Beaver State Biscuits (14) - The Biscuits are starting to warm up and should win some more games as the season progresses.  Darcy Cordell's hitting has been one of the few bright spots for this rookie squad.

15.  Portland Gothams (10) - The Gothams have had an extremely tough schedule to open the season and have started off 0-4.  Look for this team to bounce back behind veterans Joe Occi and John Savoie.  Thomas King's pitching should improve and help the Gothams turn things around.  Don't expect to see them in the bottom spot for very much longer.

Southern League week 2 Player of the Week

Book'em Danno

Dan "Book'em" Sefner of the Eastside Expos was absolutely disgusting from the mound in week two.

Facing the Clark County Colt 45's Dan tossed the ultimate perfect game.  Sefner struck out all eighteen batters he faced and walked nobody.

With his pitching the Expos jumped out to a 4-0 start on the season.

Northern League week 2 Player of the Week

Parker Williamson

The U-Dub Pub & Grub Player of the Week goes to Parker Williamson of the Lexington Brewers in week two.  Parker was instrumental in helping the Brewers sweep their division rivals the Columbia Hgts. Cardinals. 

Parker had a good series at the plate going 4-9 on the day.  He also hit one roundtripper in game one to help his team take a big lead.  He scored two runs and had three RBIs on the day.  His hitting was just what his team need to get some runs on the board and it allowed starting pitcher Eric Keele to relax and throw strikes. 

Game two of the series saw Parker take the hill for the Brew Crew.  He quieted the Cardinal bats, throwing a two hitter.  He went the whole six innings and struck out twelve while walking only four.  The Brewers won that game 1-0 and Parker's pitching definitely helped them succeed.

Congratulations on the great series Parker!

Dustin Weasel; Homerun Hitter

the Weasel

Does the guy pictured to the right look like a homerun hitter to you?  Because he is.  As of late Dustin Weasel has been putting fear into the hearts of pitchers all across the Portland Metropolitan Area.  He is currently tied for second in the homerun category and is a fan favorite to win the homerun derby.

When Dustin came into the league he was an undersized, scrawny runt.  In his first three years of league play he hit only two round-trippers.  But something happened that winter before the 2011 season.  The Weasel started juicing.

Last year the Weasel was on a tear hitting a career high four homeruns.  In just one season he had tripled (TRIPLED!!) his career homeruns.  And this year he has been even more en fuego, belting two bombs in his first two series.  Southern League pitchers consider yourselves warned, Dustin Weasel is coming for you!

Week 1 Power Rankings

With the first week in the books we thought we'd throw together a little snapshot on where all the teams are.  This is far from scientific and with only one week of stats it's really kind of a crap shoot.  The teams in these positions will be moving up and down this list all season long (except for maybe the top two).  Here we go.

1.  Eastside Expos - When the defending CCWA champions come out and throw not one but two no-hitters you know it's going to be a long season for their competition.  Dan Sefner and Omar Steinberg are still the best 1-2 pitching combo this league has seen.

2.  Jackmove Giants - This team put up some runs in week one and if they can continue to do that and support their stellar pitching they are going to make a deep run into the post-season.  Losing Kyle Schulz will hurt them but Karlis Liepa is a great replacement.

3.  Longview Lumberjacks - This team's pitchers both threw no-hitters also but they couldn't score any runs in game two and lost 1-0 on walks.  If they can score some runs they will be dangerous with Josh Burckhardt and Mike Wilson in the rotation.

4.  Mid-Town Mariners - The M's impressed everybody by plating eleven runs against Blue Jays ace Mike Benkoski in game one of the season.  They will miss Ryan Oxford as the season progresses but Justin Ellis' pitching will keep them in the playoff hunt.

5.  Lexington Brewers - The Brew Crew was without their top three pitchers in week one and lost to a great Jackmove team.  Look for them to bounce back once Kyle Godinho, Eric Keele and Brad Williamson rejoin the squad.

6.  Ridgefield Orioles - The young O's have improved dramatically from last season.  Southpaw Eric Dorland is better then ever from the mound and should help the birds make the playoffs.

7.  Buckman Blue Jays - Although the Jays lost their first game to the M's (game 2 was delayed in the 4th due to darkness) they should bounce back strong.  Look for them to be one of the top hitting teams in the South behind Jeff Priester, Mike Benkoski and Mark Sefner.

8.  Bridge City Dodgers - This expansion team came out blazing in week one as the swept the Biscuits.  Team captain Andy Kushner has his team ready to play but look for them to be tested in the future by a very tough division.

9.  Columbia Hgts. Cardinals - The redbirds were firing on all cylinders in game one behind rookie Casey Robinson's hot bat.  Andy Huntington should continue to improve on the mound and help the Cards make a push for the playoffs.

10.  Portland Gothams - The Gothams had a rough draw, opening the season against the Expos.  Look for them to bounce back behind veterans Joe Occi and John Savoie and challenge the Blue Jays for a playoff spot.

11. (tie)  Rose City Royals - The Royals looked good on Opening Day splitting their round-robin series with their division rivals.  Look for them to challenge for a playoff spot in the South West division behind captain Joey Bock.

11. (tie)  Clark County Colt .45's - Team two in the South West division is the Colt .45's who are led by captain Bryan Anderson.  Look for them to continue to battle the Royals for the top spot and a trip to the playoffs.

11. (tie)  Bridgetown Black Barons - This expansion team is the wild card in the South West division.  If team captain Dan Lurie can keep his squad playing a high level they could run away with the division and make it into the playoffs in their first year.

14. (tie)  Beaver State Biscuits - The Biscuits will have to bounce back from a rough opening weekend that saw them drop two to fellow expansion squad the Dodgers.  The Biscuits will have to contend with division rivals the Blue Jays and Gothams if they want to make a playoff run.

14. (tie)  Cowlitz Black Bears - The Black Bears bats showed some promise in their Opening Day series but they will have to get their pitching dialed in to challenge the teams in the North.  Look for Sonny Cronk to make a run at the Rookie of the Year.

Southern League week 1 Player of the Week



Omar "el Dominicano" Steinberg



Omar "el Dominicano" Steinberg of the Eastside Expos was lights out at the plate and on the mound in week 1 against the Portland Gothams. 

Steinberg went 4-9 at the dish on the day.  He swatted two Homeruns and had ten RBI’s in the series against the Gothams. 

El Domincano also threw a no-hitter in game two.  Steinberg went five innings to earn the complete game victory.  He struck out ten while allowing only a single walk to help his Expos to a 2-0 Start to the Season.

Northern League week 1 Player of the Week

Scott Coleman

The Jackmove Giants came out on Opening Day ready to play.  They were led by their ace pitcher Scott Coleman, who was in mid-season form.  The Giants swept their division rivals, the Lexington Brewers, 8-5 & 11-0 to take an early lead in the North East division.

Coleman had a monster day at the plate going 7-10 with five runs scored.  He also hit five homeruns and had twelve RBIs!  It was the best hitting series of Coleman's career.  It'll be interesting to see if Scott can keep up with such a hot start.

Scott also had an impressive day on the hill.  He pitched a complete game two-hitter and and struck out fifteen in five innings.  Coleman is already the all-time strikeout king in the CCWA and it looks like he's trying to widen that margin this season.

Look for the Giants to make another run deep into the playoffs behind Scott Coleman's pitching and hitting.  Congratulations on such an impressive week Scott.

Kyle Schulz done for the season; Giants sign Karlis Liepa

In a move that stunned just about everybody in the CCWA; Kyle Schulz of the Jackmove Giants has announced that he is done for the season.  Schulz became a free agent at the start of last year's off-season and talked about bringing the Gresham Braves back as their team captain.  That move fell through and he re-signed with the Giants a few weeks before the season started.

Taking his place on the Giants roster is CCWA alum Karlis Liepa.  Karlis played part of last season with the Phillies and has played in parts of five seasons.  His hitting should help replace Schulz's bat in the lineup.  Don't expect to see Karlis pitching very much this year though as he is returning from a shoulder injury.  Giants veteran Zac Warren will be taking a majority of Schulz's starts with Matt Jones filling in occasionally.

We all wish Kyle Schulz a quick return to the CCWA.  The league won't be the same without him.

CCWA's Top 50 Players (#1)

el Dominicano

We're finally down to the top spot on the CCWA Top 50 for 2012 countdown.  Join in on the conversation on our Twitter page using the #CCWAtop50 hashtag.

Omar "el Dominicano" Steinberg is the man.  This guy can do it all on the wiffleball field and he makes it look easy.  Omar is consistently a league leader in just about any statistical category you can name.

Since he joined the league el Dominicano has shown some amazing hitting skills.  He hits for average, homeruns and is extremely clutch.  Look for Omar to make a run at the Southern League triple crown this season and to possibly break the single season homerun mark.

Steinberg's pitching has shown improvement each and every season.  Last year he was one of the league leaders in ERA, Wins and Strikeouts.  When he takes the mound the opposition knows that it's going to be a long day.  The fact that he's the Expos #2 starter makes it all that much worse for his opponents, on most teams Omar would be the ace of the staff.

With most CCWA observers picking the Expos to repeat as champions look for Omar to have another monster season and be in the hunt for CCWA Player of the Year honors.  He should only improve on his already stellar career.

CCWA's Top 50 Players (#2)

Burck

We're down to number two and will be announcing our #1 CCWA player of 2012 tomorrow.  Join in the conversation on our Twitter page using the #CCWAtop50 hashtag.

Josh Burckhardt is the most feared hitter that the CCWA has ever seen.  He is the all-time career leader in batting average, homeruns, runs scored and runs batted in.  Last season he broke some single season records with 24 homeruns and 101 RBIs. 

Burck isn't just a slugger though, he is also one of the top pitchers in the Northern League.  He always keeps his team in the game and mixes locations on his pitches well.  He usually goes head to head against the other teams aces and has shut down some of the most potent offenses the CCWA has seen.

Expect nothing but the same from Burck this season.  He is the definition of a competitor.  I doubt that he will break the homerun record again but he will make a run at it.  Look for the Lumberjacks to make a run deep in the playoffs with Burckhardt leading them the entire way.

CCWA's Top 50 Players (#3)

Book'em Danno

We're finally down to the final three of our CCWA Top 50 for 2012.  Join in on the conversation on our Twitter page using the #CCWAtop50 hashtag.

At number three we have the most dominant pitcher the CCWA has ever seen.  Dan "Bookem" Sefner has a career record of 36-8 and a minuscule 0.85 ERA through four seasons.  His 644 punch-outs puts him at number two all-time. 

Look for this season to be no different as Sefner dominates batting orders in the Southern League.  He has shown complete control of a wide array of pitches and uses them all to keep hitters uncomfortable and off-balance.  He will definitely be in the running for the Cy Young award at season's end. 

Sefner's batting has always come through in the clutch.  In fact he is probably one of the most clutch hitters in all of wiffleball.  He always seems to get a timely hit to either tie the game up and keep his team alive or to give his team the win.  Look for this year to be no different as Bookem keeps his clutch hitting alive.

The Eastside Expos are predicted by many to repeat as CCWA Champions.  If they do look for Dan to be right there in the mix, leading his squad to victory. 

CCWA's Top 50 Players (#4)

Ol Dirty Bento Box

We're down to the top five in our CCWA Top 50 for 2012.  Join in on the conversation on our Twitter page using the #CCWAtop50 hashtag.  Today we review the #4 player Mike "Bento" Benkoski. 

Benkoski really blossomed as an all-around player last season with the Blue Jays.  He stepped into the team's Ace role and was so good that he led the CCWA in wins.  He led the expansion Blue Jays squad into the postseason.

Look for Benkoski to be as good or even better on the hill this season.  If the Blue Jays are going to challenge for the Championship it's all going to start with Bento's pitching.  He will need to once again win a majority of his match-ups against the rest of the top tier pitching in the South.

Bento's batting has always been his strength and this upcoming season should be no different.  Look for him to challenge for the homerun crown and drive in a ton of runs.  His batting average slipped last season but he should rebound this year with the Jays in a new division.

Look for the Blue Jays to be in serious contention when the CCWA playoffs start this fall and look for Benkoski to be right there leading the Jays.

CCWA's Top 50 Players (#5)

Eazy Z

This week on our Twitter page we'll be naming off the top five of our 2012 #CCWAtop50.  Here's our number five player that was named yesterday.

Zac "Eazy Z" Warren is ready for a monster season.  He's shown flashes of greatness in the past but has yet to put it all together for a full season.  Well this year is going to be his year. 

Warren has always batted well and this season should be no different.  He should challenge Burckhardt for the homerun title this season and be one of the league leaders in batting average.  Look for him to come through in the clutch when the Giants need him most.

When Zac's pitching is on he is untouchable.  His biggest problem has been consistency but he continues to improve every season.   Look for him to use the "dirty diaper" (Zac's special sinker) to lead the Giants to the postseason.  I'm predicting a very big year for Zac from the mound where he'll be amongst the league leaders in ERA.

Look for the Jackmove Giants to once again be challenging for the CCWA Championship and look for Zac to be right there leading them into battle. 

CCWA's Top 50 Players (#10-6)

We're back naming off the predicted top 50 CCWA players of 2012.  Join in on the conversation on our Twitter page.

10.  Eric Dorland, Ridgefield Orioles - Eric won the Northern League Rookie of the Year last year and should only get better.  This southpaw showed flashes of brilliance last year from the mound, if he gets more consistent he should be a favorite for Cy Young.

9.  Kyle Schulz, Jackmove Giants - Big Schulzy is a machine!  This guy can hit the ball for miles and is one of the hardest throwers the league has seen.  Look for him to play an integral part for Jackmove as they attempt to win a CCWA championship.

8.  Justin "Jaybird" Ellis, Mid-Town Mariners - Jaybird has become on of the top pitchers in the league.  His pitching helped the M's make a playoff run last year and we should expect more of the same this season.  Ellis also improved his batting last year and could challenge for MVP and Cy Young.

7.  Eric Keele, Lexington Brewers - Keele has downright nasty stuff on the hill.  With him pairing with Godinho the Brew Crew has an extremely dominant rotation.  He has also shown that he can hit in the past and should play a big part in the Brewers season.

6.  Kyle "Little League" Godinho, Lexington Brewers - Little League has dominated the Northern League winning the last three Cy Youngs.  He mixes pitches and speeds well and can locate his pitches at will.  He's also one of the top hitters the CCWA has seen and is looking to repeat his Player of the Year campaign from 2010.

U-Dub Sports Pub to Sponsor Northern League Player of the Week

We've come to an agreement with the U-Dub Sports Pub and Grub in Longview, Washington for them to sponsor the Northern League Player of the Week.  Each week the player voted POW by the Northern League captains will receive a coupon for one free table keg of the beer of their choice.

Rob James, of the Columbia Hgts. Cardinals, owns the U-Dub Sports Pub and thought it would be good for both the league and the pub to sponsor the Player of the Week.  He's hoping that the U-Dub Pub will become the place to go when teams are done playing.

Thanks again Rob!