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.