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.