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.