In one of the most unexpected turnaround performances in tournament history, the PA Pork Missiles, led by captain Tim Durante and a pair of really good pitchers, came back from a 1-3 record to pull of two upset performances in the playoffs and win Wifflepalooza XVI.
About 2 hours prior to their victory, it was unclear if the Pork Missiles would even reach the playoffs. Coming down to a final game between the Ironballs and Goondingos, the Pork Missiles needed the Ironballs to come through with their first win of the day to create a 3-way tie, that the Pork Missiles won the benefit of on run differential. The Ironballs closed out the Goondingos 4-3 and allowed PA to slip in the back door. In their first playoff game, they kicked that door down. They managed to work 13 walks off of both former Cy-Young winners Mike Tedesco and Justin Geri. They managed to score 6 runs without recording a base-hit and knocked off the 4-time champions in extras.
In the title game, it was pitching and a bit of good fortune that propelled them to glory. The Flapacs hit 3 balls of the top of the fence, narrowly missing 3 solo homers, but Baeringer and Weber kept making huge pitches when they needed them, never allowing the Flapacs to string multiple hits together in the same inning. Jody Durante provided the game's only run, a solo shot to the opposite field off Ryan Ricci, which was the Pork Missiles only hit of the post season.
The celebration will continue on until next season, but the Pork Missiles know they need to be ready to embrace the targets on their back.
WIFFLE NUGGETS
- Justin Geri became the 3rd player in tournament history to reach 90 career RBI
- The Flapacamingos scored just 9 total runs, the fewest of any team to reach a title game in Wifflepalooza history
- We had 3 no-hitters on Saturday, tying a tournament record set way back in Wifflepalooza III, when as we all know, the strike zones were about half the size they are now. Mike Tedesco, Dan Volpe and Kevin Engasser all tossed no-no's, becoming the first trio to do so since Dimitri Paraskevas, Pat Ney and Ryan Hutchings all did it in WP3. It seems the scuffing rule had an effect, as pitching ruled the day.
- Brian Stanzione became the first to 100 hits (104) in tournament history, passing Al Etter (99) for tops on the all-time list
- Saturday's final was the 6th time ever that the Title Game ended in a shutout. It was the first time the final ended 1-0, since WP4 in 2011.
- The Pork Missiles are just the 8th different franchise to win Wifflepalooza.
- With his all-star performance, Jeff Ronchetti becomes the 4th player in tournament history to make 10 All-Star teams, joining Brian Stanzione, Ryan Ricci and Al Etter.
- Tony Donato and Mike Tedesco, became the 3rd and 4th players respectively in tournament history to reach 150 K's
- Pork Missiles' Ken Weber threw just 2 innings on Saturday, but they were the two biggest innings of the day. After their semi-final match against the Goodfellas went extra innings, PA was left needing 2 innings from another arm that wasn't one of their top 2. Weber stepped up, closed out the Flapacs in the title game and earned the first Championship save since Bill Errig in WP10, when High & Dry took the trident.
- In spite of being limited over the summer, Ryan Ricci was phenomenal again on the mound Saturday. While getting just 3 total runs of support, Ricci posted a 1.40 ERA, a career best, in 20 innings, while striking out 23 batters. It's the 6th time in 13 tournaments that Ricci has posted a sub 2.00 ERA.
- Goodfellas' Billy Jackson took over as the tournament's all-time leader in OPS, at 1.785. He reached the threshold for minimum plate appearances in the Gfellas final regular tournament game.
- Bert Brigade fell short Saturday, and while they still will be a threat for years to come, give them a hand for a heck of a run. Bert is the first franchise to make 4 consecutive title games. And to do it in their first four tournaments is a heck of a run. A 6-3 all-time playoff record is the best winning percentage of any franchise with more than 4 playoff games played.
- Nothing has been confirmed just yet, but it appears that Wifflepalooza XVII will be Saturday, August 12, 2023. The plan is to once again have a HR derby the night prior, August 11. A release will be made once a firm decision is made.
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