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Standings Series Summaries Wiffler of the Week Series of the Week Team Stats Box Scores Player Stats Central Ohio Wiffleball League 2012 Division World Series Week Final Standings Champions Division
Contenders Division
PVB - Pleasant Valley Boys UMH - Uncle Muscles' Hour AP - Abusement Park 2012 COWL World Series Summaries The 2012 World Series had the promise of being perhaps the closest world series in COWL history, given the talent level and developing momentum being generated by the Knights, and the inability of the Legends to field a 4th player. While the Knights have gotten steadily better all year as new recruits Corey White and Josh Wonderleigh adapted to the rules and cadence of league play, the Legends have managed to hold off league challengers by completing 4 of their 7 series with only 3 players. While Levi and Phill have done a remarkable job acclimating to the additional responsibilities and area to cover, it is indisputable that any rational script for winning the COWL World Series would not be written with only 3 players - there is simply too much area to cover on defense and no margin for error. Night 1 - when games 1-4 were conducted, was Friday, August 3rd, and relatively calm with light air. Tim Beavers graciously agreed to umpire the World Series as he has done each of the previous 2 years. The Legends chose CC field as their home field - due in part to the reduced area to cover. The Knights chose their favorite field, TLC, as their home field for games 3, 4 and 6, if necessary. The Legends were represented by Phill King, Captain Jerry Driggs and Levi Driggs with that order as the batting lineup. The Knights fielded their usual team of Captain Dustin Weaver, Amos Jones, Corey White and Josh Wonderleigh, with that also being their batting order. Game 1 on CC field began solidly for the Knights as Josh crushed a no out 2 run HR and then Amos added another run with a single down the left field line scoring Corey. The Legends wasted no time posting a score as base hits by Phill and Jerry were quickly followed by a Levi smash to left center. Phill got into the HR parade by lofting a 2 runner over the right field fence as the Legends claimed a 6-3 lead heading to the 2nd. Starters Jerry and Amos previewed what would become a regularity in the series as both pitchers blanked the opposition in the 2nd. The 3rd saw the Knights getting back on the board with another 3 run blast by Josh to tie the score. The Legends reclaimed the lead with a 2 run shot by Levi in the bottom half of the inning to lead 8-6. The 4th inning got started with a 2 run dinger by Amos to tie the score yet again - only to be followed by the Legends playing small ball as Jerry painted the right field line to the fence after a Phill double to score both Levi and Phill and reclaim a 10-8 lead. After a Levi fly out Phill beat out another hit and Jerry painted the left field line to setup a 3 run shot by Levi. After the inning was in the books the Legends had scored 6 and crafted a 14-8 lead. The 5th saw the Knights generate a last inning rally - again a hallmark of theirs during the series. After Dustin and Amos reached on solid hits to the green monster Josh laced a bb to the fence scoring Dustin. Corey hit a sharp grounder to Levi at 2nd, scoring Amos but retiring Josh at 2nd. Jerry then enticed Dustin to ground out to short for the 2nd out of the inning. After another Amos shot off the green monster Josh lofted a fly to left center which was caught to end the game with the Legends claiming a 14-10 game 1 win. Levi led all hitters with 3 HRs and 7 RBIs while Phill added a HR and 2 RBIs and Jerry layed an egg in the HR column but drove in 5 RBIs. For the Knights Josh whacked 2 HRs with 6 RBIs while Amos had 1 HR to go with his 4 RBIs. Game 2 found Levi on the mound for the Legends to face Amos of the Knights. Inning 1 saw the Knights jump out to a quick 3-0 lead compliments of a 3 run Josh HR and Amos blanking the Legends on the mound. The Knights widened their lead in inning 2 as Josh and Corey both hit 2 HRs each for a total of 6 runs and a 9-0 lead as Amos once again blanked the Legends. Levi found his stride in inning 3 and after a nifty double play by Phill the Legends concocted their first rally as Jerry hit 2 HRs and Levi 1 for a total of 6 runs to narrow the score to 9-6 after 3. Inning 4 was once again a good one for Levi on the mound as a 'tweener pop fly turned into another double play for the Legends and Phill led of the inning with a HR for the Legends. Levi added a 2nd HR and the Legends once again narrowed the Knights lead to 1 at 9-8, heading to the final frame. The Knights responded with a rally of their own as Joshn crushed another 3 run bomb and Corey added a solo shot to tally 4 in the inning - giving the Knights a comfortable 13-8 lead with just 3 outs remaining. Jerry began the Legends 5th with a bomb to right, followed immediately by a bomb to left by Levi and a shot just inside the foul pole by Phill to narrow the Knights lead to 2 at 13-11. Jerry singled off the right field fence but Josh managed to get Levi to pop to left for out number 1. Phill singled up the middle and Jerry banged a drive off the center field fence, scoring Levi from second and narrowing the score to 13-12. Levi laced a base hit past short, scoring Phil from 3rd and tying the score with 1 out and the winning run at 1st. Phill reached 1st on a sharp liner down the right field line, moving the winning run to 2nd with Jerry coming to the plate and 1 out. After a protracted battle Josh hung a high inside fastball which Jerry fisted out to right for a walk off HR, a 16-13 game 2 victory and a 2-0 lead in the series. Jerry took his turn leadaing the Legends with 4 HRs and 9 RBIs. Levi crunched 3 more HRs to drive in 4 and Phill added 2 key HRs for 3 RBIs. Josh once again led the Knights with 4 HRs with 6 RBIs while Corey got untracked to crush 2 HRs and 5 RBIs. Amos added 2 RBIs and Dustin 1 to round out the scoring. Game 3 moved to TLC field where the home Knights would send Josh to the mound to face Jerry again, as the Legends had designated Phill as their reliever and both Jerry and Levi had used all their innings. Levi got things started for the Legends in the 1st with a 2 run dinger to left. The Knights played small ball to tie the score after 1 at 2 each. The Legends again added 2 in the 2nd, this time on a 2 run HR by Jerry. The Knights leaped ahead with 4 courtesy of a Josh 3 run blast and the Knights once again claimed the lead at 6-4. Inning 3 saw both Jerry and Levi hit solo shots then the Legends scored one more the hard way to tally 3 in the frame. The Knights put up 3 also courtesy of a Josh 2 run shot to right center and some shrewd base running. Inning 4 saw Amos return to the mound with good effect as he held the Legends scoreless. A double by Josh, and singles by Corey and Dustin scored 1 in the inning to give the Knights a 10-7 lead. The Legends dodged a bullet by turning an inning ending double play on a pop fly with bases loaded and 1 out to hold the Knights to the 1 scored. Down 3 heading into their last at bat, the Legends rallied, using base hits by Levi and Phill to setup a 3 run blast by Jerry over the right field fence. Levi followed with a solo shot and Phill promptly beat out a hit to right, setting the stage for Jerry's 2nd blast of the inning over the right field fence. Levi popped up and Phill grounded back to the pitcher to record the 2nd out of the inning. Jerry poked a 2 strike pitch down the right field line and Levi followed with a much longer poke to left field, giving the Legends 8 for the inning and a 14-9 leading heading into the bottom of the 5th. The Knights could not manage to get a rally brewing as another center field blast by Josh was sandwiched by ground outs by Corey and Dustin and the final out of the inning followed shortly on a pop fly to right. Jerry got the win on the mound and both he and Levi had 4 HRs in the effort and 7 RBIs each. Josh led the Knights with 2 HRs and 6 RBIs in the loss. Due to the late start the teams had planned on playing 3 games, but as the games went very quickly they decided to play the 4th - also at TLC field. With each of the first 3 games being decided in the last inning - and the Knights being the unfortunate recipient of all the heroics, the Knights desperately needed to reverse roles to avoid the sweep. With their pitching innings reset Josh returned to the mound while the Legends sent Levi in an attempt to get his 2nd win on the night. Jerry struck for a 1st inning solo shot which the Knights answered via a 3 run Corey bomb to dead right field. Amos returned and blanked the Legends in the 2nd and Corey and Josh added 4 for the Knights on a pair of 2 run blasts. Jerry hit a laser beam 3 run HR to close the score to 7-4 and Levi held the Knights scoreless in the 3rd to hold that score. Jerry and Levi blasted 2 run dingers in the 4th and the Legends scored a 5th on 3 successive base hits, taking the lead 9-7 after 4 1/2. The Knights knotted the score on a Corey 2 run poke and the stage was once again set for last inning heroics with the score even at4 9's. After back to back hits by Levi and Phill Jerry grabbed a lead for the Legends with a 3 run moonshot to right center. After Phill again singled and beat out a sorry pop to right, Levi crushed a 3 run dinger. Not done yet, Phill again singled and Jerry moved him to 2nd on a base hit. A grounder to 3rd by Levi resulted in a double play for the Knights as Corey calmly steppped on 3rd and threw the ball to Amos at pitcher's mound. Phill hit a dying squibb down the 1st base line that Jerry tried to score on - a crucial mistake as Dustin perfectly relayed the ball to Amos who pegged Jerry a step before home. Utilizing this momentum the Knights started the inning with a solo blast by Corey. Successive base knocks by Dustin and Amos set the stage for a Josh 3 run blast to tie the score. After retiring Dustin, Amos reached on a base hit to left but was fielder's choiced at 2nd on a Josh line drive. Corey then did the same to Josh at 2nd, leaving 2 outs and the winner still on 1st. A seeing eye ball by Dustin found the gap in left center and the routine play with 4 defender turned into the game winner as an errant relay allowed Corey to scoot home for the game winner and a much needed win for the Knights. The relatively powerless win for the Knights was led by Corey's 2 HRs and 6 RBIs while the only other HR for the team was Josh's 3 run blast to tie the game in the 5th. Corey added 5 RBIs while both Amos and Dustin added 2. For the Legends Jerry led the attack with 5 HRs and 8 RBIs while Levi added 3 HRs and 6 RBIs. The series continued on Sunday 8/5, with the Legends playing host to the Knights on CC field, and the Knights having the unenviable task of beating the Legends 3 games in a row to claim the crown - a daunting task as to this point in COWL history the Legends have not suffered 2 defeats in a row. Jerry took the mound for the Legends as did Amos for the Knights. The Knights jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a long center field blast by Josh, but a base running mistake killed the rally as a routine pop fly turned into a double play. Levi keyed a 5 run 1st for the Legends, crushing 2 HRs. The 2nd was scoreless for the Knights and the Legends played add on as a Phill drive to dead center narrowly cleared the gate in right center for a 2 run dinger. The Legends added 2 more on a Jerry squib down the right field line for a total of 4 in the inning and a 9-2 lead. A double play by Phill on a Josh line drive ended the scoreless 3rd for the Knights and it appeared the Legends would run away with the game as another Levi 3 run crush to left upped the score to 12-3 Legends. Using a 3 run Corey HR after meticulously placed hits by Dustin and Amos the Knights began their climb back. Again Dustin and Amos hit seeing eye balls to center and left and singles by Josh and Corey scored 2 more. The Legends bats when silent in the 4th and the Knights had narrowed the score 12-7 with 1 inning remaining. The 5th was more of the same as base hits by Dustin and Amos were once again followed by a huge HR to center by Josh. After a pop up by Dustin for out 1, Amos singled to left and Josh banked a line drive off the green monster. A Corey bb straight down the line off the fence scored both Amos and Dustin to tie the score. Levi tracked down a Dustin deep fly to center and then Phill cleanly fielded an Amos grounder to end the Knight 4th with the score tied at 12. Jerry was the first batter for the Legends and lined a base hit off the right field fence. Levi popped a ball to Corey on the infield and Phil laced a single to center - putting the winning run on 2nd with 1 out. A duel ensued as Amos made several solid pitches to Jerry, 2 of which were hit beyond the fence but a foot or less foul. After a protracted struggle Amos managed to pop Jerry up to right and Dustin hauled it in for out 2. Levi and Amos then engaged in a repeat of the duel but this time the batter came out on top as Levi laced a 3-2 low and outside pitch over the right field fence for a 3 run walk off World Series ending blast. For the game Levi led all hitters with 4 HRs and 8 RBIs while Phill added 1 HR and 3 RBIs. Jerry was blanked once more on the HR tally but managed 4 RBIs and 7 runs scored via small ball. Josh again keyed the Knights attack crushing the 1st and last HRs to tally 6 RBIs. Corey added a key HR to accompany his 6 RBIs. Dustin and Amos played key roles as set up men with each scoring 3 runs in the loss. In the series Levi led all hitters with 17 HRs and 31 RBIs. Jerry added 12 HRs and 33 RBIs and Phill contributed 4 HRs and 8 crucial RBIs while scoring 16 runs. Josh led the Knight attack with 11 HRs and 25 RBIs. Corey followed with 5 RBIs and 19 RBIs. Amos took the lone Knight win and added 1 HR, 7 RBIs and 15 runs scored. Dustin scored 12 runs in the effort. While a 4-1 series win may seem to be lopsided, the true measure of how close this series was centered on each game being determined in the last inning - with 3 of the 5 games won in the last at bat - 2 by walk off HRs. Early in the year the commissioning trio picked the Knights to make it to the World Series - and they did not disappoint - getting progressively better each week. If they manage to stay together they will be a solid contender to break the Legends 3 year streak as COWL champions next year. Congratulations to the Knights on a great year, and a fantastic playoff run. Regardless of what happens in the years to come, the Legends have probably accomplished something that will not be duplicated - winning a COWL World Series with only 3 defenders. It can not be overstated how difficult this is. While it provides more than the regular number of chances at the plate, the confusion which ensues between catching, catching your breath and trying to record stats outweighs the advantages. The game becomes a blur - very difficult to enjoy. It would not be remotely possible with out 2 of the best thieves in the league - Phill and Levi, manning the defenses. I would not encourage any team to attempt a World Series in this manner. The Legends are taking applications for the vacant spot on their roster - someone preferably who will hit 50-60 HRs, 100+ RBIs and win 10 games on the mound, plus be a stellar defender. At the rate the league is improving we will need that to stay even. COWL Wiffler of the Week World Series Championship
Phil "Flash" King Levi "Crush" Driggs Jerry "WiffleKing" Driggs As is customary during the World Series, the winning team all become members in the COWL WOW fraternity. It is simply too difficult to win a 7 game series without everyone playing a vital and irreplacable part at some point in the regular season, Wild Card, Division Championship or World Series.
This season was no different. While Levi's and Jerry's offensive numbers were eerily similar once again, the reality is they came often at different times, with Jerry and Levi taking turns carrying the load. Phill was, as always, a steady set up man and the Legends big innings were more the result of Phill getting on base so the Dad / Son duo could go to work than not. Conversely, Phill undoubtedly led the league in double plays, turning a mind-boggling 8 in the playoffs that we could remember - in only 2 series - and keeping the other team from scoring is just as important as scoring yourself - maybe more so when playing with only 3 defenders. Congratulations to all of the Legends for surviving and holding it all together at least one last time !
Box Scores (Home team on top) Return to Top Legends 6-2-2-4-X= 14 Legends 0-0-6-2-8= 16 Knights 2-2-0-3-7= 14 Knights 3-0-3-2-2= 10 Knights 3-6-0-0-4= 13 Legends 2-4-3-1-0= 10 WP – Jerry Driggs WP – Levi Driggs WP – Jerry Driggs Josh Wonderleigh KG(2) Josh Wonderleigh KG(4) Jerry Driggs LG(4) Phill King LG(1) Levi Driggs LG(3) Josh Wonderleigh KG(2) Amos Jones KG(1) Phill King LG(2) Corey White KG(2) Knights 3-4-0-2-5= 14 Legends 5-4-3-0-2= 14 Legends 1-0-3-4-5= 13 Knights 2-0-0-5-5= 12 Levi Driggs LG(3) Josh Wonderleigh KG(2) Corey White KG(2) Phill King LG(1) Josh Wonderleigh KG(1) Corey White KG(1) Weekly Team Stats - Final Return to Top
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