Erin Brown takes time out from Los Angeles to stop by the Reggie Sanders’ Foundation and Big League Celebrity Tournament!

Big League Carpet!

The North Carolina Wiffle Ball League will be hosting a large tournament in Landis, NC on August 4th-5th which is just North of Charlotte, NC. This tournament will provide the best competition that North Carolina has to offer. There will be a fast pitch division as well as a slow pitch division. Teams consist of 4-6 players. The entry fee is $30 per team which will include concessions. Music will be played and games will be video recorded and posted online. The tournament is sponsored by Shirts and Logos and players will receive a free tee shirt. Umpires will be provided. Lights will be used if needed. Stats will be tracked and posted online shortly after the tournament ends. It will be a great time with tons of games and fun. And some great, competitive wiffle ball.

 
The NCWBL will be able to assist teams with hotel arrangements if needed.

 
Our website: http://www.ncwiffleballleague.com/
Twitter: @ncwbl
FB: North Carolina Wiffle Ball League
Email: ncwbl@hotmail.com

It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, you rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then, just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops.

_ A. Bartlett Giamatti

Guest Post By Peter Mocabee:

 
You’ve all seen the movie… and if you’re like me, then you’ve probably cried like me. Every time the players lay their jerseys down for Rudy on the coach’s desk, “for Rudy coach” I frickin’ shed a tear. What’s inside me that drives me to feel for Rudy? How does that connect to my love for wiffle ball?

 

I starting playing wiffle in college with my roommates at Azusa Pacific University in CA. I was always considered the best pitcher among my roommates, and then our senior year, after being the two-time defending champs, the intramural wiffle tournament brought 3 freshman to the amphitheater that taught me a lesson that I would never forget… I’m not that good! They creamed us! They were actually a traveling fast pitch team. This was back in the late nineties and it stuck with me as the years passed by. I don’t remember their names, and if you’re reading this “guys from Bowles”, those were good times! After college I would only play a couple times a year against my older brother during Christmas and Easter when we gathered at my parents house. In the Spring of 2009, my passion for wiffle increased to the size of Rudy’s desire to play for Notre Dame. I was now a tournament wiffle ball player. That summer, I played in two Fast Plastic Qualifying tournaments and I once again realized, I’m not that good… YET! I was addicted.

 
I’ve always considered myself a pretty athletic person. I naturally can compete at any sport I’ve tried. Its just apart of who I am. So when I walked away that summer striking out and giving up bombs with my best pitch, I didn’t get bummed out, I got dedicated. I knew I wasn’t finished. I knew until I can compete with the best in the game, I wasn’t going to be satisfied. I filled myself with the spirit of Rudy. Always show up and never give up.

 
When it comes to playing wiffleball, I’m not blessed with the raw talent of Ryan Wood and I lack the years of experience playing at a high level. Don’t get me wrong, my brother is no lobbin’ over the plate wiffle pitcher, but the level I saw 3 summers ago, addicting!

 
Since the summer of 2009, I have improved my game to a level that I had to experience the best. The GSTC OPEN National Championships in Boston. That’s a 5 hour flight and a weekend away from my wife and 11 month old. Am I crazy? My wife thought so, and her parents… but I didn’t care. I had to see if I could compete with the best. I only mustered 4 hits during the two days of the best wiffle I’ve ever seen. One of them was a game-winner. But still not good enough, and still not satisfied. The spirit of Rudy to keep pushing forward for what I want is still haunting me. I have to compete. I have to stand in that batters box against the best in the game, and I want that pitcher to think… that’s Moc, he will not stop f’n playing. He gets better every year.

 
Someday, I hope young wifflers will see my movie in 2026 called “Moc” and be moved by my dedication to the game and no matter how old you are, you can always get better. Even if it is just a game with a plastic ball…

 

Watch the Rudy Clip Here!

This Month in WIFFLEBALL by HMPFILMS

Why you should participate: This is a once in a life time opportunity to play WIFFLE ball on a world class facility with world class athletes and raise money for a great cause. Play the game of  WIFFLE ball with former MLB players and mingle with them at the after event reception, being held in the stadium. Entertain clients by allowing them to come out and enjoy a wonderful morning of friendly competition, while raising money for a cause that is affecting 1 out of 100 children.

The Reggie Sanders Foundation

SARRC

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ALUMNI

Big League Wiffle Ball

Salt River Fields at Talking Stick

Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center

Present…

Yellow Bat Fury

Saturday, July 9th 2011 MLB ALL STAR Weekend

Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Scottsdale, AZ (Home Of  The Arizona Diamondbacks & Colorado Rockies Spring Training)

Check-in 8am to 9am First Pitch 9am

Awards Reception

Only Accepting 4 Exclusive Teams to Support Reggie Sanders’ Charity
Autographed Memorabilia & Prizes Provided 1st Through 4th Place

Team Package (Bring 9 Players) – $2,500
Guarantee of (2) 5-inning WIFFLE BALL GAMES- Winner’s & Loser’s Bracket
Guarantee to play with Former/Present Professional Baseball Players & Celebrities
Each player receives a tournament t-shirt and a ticket for the Awards Reception

Individual Package – $250 per person
Guarantee of (2) 5-inning WIFFLE BALL GAMES- Winner’s & Loser’s Bracket
Guarantee to play with Former/Present Professional Baseball Players & Celebrities
A tournament t-shirt and a ticket for The Awards Reception

Tickets to Watch the Game – $2

Please contact: John Zackery
Special Events Coordinator
Reggie Sanders Foundation
(602) 421-3479
jzackery@gmail.com

Rolling Rock Park

SLAMDiabetes™ is hosting an event at Little Fenway to raise awareness and funds for Type 1 diabetes research. www.parentingdiabetickids.com/wiffle

 

Twelve teams will play some competitive, fun wiffle ball in front of fans and spectators at the world’s greatest wiffle ball venue, Little Fenway and Little Wrigley in Essex, Vermont.


 
Events include:
* Opening Ceremonies, including Team Introductions and Ceremonial First Pitch.
* 12 teams, four divisions, two games minimum.
* Playoffs for the top teams from each division, culminating in the tournament Championship Game.
* Home Run Derby: Anyone can sign up!
* Kids and Celebrities Game.
* Awards Presentation: Championship Trophy, Tournament MVP, Team Spirit, Player MVP, Best Uniform and Play-of-the-Day Awards
* Silent Auction

In The World!

Big League Wiffle Ball is proud to be the gate keeper of the World’s largest database of WIFFLE BALL Players and their respective teams. Japan, Canada, Mexico, Greece, Italy, UK and US. We have so many people signing up, it’s hard for us to stay on top of sending out certificates in a timely manner. We are trying to crank as fast a possible.

As for the newsletter…we ask that you remain patient as we strive to provide great content and ask permission of other tournament and league directors to provide any upcoming events or information. We also encourage equipment manufacturers, lifestyle brands, food and beverage companies to reach out as well. (Sponsor@BigLeagueWiffleBall.Com)

Big League plans on publishing The Professional WIFFLE Ball Players Association to the BLWB website, Fall of 2011! You will be able to view a player’s team name, home town or whether or not he or she bats/throws left or right. Just like the Baseball Encyclopedia…you will be able to view whoever played the game on a professional level.

If you haven’t gotten on the list, please do so NOW…it’s Free! PWBPA

Guest Post From Our Fans Over At maxfrankel.com

The Ten Most Intimidating Pitchers in Baseball

We’ve decided to compile a list of the ten most intimidating active pitchers in baseball (with one small exception). These are not necessarily the best pitchers in the league, just the ones we’d least like to step into the box against for whatever reason:

10. Carlos Zambrano, Chicago Cubs: Big Z is pretty scary because he’s crazy. You never know what he might do and I really get the feeling that he doesn’t either. I never want to face a pitcher that just got out of anger management.
9. Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox: Pap is definitely a scary guy on the mound but he tries too hard. You can’t think about being intimidating to be truly intimidating. He has potential though, a mid 90’s fastball and those crazy eyes certainly don’t hurt. Papelbon will never be a top 5 intimidating pitcher material until he just relaxes and lets the intimidation ooze.
8. Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants: The Freak is intimidating because he’s not. He stands 5’10” on the mound but has a crazy wind up and blazing fastball. His reputation makes him even more scary. He’s the type of guy I’d love to have a drink with but definitely not step in against.
7. Manny Ramirez: Ok, so he’s not a pitcher and he’s technically not active either but tell me you wouldn’t be shaking in your spikes if Manny was pitching to you.
6. Jon Rauch, Toronto Blue Jays: This guy is 6’10” and covered in tattoos. He is scary. He’s got flames on one arm and some interlocking stuff on the other. He’s got the letter “I” on the back of his neck. That’s terrifying. I’m not sure why but it is.
5. Josh Beckett, Boston Red Sox: Beckett is mostly scary because he used to be scary. Back when he threw in the upper 90’s, he wasn’t afraid to put in the ear hole of a guy’s helmet if he felt like it. He’s in the 5 spot out of respect for that, and because he still has that mentality even if he can only touch 93 now a days.
4. Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds: He throws 105 mph. You try to hit that, let alone try to not get hit by it. I don’t even think I could see something moving that fast. Intimidating. Also, he’s got “105.1 MPH” tattooed on his biceps so you know he’s the man.
3. Marino Rivera, New York Yankees: Tell me your not intimidated when the greatest closer of all time comes jogging into the game with “Enter Sandman” blaring in front of 50,000 raucous fans in the ninth inning of Game 6 of the World Series. Tell me.
2. Brian Wilson, San Francisco Giants: Fear the Beard! Wilson sports that ridiculously long, shoe polish black, “magical” beard that no one is allowed to touch, an “I don’t give a damn” attitude, and a 98 mph fastball with movement. He is absolutely the man. Don’t believe me? Check out the Jim Rome interview. Or the George Lopez interview. Or what he said about Tony La Russa last year after the Cards manager got him fined $1000 because his cleats were too bright. Or the fact that he showed up for the bus to the airport for to go to Philly for last year’s NLCS with nothing but the clothes on his back, his hat, and his glove.
1. Kyle Farnsworth, Tampa Bay Rays: Farnsworth is consistently voted the toughest guy in the Majors by other players. He doesn’t talk to his teammates, he just listens to his iPod and does what he wants. He’s gotten in more brawls than I can count, and won all of them. He is the baseball equivalent of Chuck Norris, in Rec-Specs. You know he would kill you and just keep walking, he’s that tough. You can only criticize him from the other side of the TV. I’d face every other guy on this list 100 times before I’d want to see Farnsworth once. Scary man.

Did we miss anybody? Overrate anyone? Let us know. If you want to see more stuff like this or even some that’s completely different, check us out. Off The Bench, a mostly baseball blog, is located at maxfrankel.com. Stop by to see what we’ve got and learn a little about us.