Big League WIFFLE Ball News

DMX Rudolph

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!

When baseball ended for me in high school that was it. Wiffleball throughout my childhood and teens had always been in the backseat. After not playing wiffleball for a long time family and friends played at a camping trip in May of 2009. Kevin and I wanted to get better for the next trip and so it began. We stapled a window screen to a 2×4 for a K-zone bought some balls and pitched from 42 ft. Wanting to learn how to throw new pitches, we searched the internet where I came in contact with known pro Sean “wiffleboy28″ Steffy. We sort of became email buddies and friends over time despite living miles apart. With his videos and support wiffleball became a regular topic of ours. With my hunger for competition I began to record our games to post on Youtube, where again I was contacted by another known pro. Only this time Sylvie Serrano of California told me that there was a wiffleball league right in our backyard. We met at a GSWL preseason session out in Davis, CA and were instantly recognized as those “youtube” guys. I was shocked. I thought basically only people that watched those videos were family and friends and mainly Kevin and I. We played, and learned some new techniques in wiffleball and rest assured we joined the league after 7 just starting a mere 7 months before. Only 4 teams here in Cali the GSWL fast pitch league trained us quick and hard. The rest is history. With Kevin and I practicing literally rain or shine and scrimmages with Sylvie and other teammates we stood in there with some of the top players of the competitive wiffleball community. We were on the runner up team to the now GSTC National champions in the DIABLOS. Then I was fortunate enough to play w/ Sylvie and others in the OPEN national championship and taking an unofficial 3rd place out of the top 13 teams in the country. So take it from me that with practice and practice AND practice, you can compete with the best around in Wiffleball.

Tony showing us how to throw a Submarine Riser…

Check out Tony’s Youtube Page ClickHere

DROP PITCH

Goldenstickwiffle: PA Highlights…Cameo by WIFFLEBOY28

Do you like Phil Collins? I’ve been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn’t understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins’ presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group’s undisputed masterpiece. It’s an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Christy, take off your robe. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. Sabrina, remove your dress. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Sabrina, why don’t you, uh, dance a little. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority.

Fairfield Fire Throwing Upstairs at The Connecticut State Nutmeg Games

We finally have an answer from the WIFFLE CZAR Michael Palinczar!Via Facebook:

Michael Palinczar: “The Wiffle Inc. has to cooperate with the US government when making plastic products, due to all the problems they are having with imports from China.”  “A lot # and the date the product was made is required on each item per the US government (per Dave Mullany Jr.)”