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Creator and Commissioner- Ben Weiner

*********************** YARDBALL IN THE DETROIT NEWS ********************************

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2007-

4-Peat

West Bloomfield wins again. The fourth installment of the world series of yardball went just as the first, second and third; Ben Weiner and West Bloomfield victorious in September. After the month layoff, West Bloomfield showed rust agaisnt a familiar foe, TET. TET snuck in after Bloomfield Hills declined their invitaiton. Eli also picked up seasoned verteran Jeff Rosenberg for another run at the finals, Jordan Wachler was MIA. Cy Young winner Ben Weiner carried a shut out until the last out of the game when TET made it interesting. Nonetheless, West Bloomfield held on to win 6-5. The mighty Bull Club, led by Steve Astrien took the field next, Steve never reaching a world series. Everyone beleived this was his year. The Bull Club, down early, took care of business off a late Andy homer to tie it, and a walk-off shot by Steve, winning 9-8 over the young slap-hititng White Lake. West Bloomfield placed themselves in their fourth staright world series, capping off the sweep of TET next. Down 4-2 in the top of the fifth, run support kicked in and Weiner and Sheed put of a merciful 12 spot, filling handing over the bats with 1 out left after Jeff begged. Game 2 of the other series saw Seid shut down the Bull Club for a 5-3 win. Game 3 was an instant classic. Up 8-3 in the fourth off timely htiting, White Lake brought in ace Brad Seid out of the pen. Seid had a solid series offensively, defensively, and on the mound. In the bototm of the 5th, the Bull Club woke up. Andy hit 3 solo home runs in the inning to tie it. Another Andy home run was caught off the tree by Elkins, saving the game. Steve had a chance to send his team to the world series with 1 out, but flew out to left. White Lake put up 3 more in the top of the 6th, not to be matched by the Bull Club, another choke job by Steve.

The World Series started off by White Lake putting up a 5 spot in the first. Weiner and Sheed managed to match it in the bottom half. Seid caught fire though and pitched well late, giving White Lake an 11-8 victory. Facing elimiantion, West Bloomfield pulled out all the stops. Phenonminal defensive plays by Seid kept the score tied until the top of the 5th. Elkins walked Weiner and got Sheed to line out. Weiner stepped up and hit one of the biggest home runs of his career, a towering shot to deep right center, somehow out of the range of Seid. Sheed came back strong, shuttting down White Lake in the bottom half, preserving the first compelte game shut out in world series history. For the second staright year, the world series was going down to a deciding game. Weiner vs. Seid. Unlike last year, this game did not live up to the hype. After Seid hit the first pitch off the game off the backstop and out, White Lake did not get another hit off Weiner. West Bloomfield pounded the ball behding 6 Weiner home runs, getitng up 9-1 in the bottom of the 4th. With a man on second and 1 out, Sheed sent a ball flying above the double tree in right, a walk-off home run in the decididng game of the world series, 11-1 mercy. West Bloomfield the champs again.

Fourth of July Fireworks-
The Fourth of July Invitational saw more offense than any previous tournament in yardball history. In the first game of the double elimination tournament, Sheed took the ball for West Bloomfield against the up and coming Farmington Hills Longshots. West Bloomfield's offense was able to overcome the awful pitching of Sheed, putting up 20 runs, mainly in part by 11 home runs from league leader Ben Weiner. West Bloomfield defeated Jeff and Farmington Hills 20-13. Facing elimination, Brian Noble went to the mound for the Longshots in game 2 against North Farmington. Steve Astrein, whose pitching career had been recently resurrected with better location on his fastball, took the ball for North Farmington. Steve pitched the game of the day, holding Farmington Hills to only 7 runs. However, North Farmington trailed in the bottom of the 5th, needing an Andy homer to tie, and a Steve walk-off to win 8-7. Donald Hadesman led his "summer-team" Bloomfield Hills back to the diamond for the first time since the snow in April. Bloomfield Hills faced off against North Farmington in their first game. Andy pitched another gem for North Farmington, keeping Donald off balance with fast pitch intimidation. North Farmington won a shortened game due to weather, 12-4. Now, in an effort to get their place in the championship game, West Bloomfield squared off against old-school rival Bloomfield Hills. Any time Donald faces off against former team mate Ben Weiner, his juiced get flowing. Donald finally displayed the energy he usually brings to the game and the sweet swing that comes with it. Donald belted off 11 home runs off Weiner. Unfortunately, flame-throwing Chris Cooley was unable to figure out the West Bloomfield hitters, spotting them an all-time worst 27 runs in the game. Donald, claiming he had an extra out in his pocket due to a controversial call, stormed back in the bottom of the 5th, attempting to overcome a 27-14 deficit. Via ridiculous moves such a blocking away strikes and issuing automatic singles after contact, Donald and Bloomfield Hills managed to crawl back to make it 27-24. With a man on and 1 out, Cooley flied out deep over the fence in right, caught by the nimble Sheeed. Under Donald's "3-out" theory, he insisted that Cooley called time before the pitch was thrown. When denied these allegations, Donald stormed off the field, claiming a West Bloomfield forfeit, which he currently believes is still in effect..... In the championship game, West Bloomfield and their hot bats were unfortunate enough to have Sheed on the Hill. As usual, North Farmington and West Bloomfield went back and forth, exchanging home runs. However, Andy became shaky in the field for North Farmington, dropping two routine fly-outs over the fence, very Bryce-Nemer-Kasier like. Down 11-8 in the top of the 5th, North Farmington struck back. Led by Andy, who homered 8 times in the game, North Farmington charged ahead 15-11. In the bottom half, Weiner came through huge with 2 doubles and a game tying, 1-out home run. With the stage set for Cory, who had recently become the first player-notBenWeiner to hit 100 home runs in a season. Cory took the first Steve Astrein pitch yard, a walk-off homer, winning the Fourth of July Invitational for the defending champs.



Problems for Champs?
Recently, the West Bloomfield School of Wiffleball has strayed from their winning
ways, playing around .500 baseball. While an excellent start has them pinned at 14-6, concerns have arisen within the organization. The team has been carried by the golden arm of ace Ben Weiner, posting a 10-1 record this season. The number 2 pitcher in the rotation, Cory Manoogian, has struggled incredibly this season, currently standing at 3-5, giving up 18 runs one game, and allowing a 10-0 1 inning mercy in another. Cory, who at times presented unhittable stuff last year, cannot seem to find ways to get batters out this year. To add to the problems, Cory, nursing an ankle injury, has been unable to get to routine balls in the outfield. The only thing that has been
working for the 3 time defending champs is their potent offense, already belting out 160 home runs this year. Weiner and Sheed have been able to exchange blows and scrap to win games thus far, but dont be surprised if things take a negative turn for West Bloomfield soon if adjustments arent made.




Power Rankings- May 28th
1. West Bloomfield School of Wiffle Ball (8-4)- Should not have lost any games. Weiner is a legit ace for an offensive juggernaut.
2. North Farmington *** Weiner's (3-3)- 2-0 vs. not West Bloomfield. Struggled for the most part against the leagues best so far. Lack of pitching.
3. The North (0-0)- Lat year's runner up, should dominate in a league with this much parody.
4. Farmington Hills Longshots (1-2)- played all games very tough. Rosenberg leading a powerful offense.
5. Bloomfield Hills (1-3)- full squad led by Donald should win games
6. Birmingham Moist (2-1)- early success will not dictate rest of year
7. TET (1-1)- Wachler leading a resurgent TET. Eli blows
8. Lake Orion Rage(0-0)
9. White Lake Young Guns (0-0)
10. Cranbrook Wiffle Academy (0-0)
11. WB 2 (0-0)
12. Motely Crew (0-2)- Bleznak's 3 homers keeps them out of last
13. DCD Abominable Snowmen (0-0)- worst team ever?


First Annual Memorial Day Tourney Taken By Champs-
In the first ever memorial day invitational, offense dominated the headlines. North Farmington and West Bloomfield took the field in the opening game, the leagues top two teams. West Bloomfield and North were even through the first 4 innings, until West Bloomfield pulled ahead 8-5 in the top of the 5th. With the game under control, Weiner made an error on a routine ground out by Andy. This lead to North Farmington tying the game up 8-8. In the sixth, West Bloomfield manufactured a run. However, in the bottom half of the inning, a Bucahanan homer tied it, and Steve hit a two run walk off shot, North Farmington stealing a game early. North Farmington was also able to handle the offensively charged Farmington Hills Longshots 12-8. The Longshots, much improved after last year played West Bloomfield next. Corey Manoogian had a rough outing for the defending champs, giving up 8 runs in the first inning before recording an out. All game West Bloomfield scratched back, inching closer. They trailed a remarkable 18-16 heading into the bottom of the 5th. Down 18-17, with one out, Ben Weiner stepped up. Weiner, having the game of the year for 2007, had 11 home runs already. The first pitch from the knuckleballer Matt Cole was fouled off the roof. Weiner, finding loop holes in the Major League Baseball rules, was able to take his time running the ball out, obstructing Matt's path to the ball, legal in yardball. This gave West Bloomfield new life. Weiner homered tying it, and Sheed ended it with a walk off shot. In the finals, West Bloomfield and North Farmington squared off again. Weiner and West Bloomfield controlled the tempo once again, leading 5-0 after 3. Weiner at this point, throwing a perfect game. Weiner got sloppy in the 4th, but West Bloomfield led 8-3 heading into the bottom of the 5th. Andy grounded out to start the inning, but then the wheels fell off for West Bloomfield. Steve led a North Farmington come back, hitting a game tying home run with 1 out. With a man on and a chance to win it, Steve stepped up again. Weiner tried to sneak a fast ball by him, and Steve launched it over the tree and onto the roof of the house in left (3rd time ever). However, unlike the previous 2 times, the outfielder, Sheed, was alert of the situation, and made a remarkable play, catching it off the roof. The game went into extra innings, where a Weiner home run off the back stop with 2 strikes following a fast pitch put West Bloomfield ahead. Leading 11-8, West Bloomfield managed to hold on, winning 11-10 and capturing their first tournament title of the year.








LEAGUE LEADERS-

Homeruns-
1. Ben Weiner (West Bloomfield)- 190
2. Sheeed (West Bloomfield)- 152
3. Andy Bucanhan (North Farmington)- 59
3. Steve Astrein (North Farmington)- 59
5. Jeff Rosenberg (Farmington Hills)- 45
6. Brad Seid (White Lake)- 27
7. Jordan Wachler (TET)- 20
8. Josh Smith (Birmingham)- 19
9. Donald Hadesman (Bloomfield Hills)- 18
9. Brad Hantler (Michigan Grasshoppers)- 18
11. Matt Cole (Farmington Hills)- 15
12. Max Elkins (White Lake)- 12
13. Brian Noble (Farmington Hills)- 10
14. Tim Curino (Farmington Hills)- 9
15. Greg (TET)-6
16. Eli Lewitt (TET)- 5
16. Steven Siegel (Bloomfield Hills)- 5
16. Max Grossman (Birmingham)- 5
16. Chris Cooley (Bloomfield Hills)- 5
20. David Bleznak (Motely Crew)- 3
21. Alex Simmons (West Bloomfield)- 2
22. Jason Rosenbaum (Motely Crew)- 1


Wins
1. Ben Weiner- 16
2. Sheeed- 10
3. Steve Astrein- 7
4. Andy Bucanhan- 4
5. Max Grossman- 2
5. Brad Seid- 2
7. Steven Siegel- 1
7. Jordan Wachler-1
7. Alex Simmons- 1
7. Matt Cole-1
7. Max Elkins- 1
7. Brad Hantler- 1