Wiffle Ball Recap - May 28, 2025 - Springfield Metropolitan Bar

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Wiffle Ball Recap - May 28, 2025

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SMBA Wiffleball May 28, 2025

Games 9, 10, 11, 12

The third night of play was supposed to take place Tuesday May 27. Clad in chest waders and unhappiness the commissioner “no continuous will be granted” met game nine teams Dragon Slayers and Vicarious Trauma on a flooded field and finally called the games for the evening. Stubborn much?

Game Nine – Dragon Slayers v. Vicarious Trauma

Back at it the following evening the Dragon Slayers won the toss and took the field with Patterson pitching. The first few plays were a walkathon – including the first bean ball walk of the season going to Ty Harden. Idle threats to charge the mound resuscitated the team and things got more interesting when Vicarious Trauma recruit Ben Stringer clocked a two RBI triple. Vicarious Trauma was on a roll – sort of – with impressive hitting, but thanks to the even more impressive fielding by Dragon Slayer Kaitlin Frazier no more runs were scored in the top of the first. If game nine had a theme it was “Stop Hitting To Frazier” The half inning closed with a solid hit by Stringer intercepted by a stop drop and catch by Patterson.

Harden took the mound for Vicarious Trauma and hit Patterson with his inaugural pitch. Payback as a form of justice? No runs scored.

The top of the second started off with a “controversial call” when Vicarious Trauma player and SMBA President Matt Russell hit a triple into the beer cups adoring the chain link fence. Fair play or executive privilege run amok? Ultimately irrelevant. It was the only excitement in a no run inning.

After a slight pause to accommodate a child perusing the little free library in right field, the third inning got off to an exciting start when Harden hit a triple so hard-en even Frazier couldn’t stop it. Later in the inning, fourth in the batting order, Ben Stringer found all his teammates on base and all eyes on the batter – and SMASHED a bases clearing triple. Vicarious Trauma scored four before the top of the third shut down with a double flip ninja catch by Patterson.

Bottom of the third and top of the fourth. Not interesting.

Bottom of the fourth – starring Kaylee Comer and an RBI with supporting roles from teammates Patterson, Frazier and Josh Harrell, who all managed to get on base.

In the top of the fifth, Harden slugged the first home run of the evening. Teammate Adam Woody rocked the ball but, sad for him, to the melancholy tune of “stop hitting to Frazier.”

The Undaunted Dragon Slayers faced a six-run deficit going into their final at bat – bottom of the fifth. Frazier got on base despite Hardens head over heels rolling catch- attempt. Patterson knocked off an almost- triple, caught then recaught by Woody. Those juggling lessons eventually pay off. The lady slayers did their part, with a triple by Frazier and a double by Comer, managing two more runs. But alas, too little, too late.

Final Score – Vicarious Trauma 7, Dragon Slayers 3
MVPs – Ty Harden and Kaitlyn Frazier

Batting Order

Dragon Slayers

Dan Patterson
Katelynn Frazier
Kaylee Comer
Joshua Harrel

Vicarious Trauma

Matt Russell
Ty Harden
Adam Woody
Ben Stringer

Game Ten – Motion to Strike v Pour but Lawful

Leave your suits and ties at home, game ten was all about team t-shirts when both sides showed up in coordinating screen prints.

Pour but Lawful won the coin toss and took the field with Clayton Ballard taking the mound. Motion to Strike Captain Danielle Reid wasted no time setting the tone, cracking a triple in the first at bat of the game. Bryan Wade with a triple and the first run of the game. And the only run of the inning.

Bottom of the 1st: Nothing. Not so much as and objection over ruled.

Top of the second: Reid, living rent-free in the outfield's nightmares, another triple, Wade drew a walk, and summer associate Dylan Dunbar took a hit-by-pitch like a future hire. One run scored.

Bottom of the second: In the sweetest single of the night, Alli Greenwade earned a base and a high five from her son. Teammate Rina Edge followed with a fantastic pop fly – fantastically caught by Dunbar. No runs scored.

Top of the 3rd:

Reid, Wade, and Jessica Johns came out swinging — three doubles, two RBI, and a whole lot of swagger.

Bottom of the 3rd: Nothing to see here.

Top of the 4th: Reid smacked another double. Someone knocked her in. The scorekeeper was distracted.

Bottom of the Fourth: Still nothing.

Top of the 5th: Wade hit another double, Dunbar singled one straight into the chest of the pitcher who we hope is a CoxHealth patient. Johns followed with a single. No runs scored.

Bottom of the 5th: Greenwade hit a beautiful pop-up, beautifully caught by Ballard. But teammate Amanda Pearl wasn’t done yet, delivering an uncatchable single that whispered “hope” as it rolled to a stop mere feet from the batter.

Final Score Motion to Strike 5, Pour but Lawful 0
MVPs: Dylan Dunbar and Alli Greenwade

Batting Order

Motion to Strike

Danielle Reid
Bryan Wade
Lauren Haskins
Dylan Dunbar
Jessica Johns

Pour but Lawful

Rina Edge
Clayton Ballard
Jill Patterson
Knial Piper
Alli Greenwade
Amanda Pearl

Game Eleven – Ballers v. Stare Decisis

Ballers win by Forfeit

Game Twelve: Lacks Appeal v Bad News Barristers

The Barristers came out swinging Barrister rookie and summer associate Kaitlin Knetzke opened with a no-doubt triple, and second year summer associate Carson Fink punctuated with a single. Bases were loaded with hope... until three swift outs slammed the brief shut. No runs scored, but the associates were on board — at least metaphorically.

Bottom of the 1st: Lacks Appeal Blake Shier launched a certified zinger, only to have Knetzke say “Not in my court” with a clutch catch. No runs, but excitement was building for a well matched game.

Top of the 2nd: Nate Dunville popped one into the grasp of Pitcher, Team Captain and Judge Matt Hamner, who plucked the catch with the calm of someone who's ruled a time or two. Knetzke lobbed her second triple of the day, but the Barristers once again stranded the argument — and the runners.

Bottom of the 2nd: Five tool player Hamner helped his own cause with a triple, and Allison Garrett followed with a single that brought in the game's first run. Shier did his best to add to the board but Barristers summer associate Josie Fleishmann snagged it like a brief you could write in your sleep.

Top of the 3rd: Dunville took a pitch for the team, Hamner fielded like a man on a mission, and Knetzke delivered again — a triple with an RBI putting the Barristers on the board.

Bottom of the 3rd and top of the 4th, A big ol’ blank. Nothing to write about. Like a redacted document.

Bottom of the 4th: Oops. While the scorekeeper was grabbing a Kombucha two runs crossed the plate for Lacks Appeal. The inning shut down when Hamner sent a hit to the fingertips of Fink in a captivating grab that appealed to everyone but the opposing team.

Top of the 5th: Fleishmann appealed with a triple, but it wasn’t enough to swing the decision. Rumor has it that the Barristers have the associates working on a motion to forget this game ever happened.

Quote of the Game: "The scorekeeper disappeared, and so did our lead." – A Barrister, off the record.