Jordan Castelli picked up Ian Hess and Zach Rohaley on Sunday to fill in for Mike Graziani, Josh Palma, and Matt Mish who were all away at baseball tournaments. After this performance however, Castelli might have some decisions to make. The Booze on First crew went 4-0 Sunday (June 2) en route to the Opening Day Tournament crown.
In the opener, Hess and Castelli each homered twice to lead the Boozers to a run rule victory over the Roman Noodles. Zach Rohaley threw the shortened 11 to 1 game, he allowed just 2 hits and struck out 1.
The Pittsburgh Plumbers awaited Booze after their win. Castelli and Davey on opposite sides for the first time in 2 years. After 3 innings the game was going the Plumbers way as it was 6-3. In the fourth Booze on First exploded and ran away with the game, winning 14-7. Castelli and Hess each homered an impressive 5 times, while Rohaley added two of his own and pitched the win.
Into the winners bracket final Booze went. In an exciting 7 inning matchup, the first game to use the new extra inning shootout rules, Booze came out on top 2-1. Rohaley threw gem, going all 7 innings allowing 1 run on 1 hit and striking out 2. Ian Hess led Booze on the offensive side of it, homering once and plating the go ahead run in the 7th with an RBI single.
The championship match up was set and as you’d figure Booze on First and the Beavers faced off. Booze on First versus Beavers is almost becoming synonymous with the word championship in the WILL. Rob Licht opened the scoring with a leadoff home run for the Beavers. Ian Hess was the first batter of the bottom half of the first and sent a line drive over the right center fence to knot things up at 1. Hess came back up in the bottom of the second with the score still tied, he laced one over the center field wall to put Booze ahead. Castelli and Rohaley each singled prior to the homer by Hess, making it one of the three run variety and putting Booze up 4-1. Castelli followed up Hess’s bomb with one of his own to stretch their lead to 4 runs. Rohaley settled in after that first batter of the game, he scattered six hits, struck out two and allowed that single run over his complete game performance.
Booze on First finished the day with a plus 22 run differential. Post Opening Day stats place the Boozers at first in team average, .469, and home runs, 20. Ian Hess led the team in average at a mark of .565, close behind him at .550 was Castelli. Similar line with the home runs, Hess led the team and the league with 10 and close behind him was Castelli with 8.
The WILL returns to action on Wednesday, June 12 with an original game day. Booze on First will take on the Pittsburgh Plumbers to start the day at 6:10 pm. Following that the Roman Noodles oppose the Boozers at 6:50 pm and the 100 Thieves round out Booze’s schedule with a game at 8:10 pm.
Be sure to follow the WILL on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (@wiffislife) for the latest news and updates all season long. Also, head out to Buffalo Wild Wings tomorrow (Tuesday, June 4) in Washington anytime from 11 am to 11 pm and support the WILL by eating there and mentioning our league to your waiter, save the flyer below to show your waiter as well.
