BALTIMORE, MD- The DROP, a Wiffle Ball website that covers the national fast-pitch scene, has announced its Top 100 players list for the 2019 season. Two WILL Waves, Austin Berger and Jake Davey were both placed on the list thanks in large part to their standout performances at the 2019 National Wiffle League Association (NWLA) National Tournament. Berger, who has made the ranking for the second straight season, was put in the 57 spot. Meanwhile, Davey is on the docket for the first time in his career and was tabbed 83rd in the fast-pitch scene.
The DROP Top 100 ranks the 100 best players from the calendar year in fast-pitch Wiffle Ball. The producer of the list, Paul Cooke, looks at four major components of a player when deciding the rankings. Those components are individual quality and quantity along with environmental quality and quantity. Individual quality being the statistical performance of the player. Individual quantity, which is how often the player plays. Then, environmental quality was said to be how good the competition the player faced. Lastly, environmental quantity was described as how many different fast-pitch styles did the player compete in. It only takes account for games played in the past calendar year with unrestricted pitch speed rules. To get a complete overview on the list click here. The entire Top 100 list can be viewed here.
Austin Berger earned his way to 57th best in the country by having standout performances at both the NWLA National Tournament and the Mid Atlantic Wiffle Ball Fall Draft Tournament. Berger was moved back from 40th last year, nevertheless his stats mostly improved from the previous year. The second year Wave carried them from the rubber, where he went 3-0 from, in the NWLA National Tournament. His three wins were tied for a tournament best. Over 14 innings of work he struck out 35 batters, one more than his performance at last year's NWLA’s. Beger posted a 0.86 ERA, which dropped from 3.81 last year. His biggest game of the tournament came against HRL, for the second straight year. In the contest he threw a complete game (6 innings), struck out 15, and allowed just 2 walks, as well as 2 hits. His dominance helped the Waves win that game, 1-0, and keep their hopes alive that Sunday morning. In Berger’s one MAW event, he tossed a no-hitter in his drafted teams first game of the day.
Jake Davey used a selection to the NWLA National Tournament’s All Tournament Team to draw the attention of The DROP and be placed at 83rd in their Top 100. At the NWLA, Davey hit for a .407 AVG and launched three home runs. He led the tournament in runs scored (14), RBI's (21), and was tied for the lead in doubles (3). Pitching wise, he allowed just two hits in two appearances that totaled five innings. Control issues has been his downfall, which came up in his second appearance, where he walked seven batters. Davey tallied a hit in six of the Wave’s seven games on the weekend.
The Waves concluded their season in October at the AWAA Black Bat Bash, which was a medium pitch tournament. They went 14-5 on the year and 5-2 in fast-pitch events. Follow the WILL on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @wiffislife for all of the latest news and updates on the Waves.