Lovie's Frosty Twist FWILL Tournament Recap
CANONSBURG, PA- Austin Abel had the game winning hit in the winner’s bracket final and the championship of the FWILL Tournament to boost Team Yellow to the tournament victory on Saturday (Nov. 30). The double elimination tournament featured four teams and players were drafted by captains on Friday. Team Yellow went 3-0 on the day, Green fell in the championship ending at 2-2, Red compiled a 1-2 record, and Blue dropped both of their contests.
The gameplay started bright and early at 9 am with Green and Red facing off, while Blue and Yellow began shortly after, on field two. Green was captained by Jesse Marra and included Jake Davey, Steve Keelon, and Ed Cottrill. Nate Morris led Red, he drafted, Jordan Castelli, first overall, and Josh Clopp. Blue was Zach Roman’s team, Tim Marra and Matt Cottrill joined him. Lastly, Adam Carosone was at the helm of team Yellow, he stayed true to his Beavers and selected Rob Licht and Greyden Piechnick, then took Austin Abel with his final pick.
Round 1
The Green team struck first against Red, scoring three in the first inning. The trio of Davey, Keelon, and J. Marra poured in 10 runs in the game off Nate Morris. Green led 10-1 at a point, before Castelli hit a three-run home run. Steve Keelon pitched the win for Green.
Matt Cottrill hit two home runs in the last inning, but it still left Blue one run short of Team Yellow, who took the game 8-7. Greyden Piechnick hit a grand slam to put Yellow ahead late. Abel outdueled T. Marra from the rubber.
Round 2
Green gained an early advantage in the winner’s bracket final against Yellow on a Jake Davey lead off home run, then Green pushed two more across in the first frame. Steve Keelon was on a roll from the pitcher’s plate through the first three innings. Davey added a two run home run in the third and Green was up 5-1. Yellow battled its way back to a tie game in the fifth with single after single with bases loaded. The tie breaker rule, one out, 5-2 count, runner at second, went into effect in the sixth inning. Keelon plated a run on a single to right to put Green up one after half of the first extra inning. Austin Abel came up in the bottom half of the sixth and launched a two-run walk off home run over the left field wall to put Yellow into the championship.
Josh Clopp shut down Blue’s offense and the Red team cruised to a 7-1 victory. Blue was eliminated after the defeat. Castelli led the offense for Red.
Loser’s Bracket Final
After a scoreless first by both teams, two errors costed the Red team 3 runs in the bottom of the second. Keelon threw five innings of 1 run ball and included a couple 1-2 innings while doing it. Davey homered for Green’s fourth run and the E. Cottrill, Keelon duo connected on a hit and run for the final fifth run.
Championship
A pitcher’s duel between Steve Keelon and Austin Abel ensued in the finals. No team saw a runner get passed second base until extra innings. Piechnick hit a double in the bottom of the second, Licht and Abel hit back to back singles in the third for the threats put together by team Yellow in regulation. E. Cottrill followed up a J. Marra walk with a single in the bottom of the fifth, but Green couldn’t manufacture a run. To extras Green and Yellow went for the second time in the day. The extra inning tie breaker rule went into effect and the sixth inning came and went. In the seventh, Abel threw one pitch for a strike out then came to the plate and laced a ground ball single to the left side, scoring the runner and walking it off for Team Yellow.
Up Next
Wiffle Ball will be back in Canonsburg in late December or early January, when the annual Winter WILL Charity Tournament takes place. Specific dates will be released soon.
This recap has been served by Lovie’s Frosty Twist. Lovie’s Frosty Twist is a proud sponsor of the WILL. Located on S. Main Street in Houston, Lovie’s offers a multitude of delicious flavors. Next time you get the ice cream craving, go to Lovie’s Frosty Twist.
