CANONSBURG, PA- The Wiff is Life League’s annual Winter Charity Tournament, the Winter WILL, was played for the fifth year this afternoon (Jan. 3). The tournament featured an individual format for the third year and had four players battle it out. Jordan Castelli won the tournament with 29 runs, 22 of which coming in the second round. Steve Keelon (19 runs) gave Castelli a run for his money until the final inning. Jake Davey finished third with four runs and Nate Morris scrapped one run.
The players pitched and batted against each player for a half inning, two times. This year, the WILL tested a new “pick your speed rule”. That is where the pitcher could decide each half inning what his pitch speed was going to be. The medium (restricted) speed pitchers rubber is placed 40 feet and the fast (unrestricted) speed one is 45 feet to home plate. Batters will use the Yellow Wiffle Ball brand bat for medium pitch, but can use a baseball size bat for fast.
The scoring didn’t really get started until the second round. Defensive highlights and scoreless innings prevailed for the most part in the opening round. In the first round against each pitcher, Jordan Castelli and Jake Davey were the lone run scorers.
Castelli led the way with seven. Two came in on a two run homer off of Steve Keelon in his first at bats of the tournament, and then he scored five off Nate Morris on three home runs. Davey scored one run in the round, it came off Morris via a bases loaded single down the right field line in his first at bats. Keelon and Morris were held scoreless in the round.
The scoring ramped up in the second time around and the defensive highlights became defensive miscues. Jordan Castelli poured in 22 runs in his last two innings during the final round to gain the Winter WILL title. Castelli hammered four home runs off of Davey on his way to a nine run inning. Going into his final at bat, Castelli was trailing Steve Keelon 19-16. Castelli got his first three runners on base and then hit a grand slam to take the 20-19 lead against Keelon, who already completed all his at bats. Castelli went on to score nine more runs in the inning and finished the day with 29.
Steve Keelon scored runs off each pitcher in the final round to stay in the race for first all the way till the end. Keelon was first to hit in the round through working the count and timely hitting against Jordan Castelli, he etched three runs on to his scoresheet. In his face off against Nate Morris he plated 13 runs to tie Castelli at 16 going into the last at bats. Keelon was about to end his at bats against Jake Davey with no runs, but his fly ball to center field dropped to the ground and then Keelon dodged two peg attempts and came around to score, also pushing across the two baserunners, for a three run inning.
Jake Davey scored one run off Jordan Castelli. Then in the last at bat of the tournament, he faced Steve Keelon and needed 27 to tie the leader, Castelli. Davey got in the home run tally with a two run homer, that’s all he would get. Keelon k’d him on a lob pitch to end the game.
Nate Morris scored his lone run of the tournament in his second round at bats versus Jake Davey. He ripped a ground ball to center field and then Morris dodged two peg attempts and came around to score.
From the rubber, medium pitch was the most popular choice. Nate Morris was the lone player to rear back and take the fast pitch rubber. He did that in five of his six innings pitched, in his first matchup with Castelli he threw medium speed. Morris allowed 32 runs over the six innings.
Castelli and Keelon were the most dominant pitchers in the afternoon, both just giving up four runs. Castelli used his underhand magic and held Morris scoreless against him, while gave up one run to Davey and three to Keelon. Keelon surrendered two runs apiece to Castelli and Davey, while also holding Morris scoreless.
The players donated non-perishable food items as their entry fees. The items will be taken to the Washington County Food Bank.
2019 events have officially passed now with the Winter WILL completion. The WILL turns the clock to 2020 and will focus on planning for summer events. The league format and more will be discussed and will be released soon.
Stay up to date on the latest news and information about the Wiff is Life League by following @wiffislife on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Subscribe to the WILL YouTube as well to know when game replays and highlights are being posted. Be the first to know tournament dates and other important news by getting text alerts from the WILL by texting @wiffislife to 810-10.