GBL Paw Chests NWLA Regional Recap

The GBL Paw Chests were confident heading into the NWLA regional. Commissioner Jeremy Ratajczyk had even changed the GBL bats to the official NWLA bats before the season started. He believed that it could help the hitters of the GBL. This was supposed to be the year to prove that the GBL could hang with any league in the nation. Without much practice time and a few new faces, the GBL Paw Chests did not have the showing they would have liked. The GBL had trouble all day and may have to change their approach heading into nationals.

In the very first game, the GBL were pitted against the WSEM Dads, who won the 2014 NWLA tournament. The GBL held their ground against the champs and the game was scoreless until the third inning. In the top of the third WSEM hit back to back home runs off Jeremy Ratajczyk, giving WSEM a 3-0 lead. Due to the time constraints, the game only lasted four innings and the GBL had one last inning to get something started. In the bottom of the fourth, Ryan Galiher was able to score on an error. With men on first and third with one out, the GBL had a chance to win. WSEM shut the door on the comeback and ended up winning 3-1 over the GBL.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmyzN4mNyCY&feature=youtu.be

BOX: http://www.nwlatournament.com/stats/1415/wsem-dads-at-gbl-paw-chests-regionals15

After a competitive first game, the second game was much different. The GBL was supposed to play an exhibition against their next opponent before the 2015 season, BWACS but, the weather had other plans. The BWACS Lot Lizards may have had a bit of extra motivation coming into the game against the Paw Chests. The 2015 GBL Media Coordinator picked the Paw Chests to go 3-1 in regional play and, one of those predictions came against BWACS. In the first inning, the GBL walked in two runs and took control early but, that did not last long. BWACS scored two or more runs in the next three innings off of Galiher and Mike Kubacki. BWACS took a 9-2 lead heading into the last inning and that would be the all they needed.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqB_COaYjkc&feature=youtu.be

BOX: http://www.nwlatournament.com/stats/1418/gbl-paw-chests-at-bwacs-lot-lizards-regionals15

After starting regionals 0-2, the GBL Paw Chests needed a victory. Next on the schedule were the ISWB Moonshots. The GBL struck first by another walked in run but, this game had plenty more to offer. The Paw Chests struck again in the second. Ryan Galiher doubled in two and Ratajczyk single in another run, giving the Paw Chests a 4-0 lead. The Moonshots of the ISWB retaliated with three of their own in the bottom of the second. With the time constraints now in effect, the game was going into the last inning. The Paw Chests scored four more in the third, three runs off a home run by Andrew Felde. They took a 8-3 lead going into the bottom of the third. ISWB cut the lead to 8-5 and then the confusion began. Sawyer Mitchell of the ISWB singled with the bases loaded. He appeared to have tied the the game but, the ball went under the fence. The umps ruled that the tying run go back to third. The GBL dodged a major collapse by getting the next batter to fly out and ended up with the first victory, 8-7.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWiJk8WmgG0&feature=youtu.be

BOX: http://www.nwlatournament.com/stats/1421/gbl-paw-chests-at-iswb-moonshots-regionals15

Going into the last game, the Paw Chests wanted to end their regional by going 2-2. The only team that stood in their way were the KWL Keggers. The game started just like the game against the former champs. The game was scoreless for three innings and neither team could get anything started. That was until the KWL began to become more patient at the plate. In the top of the fourth, the KWL plated six runs, four via a gland slam, and began to rout the GBL Paw Chests. In the next inning, the KWL scored seven more and ended any chance of the GBL making a comeback. The GBL Paw Chests may have ran out of gas by this time of the day. The GBL only had two hits versus the Keggers and ended their regional at a record of 1-3.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWei9z6gnvM&feature=youtu.be

BOX: http://www.nwlatournament.com/stats/1423/kwl-keggers-at-gbl-paw-chests-regionals15

With a guaranteed bid to the national tournament in July, the GBL did not need to succeed at regionals. They are going to have to play all-around better wiffle ball at nationals if they want a chance at the crown. At the end of the day, the GBL showed promise by sending multiple new faces to the tournament but, the GBL has higher expectations than 1-3. They want to call themselves "champions" and, they may have the talent to do so.

WIFFLE OUT!