Both playoff series are destined to go the distance. The Gashouse Gorillas and Taka Drivers series stands tied at one game a piece. On the other hand, the Stallionaires have a 1 - 0 series lead after they beat the Nighttime Ninjas in nine innings.
If one were to watch some of these games, they would notice the competitive nature of the league take them by force. The 2015 Griffleball Playoffs may be one to remember for years to come.
Gashouse Gorillas v. Taka Drivers Game 1
THE JANKE CAGE - The action got started with the Gashouse Gorillas showed the Taka Drivers what the playoffs are all about. Gashouse came out of the gates swinging and won Game 1 behind a great performance on the mound.
After scoreless first, the Commissioner got things going for Gashouse. With two men on in the top of the second, Jeremy Ratajczyk blasted a pitch from Mark Miecznikowski for a home run. The Gashouse Gorillas took a 3 - 0 lead and never looked back.
Three runs would be all Gashouse needed in Game 1. The GBL Cy Young Winner, Jim Tucker, allowed one hit and struck out four in three innings of work. Tucker seems to have the Taka Driver's number as he as already beaten Taka twice this season.
In the top of the third, Ryan Galiher and Jeremy Ratajczyk hit back-to-back jacks to increase the Gashouse lead to 5 - 0. But, in the bottom of the fourth, the Taka Drivers made a push to score some runs.
With one out, Taka had the bases loaded against Ratajczyk. This was there chance to strike and claw their way back into the game. After the walk to load the bases, Miecznikowski popped out to end the inning and ended the best chance Taka had in Game 1.
After a stressful half inning, the Gashouse Gorillas added a few more insurance runs. In the top of the fifth, Ratajczyk crushed a pitch from Jackson Buzea for his third home run of the game. Then, Jim Tucker hit a solo home run for the Gashouse Gorillas for another back-to-back. Gashouse led 8 - 0 and the score would not change as Taka was unable to score in the last inning.
Gashouse Gorillas v. Taka Drivers Game 2
THE JANKE CAGE - After dropping the first game, the Taka Drivers were determined not to fall into a 0 - 2 deficit against the defending champs. They would tie the series as their pitching was the deciding factor in Game 2.
In the top of the first, Jeremy Ratajczyk hit his third home run of the series to put Gashouse on top early, 1 - 0. The Taka Drivers were not about to allow the Commissioner to decide the outcome.
In the bottom half of the same inning, Ryan Galiher found himself in a bit of trouble. He walked the first two batters and allowed a single to load the bases. In the last game, Taka had a chance similar to the one they found themselves in the first inning in Game 2. This time they would get the job done.
Jackson Buzea belted a pitched from Galiher over the cage in center for a grand slam and gave his team a 4 - 1 advantage over the champs. Taka's hitting gave them the lead, now it was up to their pitching to secure a victory. It was not going to be easy.
Gashouse cut the lead to 4 - 2 in the top of the third with back to back triples by Galiher and Ratajczyk. Overall, Ryan Voges had a good day on the mound only allowing two runs on four hits in three innings of work. Any performance like that will give any team a chance to win and that is just what Voges did.
In the fourth, Buzea came in for Voges to try an get the save. After getting Nick Bobowski to ground out, Galiher homered to cut the Taka lead to 4 - 3. Then, he walked Ratajczyk and things may have been looking good for Gashouse. But, Buzea was able to get the next three batters out in the fourth and fifth to complete the save.
After receiving a "Welcome to the Playoffs" beating by Gashouse in Game 1, the Taka Drivers stood tall and tied the series behind one swing and some outstanding pitching.
Stallionaires v. Nighttime Ninjas Game 1
THE GRIFFLE GROUNDS - If you were looking for a definition of what is playoff wiffle ball, this would be the game to watch. The nine inning epic where the Stallionaires beat Nighttime Ninjas is the poster child of what the playoffs are all about in Griffleball.
The game had a different feeling from the start as many fans joined and the Stallionaires had a full squad for the first time since Week 3. The only player missing was Sammy Krucek and it may have been the difference. Krucek was the GBL's Silver Slugger winner and his absence was noticed.
Even without Krucek, it looked like the Ninjas would not need his bat in the first. After, John Reyna walked Mike Kubacki Jr. the MVP gave the Ninjas a spark. Ethan Arvay smashed a pitch into the grass in center and the Ninjas took an early 2 - 0 lead.
The Stallionaires responded in the second. They loaded the bases in the first against Kubacki Jr. but, were not able to score. The second inning had a different outcome. The Stallionaires loaded the bases once again and delivered. First, Matt Kuna singled in one run. Then, David Konopasel singled in another to tie the score at two. The Stallionaires added another after a John Reyan walk to take the lead, 3 - 2.
After losing the lead in the second, Ethan Arvay came to the mound in the third. The Stallionaires would not score again until the ninth inning.
The bottom of the third looked promising for the Ninjas. They loaded the bases and had nobody out against Reyna. He was pulled out of the game in favor for David Konopasek. Turns out that it was a great decision by manager Matt Kuna. Konopasek got the next two batters out and the Ninjas left the bases loaded. Then, Konopasek retired the side in the fourth. In two innings of work, Konopasek did not allow a run or a hit.
The Stallionaires entered the bottom of the fifth two outs away from stealing Game 1 from the Ninjas. After a good outing by Konopasek, Kuna stepped on the mound to finish off the Ninjas. The first batter, Ethan Arvay, had different plans.
The GBL's MVP sent a high fastball past Nate Bryan in center and into the grass to tie the game at three. After a home run like that, Kuna pitched around Arvay in the fifth and extended the game into extra innings. Kuna was would not allow another hit.
Arvay and Kuna found themselves in an extra inning pitching battle for the ages. Arvay struck out eight in seven innings of work. Kuna struck out nine in five innings. It seemed like the game may go on all night and the lights at the field became an immediate threat (Lights at park turn off at 9:05 PM).
The Stallionaires John Reyna has not played since Week 3 but, he was putting the bat on the ball. During the game, he had a few bad breaks as the infamous tree down the left field line made its impact known. Reyna had a home run and hit taken away by the tree but, he found away around it in the ninth.
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| GIF Provided by Matt Kuna |
Reyna sent a line drive down the left field line for a home run and the Stallionaires took a 4 - 3 lead. Kuna shut down the Ninjas in the ninth and Reyna's home run would stand as the winning run. The Stallionaires would take a 1 - 0 series advantage heading into next week and with that the first week of playoff Griffleball was complete. It should be a wild ride.
Players of the Week
Hitter of the Week - Jeremy Ratajczyk - 6 Hits / 7 At-Bats 4 Home Runs 1 Triple 1 Single 8 RBI 2 BB
Pitcher of the Week - Matt Kuna - 1 - 0 5 IP 1 Hit Allowed 1 Earned Run 9 Strikeouts 2 BB
Rookie of the Week - David Konopasek - (Hitting) 2 Hits / 6 At-Bats 2 Singles 1 RBI 2 BB (Pitching) 0 - 0 2 IP 0 Hits Allowed 0 Runs 1 Strikeout 0 BB.
Next Weeks Schedule
(Probables Subject to Change)
5 PM - Game 2 - Stallionaires (Nate Bryan) @ Nighttime Ninjas (Mike Kubacki Jr.)
6 PM - Game 3 - Nighttime Ninjas (Ethan Arvay) @ Stallionaires (John Reyna)
7 PM - Game 3 - Taka Drivers (Mark Miecznikowski) @ Gashouse Gorillas (Jim Tucker)
8 PM - Game 4 - Taka Drivers (Ryan Voges) @ Gashouse Gorillas (Galiher)
WIFFLE OUT!
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