THE ROAD TO THE NCT
The 2021 United Wiffle®Ball National Championship linked-tournaments provide opportunities for 8 teams to begin the 2021 national championship in a higher-odds starting position then the 32-team “at large” field. This addition to the 2021 tournament will allow for practical improvements to the big October event. The staggered starts (32 teams start in the first stage, 12 teams begin in the second stage) will allow for less down-time in between games and more guaranteed games for teams that drop two of their first three.
More directly, the linked tournaments allow teams that choose to play as a unit before October an opportunity to parlay their on-field successes into an improved pole position come October. Lastly, one of UW’s initial goals upon its launch was to weave the fast pitch national title tournament into the fabric of the Wiffle® community. In partnering with regional events to provide national tournament incentives, it is UW’s hope that this will help these already-successful tournaments grow even more and in the process, continue growing the sport on a local/regional/national scale.
To that end, the linked tournaments span the map geographically, with slightly more weight given to: (a) participation in the 2020 NCT; (b) expected participation in the 2021 NCT; and (c) the locations with a heavily active current Wiffle®Ball scene.
Geographic breakdown: Northeast (3), Midwest (2), Southeast (1), Texas (1), West (1).
Organization breakdown: MAW (2), MLW (2), GSWL (1), SEW (1), PLW (1), Cedar Park Wiffle® (1).
Additionally, due to their impressive performances at the largest fast pitch national championship tournament in nearly a decade-and-a-half, the top four finishers from the 2020 UW NCT will join the eight linked tournament teams in starting in the 2nd stage of the 2021 NCT.
Scroll down for additional details on the linked events and the general rules surrounding them!
South East Wiffle® Open
What: South East Wiffle® Open
When: June 5, 2021
Where: Kingston, Tennessee (Knoxville)
Who: 10 teams (TN, GA, TX)
1st Place: 35 Whiskey Ducks (Austin/Corpus Christi, Texas) [Accepted Bid]
Whiskey Ducks’ captain Jason Rendon was thrown a curveball when his usual teammates were unable to attend the 2021 Southeast Wiffle®Open. Rendon suddenly found himself scrambling for replacements teammates for his trek to Tennessee. As far as replacements go, Jason landed a couple of good ones in fellow Austin, Texas area players and TC35 members, Chase Oliver and Eric Attwood.
The different-than-anticipated roster had no noticeable impact on the Whiskey Ducks early on, as they made it through pool play with a perfect record. They picked up a pivotal win versus Scott Bragg and Savvy (GA) in the late afternoon courtesy of a Rendon walk-off. That win put the team through to the finals. Savvy took down fellow Georgians, the 29’ers, in the loser’s bracket final to set up a re-match. There were no walk-off fireworks needed this go-around, as the Whiskey Ducks sailed to a 6-0 victory in the final game of the day.
All three members contributed offensively and defensively during the tournament, but it was Chase Oliver’s work on the carpet that was the story of the day for the champs. Oliver has a decade-and-a-half of competitive Wiffle® experience under his belt. That experience includes some recent fast pitch success (2019 & 2020 Texas fast pitch state championships with TC35) as well as some national championship experience (2006, 2008, 2019 Fast Plastic as a member of TC35). Chase had his best stuff working for him in Tennessee and he carved through opposing lineups all day long en route to earning tournament MVP honors.
Although it was not necessarily in anyone’s initial plans, when this makeshift trio suddenly found themselves in possession of an express pass to Route 2 of the 2021 National Championship, they decided to roll with it and accept the offer. The threesome will be joined in Pennsylvania by a couple of other Texas-based players, including the standout player for the Whiskey Ducks at the 2020 United Wiffle®Ball NCT, Joseph Vasquez.
Texas Fast Pitch Wiffle®Ball Championships
What: Texas Wiffle®Ball Fast Pitch Championships
When: July 31, 2021
Where: Cedar Park, Texas (Austin)
Who: 8 Teams (TX, LA)
1st Place: Can’t Touch This (Round Rock, TX) [Accepted Bid]
Can’t Touch This walked into the Texas State Fast Pitch Championships with little to lose.
As the youngest team in the very competitive 8-team field, there was not necessary much in the way of expectations despite the presence of 15-year old prodigy Mark Austria. Before the tournament it was clear that Can’t Touch This had plenty of talent, but that talent had no yet to produce significant results. Given their ages and relative experience levels, that was to be expected. Additionally, the Round Rock squad was already locked in for October which took off any pressure that might have existed were they playing for a spot.
The young squad got off to an inauspicious start, going 2-1 in pool play which included a 12-1 drubbing at the hands of Burt’s Bats. That put them in the quarter finals where they needed some extra-innings magic to sneak past Louisiana’s Anarchy. A second win versus SEW Open Champions, 35 Whiskey Ducks, followed setting up a title match with June Cedar Park fast pitch tournament champs, The Runs. Behind another outstanding pitching performance from their teenage ace, CT shutout the Runs 1-0 to take capture the tournament championship. For his outstanding tournament, Mark took home MVP honors.
What: Mid Atlantic Wiffle® spring/summer tournaments
When: April 24, 2021 - August 7, 2021
Where: Mid Atlantic area (tournaments in PA, NY, and MD)
Who: 25 teams throughout season (PA, NY, NJ, MD, WV, MA, VT)
1st Place: Juggernauts [Accepted Bid]
2nd Place: ERL (playing as Wiff Inc.) [Accepted Bid]
The Juggernauts - the 2x defending Mid Atlantic regular season champions coming into the year - had their best season to date in 2021. The “Juggz” made it three-in-a-row by winning both the first and last tournaments of the MAW regular season and reaching the final four in all but one of six events. Their tournament tournament wins was a franchise best for a season (they won one tournament apiece in 2019 and 2020). With a balanced attack of quality pitching, clutch hitting, and consistent defense, the Juggernauts were inarguably the best team in MAW during the 2021 regular season.
Despite their regular season dominance, the Juggernauts are 0-2 in the Mid Atlantic Championship Tournament. The major roadblock to their post-season success has been ERL, winners of the 2019 and 2020 Mid Atlantic Championship. ERL came up just short of taking the regular season title from the Juggernauts and were passed by their rivals in the final tournament of the year. ERL “settled” for second place in the highly competitive 2021 MAW season and will compete under the Wiff Inc. moniker in October.
These two teams outplayed 23 other point-eligible teams over the course of six tournaments throughout the spring and summer to earn their way to “Route 2” of the 2021 National Championship.
What: East Coast Wiffle®
When: June through October
Where: Massachusetts
Who: Open / Tournament Circuit
2021 marks the 20th season (!!) for Golden Stick Wiffle®Ball. Originally formed as a league in Danvers, Massachusetts in 2002, GSWL quickly became one of the top leagues in America, producing Fast Plastic national championship teams in 2006, 2008, and 2009. In addition, GSWL was the sponsoring organization of the fast pitch national championship from 2010 through 2016. Although GSWL has been — and continues to be — the premiere organization for national medium/Yard style Wiffle®Ball, its fast pitch roots run deep.
In 2021, East Coast Wiffle® presented by GSWL launched providing a new open fast pitch tournament circuit in New England with an old school GSWL flavor. The winner of the league’s inaugural championship tournament will earn a bid through to Route 2.
What: MLW Wiffle® In the Mitten
When: TBA (August 28th & 29th)
Where: Brighton, Michigan (Ann Arbor)
Who: Open (16+ age division)
More Info: mlwwiffleball.com
The world’s most popular and prolific Wiffle®Ball league began — as many Wiffle® leagues do — as a backyard, neighborhood affair for childhood friends. Since its inaugural season more than ten years ago, MLW has grown into the world’s most followed Wiffle®Ball league with an ever-expanding talent base. In addition to their signature league, MLW hosts several tournaments throughout the year, drawing 40-teams for their recent events in Brighton, Michigan and Peoria, Illinois. The 16+ division of MLW’s Michigan tournament will decide two bids (top two finishers) that will start their day in Route 2 of the 2021 fast pitch NCT.
2020 TOP FOUR
The top four teams from the 2020 United Wiffle®Ball NCT will begin the 2021 NCT in the second stage — an acknowledgement of their impressive performances in the largest fast pitch national championship tournament in fourteen years!
USUAL SUSPECTS
Ten years after winning their first fast pitch national title at the GSWL national championship tournament in Arizona, New York’s Usual Suspects grabbed a second national title in 2020 at the inaugural United Wiffle®Ball National Championship. The Suspects went 7-1 at PeoplesBank Park in 2020, defeating Black Dog Country Club 5-3 in the tournament finals.
BLACK DOG COUNTRY CLUB
This veteran fast pitch team leaned heavily on a national, fast-pitch rookie Colin Prentiss to lead to them to a perfect 3-0 record on Saturday at the 2020 national tournament. BDCC came up just short in the title game and are hungry to get their core members another national title after several near-misses in recent years.
C4
The 3x Fast Plastic National Championships came up just short in their quest for an unprecedented four-peat in 2020. Under rainy conditions, Black Dog Country Club ended C4’s impressive multi-year national run in the semi-finals of last year’s United Wiffle®Ball Tournament. This northeast foursome still has history in its sights in 2021, as no team as ever won four fast pitch national titles (consecutive or otherwise).
WHIPPETS WIFFLE® CLUB
The Southern California-based Whippets Wiffle® Club had the most surprising run of all of last year’s final four teams. Entering the final 24 with a 2-1 record, Whippets took out Mid Atlantic regular season champs the Juggernauts, came from behind against the East Coast Bomb Squad in the Final 16, and took down the Midwest Monstars in the quarter-final. With last year’s tournament to build off of, this experienced squad will be tough to beat in 2021.
RULES & GUIDELINES
Roster Rules
The 8 linked tournament teams and the top 4 finishers from 2020 must have THREE of their rostered players from their linked tournament roster or 2020 UW roster, respectively.
Example: Free Beer wins the PLW Super Showdown with six players (Player A - Player F). Players C and F cannot attend the national championship. Players A, B, D & E add player Z to their UW roster. This is a legal roster since at least 3 of the linked tournament rostered players are also on the team’s UW roster.
Team names do not have to be consistent across the linked tournaments and NCT. As long as the team meets the 3+ player criteria, it can “switch” its team name for UW purposes.
Once a player is on a UW roster, he cannot switch to another UW roster.
Example: The Hanover Orioles register during the initial 32-team registration period with Player M on their roster. Subsequently, Can of Corn wins the Texas State Championship. Can of Corn wishes to add Player M to their UW roster. This move will not be allowed.
If a team declines their NCT bid . . .
If a team declines their earned-spot for any reason (i.e. cannot attend for travel reasons), the general rule is the spot will go to the 2nd place team in that event.
Each tournament (or tournament circuit in the case of MAW) will have stated guidelines for how they will determine the team that receives the bid if the top two decline.
If a tournament is unable to find a team that is able to attend, the bid will go to the next highest MAW team (based on cumulative regular season points) that has not already earned/accepted one of the bids to Route 2.
If a team that has already registered wins and accepts a Linked Tournament bid, this will free up another “open entry/at-large” spot.