DEGENERATE GAMBLERS
New York / New Jersey
TOURNAMENT ROSTER
Pete Slater (c) – LHB/LHP – Age 24 – New York
2020 MAW Winter Classic Champion
Jake Badick – RHP/RHB – Age 19 – New York
Tim Beck – RHB/RHP – Age 21 – New Jersey
2020 MAW Winter Classic Champion; 2018 MAW Championship Tournament runner up
John Polanco – RHP/RHB – Age 17 - New Jersey
TEAM OVERVIEW
If you were to construct a fast pitch competitive Wiffle®Ball team simply by marrying age with skillset, you would likely choose young pitchers and veteran hitters. Fresh arms and experienced, knowledgeable bats are a strong formula for success. It was with that approach that Pete Slater put together his Degenerate Gamblers’ squad - a team where a couple of young arms will be backed by two dangerous, experienced hitters.
The Degenerate Gamblers will look towards John Polanco - a 17-year old, hard throwing right-hander from New Jersey - to lead them from the carpet. After years of experience playing in his local backyard league, John first dipped his toes into the competitive waters at the 2018 GSWL Yard Open. In 2019, he competed in MAW’s Fall draft tournament and turned heads with his ability to blow pitches passed quality, veteran hitters. John is competing as a member of the Stompers in Mid Atlantic in 2020 and his tremendous potential is hard to miss. Polanco will be joined by another young pitcher from the Tri-State area, the Throwback’s Jake Badick. Badick does not have much on his fast pitch resume yet but was a good pitcher last season in GSWL Yard and improved significantly as the year progressed. These two young players are not necessarily all-arm, either. Badick hit very well in Yard in 2019 while Polanco has demonstrated an advanced plate approach thus far in Mid Atlantic.
The Gamblers will rely on Slater and Tim Beck to supply the bulk of the offense, however. Slater is a well-traveled hitter and brings big game experience to this youthful squad. Slater’s POC teammate, Tim Beck, does not have the same years of experience but has quickly turned into a young veteran in just a few short years. Beck started out in competitive Wiffle®Ball in his local Jackson Wiffle®Ball league. He debuted in MAW in 2017, gained much valuable experience as his Lemonheads team reached the finals of the 2018 Mid Atlantic Championship, was an integral part of the Lemonheads’ seamless transition to Yard in 2019, and continues to excel in both environments in 2020. All of those at bats in such a short period of time have paid off for Beck. Just like Badick and Polanco have the potential to contribute to the Gamblers offensively, so too can Beck and Slater pitch if need be but likely not as a first option.