Game 7 - 2006 Wiffleball World Series

For perhaps the most dramatic, hard-fought and epic series in the history of sports, only a climactic finish would do. Game 7, under the bright lights of the Great American Wiffleball Park, on New Years Day seemed like an appropriate setting.

In the first night game since 2004, fans were treated to yet another classic game. None of the previous games in this World Series had been decided by more than two runs, and this game would be no different.

The Tanks wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as starting pitcher Scott Williams helped his own cause by drilling a Joe Kotsovos slider for a two-run homerun. In the bottom of the inning, the 301's went down quickly, with three of four hitters striking out. Scott Williams looked dominant out of the gate.

The second inning spelled more trouble for the 301's. Scott Williams led off the inning with another homerun, however he got some help on this one. The ball was hit to center field, and as Eric Paslack and Jamison McAndie converged, the ball bounced off McAndie's hand and over the fence for a homerun. TJ Brown and Jason Fong followed with slow dribblers that went for base hits, and pitcher Joe Kotsovos committed an error on a pop-up to load the bases with no outs. Next, Zach Roe drew a walk to push in a run.

Facing a 4-0 deficit and a bases-loaded, no-out situation, things seemed dire for the 301's. The next batter, Scott Williams, grounded to shortstop Jamison McAndie, who cut down the runner at home with a cross-out for the first out of the inning. Next, TJ Brown grounded into an identical play and McAndie's cross-out hit Josh Williams coming home just before he touched the plate. With two outs, Kotsovos struck out Fong swinging to end the inning and limit the damage.

In the bottom of the second, David Lock reached on an infield single and McAndie walked to set the table for Joe Kotsovos, who homered to left field to cut the deficit to one. After two of the next three hitters reached, McAndie belted a two-out, three-run homerun that sailed over the foul pole and gave the 301's a two-run lead.

In the top of the third, the Tanks once again threatened to take advantage of a bases-loaded opportunity. With two outs, Josh Williams hit a sharp grounder which got past third baseman Casey Zimmerman and plated a run, making it a 6-5 game. The next batter, Roe, was retired to end the threat.

In the bottom of the third, the 301's failed to add insurance runs, taking a one run lead into the fourth. In the fourth, the Tanks did not mount much of a threat, as they had done in the previous innings. In the bottom of the frame, the 301's once again failed to tack on insurance runs, taking a slim one run lead into the last inning.

Josh Williams led off the fifth inning for the Tanks, and nearly dealt the 301's a devastating blow. Williams lined the ball to right center field, but Paslack was positioned perfectly and caught the ball with a small leap. The next batter, Roe, lined the ball back to the pitcher, who caught it for the second out of the inning. With two outs and no baserunners, the Tanks refused to go quietly. Scott Williams drew a two-out walk. The next batter, TJ Brown, had an incredible at-bat in which he fouled off two tough pitches with a full count to stay alive, eventually producing a walk. Next, Jason Fong singled to right to keep the inning alive. With the bases loaded, Tanks Captain Josh Williams came to the plate. With the count at 0-1, Kotsovos tried to bury a fastball inside, the product of which was a pop fly to the shortstop. McAndie waited under the ball and when he put it away for the final out the 301's celebrated their second consecutive championship.

BOX SCORE

Tiananmen Sq. Tanks