They Play to Win Orange Championship T-Shirts

The 3rd Annual Major League Wiffleball of Milford Playoffs take place this Sunday, August 20, 2006 at Meadowside Field. The games begin promptly at 1:00 p.m. but feel free to show up early to strategize with your team and help set things up. Also, please stick around until after the championship game for the presentation of the highly coveted orange championship t-shirts, the MLWM Championship Trophy, and all of the season's other awards (MVP, Rookie of the Year, etc.).

I know all of you are anxious with anticipation, but while you wait, here are a few of the top story lines heading into this year's playoffs:

1: The Weather - Is it possible that for a third straight season the MLWM playoffs will get rained on? My most recent check of weather.com indicates that it may rain yet again. The forecast calls for some scattered thunderstorms and I can't imagine these storms would dare miss the playoffs. Truthfully though, who really cares? Everyone should know that we are likely going to play anyway.

2: Can you say Three-peat? - I can't, but two of the leagues members like to think they have a chance at it. "Just Tom" Cadigan and "Sweet Pea" Johnston both enter this year's playoffs in search of their third title. This year things are a little different though, as the two players are on different teams for the first time in playoff history. I've heard rumors that there were some tears shed about this, but just imagine if their respective teams were to meet in the finals and the battle for the three-peat ensued, it would be the type of classic wiffleball that makes girls scream.

3: Speaking of Girls - Will this be the year that one of the league's female member's breaks through and becomes the first female to be on a playoff team that wins a game? This year's female players consist of league matriarch "Red Rocket" Williams and the talented rookie "Big Bruiser" Rosa. Both of these ladies had very solid years and look to finish it off with a share of the 2006 MLWM Championship. The only problem is that the girls find themselves on the lower seeded C (Williams) and D (Rosa) teams which doesn't help their cause much.

4: Seeking Parity - This year's version of the C and D teams look to become the first underdogs to win a playoff game in MLWM history. Each year, it seems like one of the 'dogs puts up a fight, only to fall short in the end. Last year, "Hot Sauce" Cometa nearly beat the A team without much help from his team. This time, "Hot Sauce" will be the one looking to avoid the upset as he moves up to the B team. All it takes is one good pitching performance or clutch hit and the underdog could spoil the dream matchup between the A and B teams in the title game.

5: Team Turmoil - Team turmoil usually doesn't occur much during the MLWM regular season as there are different teams every game and the stakes are not nearly as high. The playoffs are a completely different animal, with predetermined teams and the stakes being so high, turmoil can often show its ugly head. In the 2005 playoffs, it was "AVG Joe" Janik and "Top 8" Figueroa getting into it after their defeat in the championship game. This year's feud has begun before anyone even takes the field. Janik and "Boom Boom" Cooper were seen squabbling in the bleachers at Fenway Park late on Friday night about who should pitch and what the batting order should be for the A team as on-lookers stared and wondered what all the yelling was about. It remains to be seen whether the two rivals with the longest history in the league were able to patch things up or if the bad blood will cost them on Sunday.

Everything culminates on Sunday with the following match up's:

A Team (Cadigan Jr., Cooper, Hoggatt, Janik) vs. D Team (Keeler, Rosa, K. Lam, Sabol)

B Team (Cadigan Sr., Johnston, Kaltsas, Cometa) vs. C Team (Williams, O. Lam, Freire, Pasco)

The Championship will pit the winners against each other for the orange shirts, sweet trophy, and a full off-season of bragging rights.

Notes:
-Everyone should bring a new wiffleball to the playoffs if possible.
-Attempt to be there on time (we play at 1 p.m.)
-Don't be a baby and not show because you don't like your seeding
-Do not disown your friends or relatives for knocking you out of the playoffs