Saturday, July 01, 2006
Being 'a kid at heart' key to backyard game
Rob Deal and Bo Burrell grew up playing Wiffle Ball together as young children.
"We were good in the backyard, and we decided to go try it out in tournaments," Deal said. "We've been addicted to it ever since."
At the Fulton Homes Grand Canyon State Games Wiffle Ball tournament in Tempe on Saturday, they shared their passion with their families.
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The Bat Happy Juniors, featuring Deal and his 8-year-old daughter Jaime, Burrell and his 13-year-old daughter Larisa, and 11-year-old friend Alyssa Ortiz won each of their first two games in Saturday's competition.
The key to their success?
"You have to be a kid at heart, and you have to hit a stupid white plastic ball," said Burrell, who lives in Surprise.
The Bat Happy Juniors scored eight runs in the bottom of the fourth inning of their first game, keyed by a two-run single from Larisa, and came away with a 13-8 win.
When Bo cheered his daughter for her accomplishment - after the hit, she asked, "Is that good?" - she began jumping up and down on the base with excitement.
"That was the first time I've ever done that," she said.
Most of the time, though, the offense comes from the two men - Deal and Burrell have played in Wiffle Ball tournaments since 1993.
"He's the best power hitter," said Deal, a Peoria resident, gesturing at Burrell. "I'm the best average hitter. And the girls, well, the girls are getting much better every time."
"I usually just walk," Alyssa piped up.
Brian MacPherson
The Arizona Republic&nbs ¶ 1:06 AM
"We were good in the backyard, and we decided to go try it out in tournaments," Deal said. "We've been addicted to it ever since."
At the Fulton Homes Grand Canyon State Games Wiffle Ball tournament in Tempe on Saturday, they shared their passion with their families.
advertisement
The Bat Happy Juniors, featuring Deal and his 8-year-old daughter Jaime, Burrell and his 13-year-old daughter Larisa, and 11-year-old friend Alyssa Ortiz won each of their first two games in Saturday's competition.
The key to their success?
"You have to be a kid at heart, and you have to hit a stupid white plastic ball," said Burrell, who lives in Surprise.
The Bat Happy Juniors scored eight runs in the bottom of the fourth inning of their first game, keyed by a two-run single from Larisa, and came away with a 13-8 win.
When Bo cheered his daughter for her accomplishment - after the hit, she asked, "Is that good?" - she began jumping up and down on the base with excitement.
"That was the first time I've ever done that," she said.
Most of the time, though, the offense comes from the two men - Deal and Burrell have played in Wiffle Ball tournaments since 1993.
"He's the best power hitter," said Deal, a Peoria resident, gesturing at Burrell. "I'm the best average hitter. And the girls, well, the girls are getting much better every time."
"I usually just walk," Alyssa piped up.
Brian MacPherson
The Arizona Republic&nbs ¶ 1:06 AM
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Kingston student takes part in Fenway Wiffle Ball tourney
YBN- Friday, June 23, 2006
Student members of the Western New England College Sports Management Association participated in the 3rd Annual "Wiffle Your Way To Fenway" Wiffle Ball tournament at Fenway Park in Boston, home of the Boston Red Sox.
The students - Sport Management Assocation President Scott Bullis of Barre, Vermont; Sports Management Association Vice President Marc Murphy of Watertown, N.Y.; Jim Healy of Kingston; and Rob Crouse, Evan Whitman, Nate Lemoine, and Tim Turoczy, all of Adams, Mass. - were invited to play in the tournament. Proceeds from the tournament went to a Red Sox charity.
Select colleges from the New England region were invited to hold their own Wiffle Ball tournaments with the winning team from each school receiving an invite to participate at Fenway Park. The Western New England College Sports Management Association organized the tournament at the College.
At Fenway Park, the teams played in a make-shift Wiffle Ball field out in left field in front of the famed Green Monster. The Western New England College team finished the day with a 4-0-1 record. After the tournament, the teams were invited into the Red Sox clubhouse for a dinner and given trophies, Red Sox souvenirs, and tickets to a future Red Sox home game.
The Western New England College Sports Management Association assists students with networking opportunities and provides them with real-world experiences by hosting many events and projects throughout the school year. Western New England College is located in Springfield, Mass.&nbs ¶ 11:13 PM
Student members of the Western New England College Sports Management Association participated in the 3rd Annual "Wiffle Your Way To Fenway" Wiffle Ball tournament at Fenway Park in Boston, home of the Boston Red Sox.
The students - Sport Management Assocation President Scott Bullis of Barre, Vermont; Sports Management Association Vice President Marc Murphy of Watertown, N.Y.; Jim Healy of Kingston; and Rob Crouse, Evan Whitman, Nate Lemoine, and Tim Turoczy, all of Adams, Mass. - were invited to play in the tournament. Proceeds from the tournament went to a Red Sox charity.
Select colleges from the New England region were invited to hold their own Wiffle Ball tournaments with the winning team from each school receiving an invite to participate at Fenway Park. The Western New England College Sports Management Association organized the tournament at the College.
At Fenway Park, the teams played in a make-shift Wiffle Ball field out in left field in front of the famed Green Monster. The Western New England College team finished the day with a 4-0-1 record. After the tournament, the teams were invited into the Red Sox clubhouse for a dinner and given trophies, Red Sox souvenirs, and tickets to a future Red Sox home game.
The Western New England College Sports Management Association assists students with networking opportunities and provides them with real-world experiences by hosting many events and projects throughout the school year. Western New England College is located in Springfield, Mass.&nbs ¶ 11:13 PM
