Berletich Decision: Return or Retire?
Written by Josh Smith
On January 8, 2014 we will finally have the answer to the question that has been on everyone's mind since the end of the fall ball season: will Josh Berletich be returning to participate in the 2014 season? Berletich, or "Berle" as he is sometimes known, has been scheduled since November to be the guest on the fifth episode of the Huntington Wiffle League Podcast set to record this month. Joining him will be girlfriend and long-time teammate Arielle Hord who is the most tenured female player in the league. Regardless of Berletich's decision to play or not it shall be an interesting episode considering their rich history not only with the HWL but with the previous league from Hurricane, WV. Both of them are seasoned players with a lot of wiffle experience and have witnessed first hand just how far the sport has come in West Virginia. As founders of the Huntington Wiffle League it can be an unsettling thought to imagine the league without the Honey Badgers. Should they return in 2014 they will be the only franchise in the league left from the inaugural season. The Honey Badgers originally was just Berle and Hord but in 2012 they added David Dillon whose height was an asset in the outfield and left-handedness threw off pitchers in the league (who were predominately right-handed). The team would later play for the championship and ultimately finish as league runner-up.
But in 2013 when asked if he was returning for the regular season Berletich declined. He cited his and Hord's knee injuries as the reason for the decision. The league went on to have a fantastic year in 2013. Josh Smith, the commissioner, explained "We took a risk in liquidating the Turtles and Owls to strengthen the more stable existing teams (Terrorhawks and Beaver Fever). We had to get new teams or the season would fail. The Honey Badgers not being involved definitely made me nervous because we had seasons in the old league where it was only two teams and it gets boring. Luckily we had enough interest to form four new teams and have some free agents to place where needed. But although the season turned out great the absence of Berletich's team was noticeable for me and a few of us who have been playing a while. It just wasn't the same without his team here." So it was a pleasant surprise when Berletich expressed interest in participating in this past fall ball season. He originally was on board with pitching for the Terrorhawks but ultimately decided to revive his team once again. "Seeing Berle, Arielle, and David walking towards the field in their red shirts again really pleased me." Smith said. "It was finally the best of both worlds: all the new players and original players all at the same time. It was a fantastic experience."
But the competition in the league in 2013 was far different than it was in 2012. The Honey Badgers saw themselves as outmatched in the first couple weeks of the fall ball season, going 0-3 in their first games. Berletich was still spot on with his pitching accuracy but otherwise the team was struggling to hit and field. A three-person team (though a luxury in 2012) was no longer enough to compete. So they brought in some back-up. Paul Hesson joined the team a by the second week of fall ball and the team caught fire behind his great hitting and fielding presence. By the fifth week of the season they added Kyle Kelley to the team who amazed everyone with his home run hitting capabilities and clutch hitting. After a rough 0-3 start the team won 7 straight games, not losing a single game for the rest of the fall ball season and finished in second place. It was a shock to everyone in a sense due to the team being plagued by injuries in the past but it just proved that everyone is on an equal level in this sport. Injuries be damned.
But despite having a fall ball season that can not be described as anything other than amazing it was still unclear whether or not Berletich planned on returning in 2014. He began graduate school as fall ball ended and did not want to say one way or another if he was going to participate next season. If Berletich does not return then it's beyond unlikely that the Honey Badgers would continue without him. His leadership of the team is unrivaled by any other captain in the league. But whatever his decision, Berletich has cemented his name in the league as a legend and, should he decide to retire, will be remembered as one of the best wiffleball pitchers to have ever pitch in this state. But it is the hope of many that he doesn't hang it up just quite yet. Commissioner Smith exclaimed, "He has had a mind-blowing career in the sport but I honestly think his best days are ahead of him in this game. Seeing him pitch this year - I can truly say that he is at his best. I've played with him since 2006 when we were teenagers, when you are typically in the best shape of your life. But Berle looks the exact same as he did when I first met him and is playing ten times better now than he did then, and he was one of our best players back then too. If he decides to return in 2014 with the team he had in fall ball, he may walk away with the championship trophy. I believe they can give everyone a run for their money."
Below is a look at the numbers from Berletich's career. He began his wiffleball career in July 2006 with the Garrett Drive Wiffleball League in Hurricane, WV on team X-Kroger with co-worker Steven Hiles. In 2007 he returned with his own team, the Hot Dogs, which he founded with his two cousins. They would go on to win the league championship that year. The next year was the infamous defunct season but Berletich still fielded a team. When the league rebounded in 2010 he lost one of his teammates and added his girlfriend, Arielle Hord, to the team and fought hard and split the championship series. In 2011 they were in a stalemate with the Green Bears before the season ended with tied records. Berletich was a formidable pitcher during his entire career. His flawless delivery and astounding accuracy set many pitching records in the old league and struck out many batters in this new league. He won Strikeout King in 2012 and won player of the week three times.
His decision will be announced on the podcast which will be recorded Wednesday evening, January 8, 2014. You can direct any questions to Berletich in the comment section below or on Twitter using #BerleReturn or #BerleRetire. The podcast could be uploaded as soon as January 11.
