Team Tuesdays: Breaking Balls
Written by Josh Smith
The Breaking Balls have been having an incredible year. At 8-0 they've quickly rose to #5 in the national rankings and have dominated the league with their powerful pitching and explosive offense. They hail from the Cross Lanes/Nitro area and have the longest drive of any team in the league. The team started last fall when they joined the Charleston Wiffle League's (CWL) fall ball season. The CWL was a project that Josh Smith and Greg Sowards started in hopes of merging it with the HWL to develop a more regional league. The effort yielded meager results but at least we got the Breaking Balls out of the deal. They practiced all winter long in the gymnasium at Nitro High School and crafted their pitches to near perfection. Must be nice.
The original roster (Ryan Pritt, Jeff Rider, Nick Scala, & Rob Stewart) was one of the first teams to sign on the for 2014 HWL season. They lit the hot stove on fire when they filled their roster with Drew McClanahan and Matt Gordon before the winter meeting. Those two players have taken the team from good to unbeatable. McClanahan has thrown two perfect games and a no-hitter in 8 games and he still has not let a run score. Matt Gordon is a home run hitting machine, leading the league with 7 home runs and 13 RBIs. Ryan Pritt is still a dependable relief or starting pitching when McClanahan is absent or takes a game off and serves as the team's captain. Rob Stewart has come through with 2 home runs and one of the best outfielders in the league and is one of the few hitters in the league hitting above .500 batting average. Jeff Rider has served his team well in the outfield and as a knowledgeable teammate who is generally the first member to arrive at the field (in some cases an hour or more before game time). Nick Scala, also called "Skip" by his teammates, is now the oldest player in the league at 57 and only recently was able to begin playing (started last week).
Nick Scala
# 6 | OF/EH | Co-Captain
Age? 57
What is your favorite food? Lasagna
What made you want to play wiffleball? Fun, excercise, competition, & camaraderie
Any previous experience with baseball or softball? How many years and in what leagues? Played high school baseball (1972-74) and adult softball (1979-1992)
Do you have any personal goals for this season? If so, what are they? Have fun and get a little exercise
What do you do for a living? Sports journalist
Favorite TV show? Game of Thrones
Favorite movie? Life is Beautiful
What are you other hobbies? Reading, puzzles, strat-o-matic baseball
Drew McClanahan
#25 | OF
Age? 29
What is your favorite food? Hamburgers
What made you want to play wiffleball? Ryan Pritt hassling me until I said yes
Any previous experience with baseball or softball? How many years and in what leagues? High School baseball (4 years) and pitched at Concord University (4 years)
Do you have any personal goals for this season? If so, what are they? Lead as many statistical categories as possible, finish the year undefeated and win a wiffy
What do you do for a living? High School Vice Principal
Favorite TV show? Breaking Bad
Favorite movie? The Big Lebowski
What are you other hobbies? Golden Tee and miscellaneous shenanigans
Ryan Pritt
#28 | RP/SP | Captain
Age? 29
What is your favorite food? Pizza
What made you want to play wiffleball? Competition and fun
Any previous experience with baseball or softball? How many years and in what leagues? Little League through junior year of high school
Do you have any personal goals for this season? If so, what are they? Win the league title
What do you do for a living? Sports Writer
Favorite TV show? Orphan Black / Walking Dead / River Monsters
Favorite movie? Shawshank Redemption / American History X / Inception
What are you other hobbies? Fishing, Golfing, and Guitar
Matt Gordon
#11 | OF
Age? 29
What is your favorite food? Boneless wings
What made you want to play wiffleball? Pure domination
Any previous experience with baseball or softball? How many years and in what leagues? High school baseball
Do you have any personal goals for this season? If so, what are they? Win the triple crown and go undefeated
What do you do for a living? Personal banker
Favorite TV show? Sons of Anarchy
Favorite movie? Bull Durham
What are you other hobbies? Drinking beer
Jeff Rider
#7 | RF/EH
Age? 36
What is your favorite food? Pizza
What made you want to play wiffleball? Competition
Any previous experience with baseball or softball? How many years and in what leagues? Played 1 year in college
Do you have any personal goals for this season? If so, what are they? win the league title
What do you do for a living? Sports Writer
Favorite TV show? The Walking Dead
Favorite movie? Die Hard
What are you other hobbies? Fishing and playing video games
Rob Stewart
#10 | OF
Age? 29
What is your favorite food? Shrimp / Crab
What made you want to play wiffleball? Was recruited by our GM / Coordinator of Recruiting Operations (Ryan Pritt)
Any previous experience with baseball or softball? How many years and in what leagues? High School baseball
Do you have any personal goals for this season? If so, what are they? To win the whole damn thing and to finish the year with a higher AVG than Gordo
What do you do for a living? CPA
Favorite TV show? Suits
Favorite movie? A League of Their Own / Con Air
What are you other hobbies? Watching WVU Sports
