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‘A surreal environment’: Pacific Predators win historic game at Fifth Third Field, jump to first place in standings
Old brick buildings towered above roughly 100 fans lining the right-field wall at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio. Nearly 15 feet below them lay a make-shift Wiffle Ball field on the smooth outfield grass.
It had already been an action-filled hot day. Before and during the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens game, Major League Wiffle Ball hosted a meet-and-greet with fans. Multiple players from different teams signed autographs. Fans also tried hitting against pitchers Jimmy Knorp and Dallas Allen.
Jimmy Knorp signs a wiffle ball for fans.
After the Mud Hens game, MLW players sprang into action and hastily constructed the Wiffle Ball diamond in right field. The portable clay-colored pitching mound and batter's boxes blended nicely with the light green grass.
Fans flocked to the right-field concourse ahead of the live game between the Western Wildcats and Pacific Predators. This marked the first time in league history two teams played in a professional stadium.
Yet fans didn't know then the winner of this game would win the three-game series. The two teams had already split the first two games at The Meadows, MLW's private field in Brighton, Michigan. The results had not yet been published on social media.
Wildcat veteran ace Kyle Schultz pitched a 1-2-3 top of the first inning to begin the game, striking out Brennan Russell with a screwball for the third out. One could joke Schultz had an unfair amount of extra warm-up time — the MLW founder and league commissioner threw the ceremonial first pitch before the Mud Hens game.
In reality, Schultz was building off a game one performance in which he struck out seven batters without allowing an earned run in a close 1-0 defeat. But he began to run into trouble in Toledo. The Preds strung back-to-back hits to lead off the second inning and threatened to break the scoreless tie. Though Schultz battled back, striking out Russell for a second time and Ryan Kracht, he walked Alec Warda to load the bases.
Russell strolled into the right-handed batter's box again but this time got his pitch, a hanging screwball, the same pitch he previously struck out on. The ball immediately sailed off his bat and easily cleared the 15-foot wall for a grand slam, giving the Preds a 4-0 lead. MVP chants from the fans rained down onto the field.
"It was awesome having the crowd go wild," Russell said postgame. "It was a surreal environment for this because we usually play with just the guys in the yard."
Fellow MLW players sitting nearby on the field went berserk. Tommy Coughlin, behind the camera, broadcasted the home run enthusiastically. Warda tensely clenched his fists in celebration on the sidelines after crossing home plate.
For Russell, this series finale was a must-win game. Wildcats Schultz and Nick Saylor had hit back-to-back home runs to snatch a game two victory, evening the series. The grand slam in game three served as a fitting response and dagger. Despite going 0-for-5 with five strikeouts against Schultz throughout the series before the slam, Russell still trusted his instincts.
"I was trying to let my instincts play in," Russell said. "Hitting off Kyle, I was not seeing him well; I could not touch a pitch he was throwing me. Coming here on a different day, different nerves, a different environment, I was able to see him a bit better."
However, Russell said that at one point, he was afraid the success he had built up in earning the Player of the Slate award in May had vanished. His batting average dropped nearly 140 points this series, but he delivered a game-winning hit. He's now tied for a league-best four home runs.
Russell also credited Kracht on the mound. After throwing a no-hitter in the game one victory, Kracht held the Wildcats to three hits and one run while striking out eight batters in the 4-1 game three win.
"It's one less thing to worry about," Russell said. "We're not letting up walks left and right, putting ourselves in horrible positions. Just knowing he's striking out strong batters consistently is great."
The Preds improved to an American League-best 4-2 record following the historic win. And as both teams packed up shop, they looked up to the high wall and commemorated the fans for coming to the ballpark. The same fans Schultz said on MLW's website he can't credit enough for meaningful opportunities like these.
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