As with every year, the 2025-2026 Offseason is set to bring plenty of excitement as we prepare for our league's 6th season. Here you will find a tracker of the biggest (and smallest) moves, updated every month throughout the winter. Thanks for following along!

November: 2025 captains Return or Leave

Returning: Gage (Mambas), Eli (Stars), Owen (Atlantics), Landon K (Hornets), Jordan (Bulldogs), Carter K* (Ninjas)

*Return pending due to a possible internship opportunity in Iowa

Going into Free Agency: Jacob (Spikers)

Retiring: Joey C (Alligators)

December: Players Re-Sign, Retire, or go into Free Agency (In Progress)

Returning to team: Chris (Mambas), Roman (Mambas), Flynn (Mambas), Cooper (Stars), Logan (Stars), Danny (Stars), Landon A (Atlantics), Colby (Atlantics), Nathaniel (Atlantics), Matthew (Atlantics), Beckham (Hornets), Jack (Hornets), Aedan (Hornets), Bradley (Hornets), Grayson (Bulldogs), Jerrick (Bulldogs), Carter H (Bulldogs), JD (Bulldogs), Jeff (Ninjas), Emily (Ninjas), Taten (Ninjas), Aidan (Ninjas)

Retiring: Jake (Alligators), Ben (Alligators), Noah (Alligators), Leah (Spikers), Harmony (Spikers), Jayce D (Spikers), Bella (Stars), Aiden (Hornets), Ollie (Mambas), Gus (Ninjas)

Free Agency: Dominic G (Spikers), Dylan (Spikers), Hawkin (Spikers), Dominic S (Bulldogs), Adam (Alligators), Wyatt (Alligators), Connor (Mambas), Joe (Atlantics)

January: New 2026 Captains Chosen

Downtown Dragons: (C) Dominic G.

Arctic Alligators: (co-Cs) Adam W. & Wyatt S.

February: Free Agent Signings

Joe C ----> Arctic Alligators

Connor M ----> Arctic Alligators

Jacob G ----> Downtown Dragons

Alex P ----> Downtown Dragons

Abby P ----> Downtown Dragons

Hawkin R ----> The Atlantics

Dylan K ----> Suburban Stars

Dominic S ----> Hometown Hornets

March: 2026 Draft

TRADE:

Dragons acquire Logan W.

Stars acquire Dragons 2026 1st Round Pick (#1 overall)

1. Suburban Stars (Via DTD):  Carson B.

2. Nine-to-Five Ninjas:  Mat H.

3. Midwest Mambas:  Liam K.

4. Arctic Alligators:  Jacob H.

5. Suburban Stars:  Jackson L.

6. Backyard Bulldogs:  Bennett F.

7. Arctic Alligators: Thomas P.

8. Nine-to-Five Ninjas: Nick K.

April: Other preseason moves

UDFA Signings:

Atlantics- Brecken N and Shawn W

IR/Reserve Moves:

Dragons- Alex P (double tibia stress fractures/4-5 weeks)

Atlantics- Hawkin R (Reserve/TBD)

Ninjas- Aidan F (Reserve/TBD)

The first season that this league was created, in 2021, we only had four teams. The next year we expanded to six teams, and in 2023 we expanded to eight teams. We've had eight teams in the league ever since then, in 2023, 2024, and 2025. However, we are once again considering expanding the league due to the amount of players we may have next year. This would affect things like scheduling, playoffs, the All-Star Break, and divisions. While many players and fans do support expansion, it comes with a lot of logistical issues to figure out, especially as I, the Commissioner, will be at college for both ends of the season. This article will attempt to address these challenges so that our fans and players will know what our options are, as well as our reasoning for our decisions. If you have thoughts, feel free to find the contact us section on this website and send us your feedback! Thank you!

How many teams would we expand to? The current thought is that we could expand to ten total teams, given that we will have enough players and captains. We will not go beyond ten teams in 2025. We could also add one team, for a total of nine. We will get into how having an odd number of teams would work later in this article. Our third option would be to remain at eight teams for a fourth season, which has worked well, teams just might be a little larger depending on how many people join in the offseason.

How would divisions look? If we were to expand to ten teams, we would keep our NL and AL divisions, adding one team to each for a total of 5 each. Teams may also move from one division to another for competitive balancing. Similarly, if we remain at eight teams, we will keep the current NL and AL divisions, with a possible move for a couple of teams. Finally, if we expand to nine teams, we will likely have three divisions with three teams each. These divisions would be the East, Central, and West divisions, and teams would be placed in divisions based on historic rivalries as well as competitive balance.

How would this affect playoffs? An eight team league would keep the same playoff format, with the top team in each division getting a bye, the lowest team in each division being eliminated, and the 2 and 3 seeds in each division playing each other. If we expand to ten teams we have a few options. We could keep the playoffs the same but have the lowest two teams in each division be eliminated, or we could have the fourth team in each division play the top seed in a first round matchup along with the 2v3 matchup. This would, of course, expand the length of the playoffs. Finally, we have the 9 team league playoffs. In a nine team league, the top two division winners would both recieve first round byes. The worst division winner would then play the third wild card team (6th overall) in the first round while the top two wild card teams (4th and 5th) would play each other. The winners of each of those matchups would play the top two teams that recieved byes. This would mean that the worst three teams (not necessarily one from each division) would be eliminated before the playoffs.

What about the All-Star Game? In an eight team league, nothing would change from our usual format: AL vs NL, one player from each team and then the next 2 best in each league. In a ten team league we would keep the AL vs NL game, but get rid of the one person per team requirement. In a nine team league, we would have our All-Star voting regardless of divisions. We would then let the top two vote getters be captains, and it would be Team ___ vs Team ___. The captains would most likely draft their teammates, or possibly be assigned them by the number of votes.

How would scheduling look? Scheduling for an eight team league would look very similar to last season, with some possible funky May scheduling due to odd college vs high school schedule issues. A nine or ten team league would be even trickier, as the length of the season would likely have to expand. There is an option to not expand the season, however this would mean each team would still only play 7 teams out of the 8 or 9 other teams in the league. If we expand to nine teams, this would add 8 extra series (28 to 36), meaning most likely playing in the last half of April and/or into the beginning of August. Every team would get one extra series, playing all eight of the other teams in the league. And because I would be at college towards the end of each season, I may need someone else in the league to step up and help out if I can't make it back and forth. With ten teams, the schedule would look the same as with nine, each team would play eight other teams (and would not play one team).

How would these expansion teams be filled? The 2026 captains will be determined around December, meaning regardless of how many teams we have, we will know who is captaining each team before free agency and the draft. Any expansion teams will then be treated as regular teams, able to sign free agents and draft.* These teams will have enough draft picks to even their rosters with other teams in the league, and their first set of picks will generally come before the 2025 teams' picks.

How would roster sizes look? This will depend on the exact size the league is in 2026. We do not plan to expand roster sizes even if we stay at eight teams. However, this could change if we have enough players for nine/ten teams but can't expand due to scheduling. This means rosters would stay at a max of six active players for any particular game, with a max roster size of eight players. If we expand to nine teams we would likely keep the same roster sizes, however roster sizes may shrink if we expand to ten teams.

*Subject to change, we may decide to do our first ever expansion draft. More details would follow if we decide to do this.

BWBL is back! Opening week brought 4 games, each with their own crazy storylines. Also, all 4 games were upsets, with the teams ranked 1-4 in the power rankings losing to the 5-8 teams. On Opening Day, the Unicorns bested the Dragons, getting up early and not letting up until the end. Then the Mambas beat the Wackers behind strong play in all 3 phases of the game, led by the oldest player in the league and two of the youngest. Next the Warriors topped the Nighthawks in an insane back and forth game, starting up 13-1 before being down 18-13, and then coming back to walk it off. Finally, the Yetis managed to beat the Alligators behind a strong closing pitching appearence from Beckham, and a faltering Alligators bullpen. Now that the league has expanded and things are underway, it's time to freak out and overreact to every little thing. Let's do this!

1. The Unicorns will win a crowded AL

Background: The Unicorns and Mambas both took down the former top teams in the AL, the Dragons and the Wackers, by scores of 11-5 and 10-5 respectivly. The Unicorns are currently atop the division, and they hit more home runs than the Mambas, who they're tied with, and they have a better team batting average and slugging percentage than them. On the other side of the ball, the Unicorns have a better ERA, and struck out one more batter. Is all of this enough to show that they're the best team in the AL?

Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION

Explanation: Although the AL will be very loaded and likely very close again this year, the Unicorns currently have the best shot at winning it. It's been proven that any team can win on any given day, but this team showed up to Opening Day very well rounded, and beat one of the top teams in the league. Eliot and Maddox form a great 1-2 punch from the mound, and Erica and Eliot got right back into the swing of things on offense, with the former hitting her first home run, and the latter doing so as well and going 5-5 at the plate. This team will still need to develop a third pitcher and stay sharp throughout the season, especially against division opponents, if they want to earn the first round bye, but right now they're the team to beat.

2. 2023 will be an off-year for the Dragons

Background: In 2021, the Dragons went 7-5 with a team of rookies, and lost to the Wackers in the ALCS. In 2022, the Dragons, again with a team of rookies, plus Dominic and Eliot, went 10-5, beating the Wackers in the ALCS before losing to the Bulldogs in the World Series. Dominic has always found ways to win with new players, and this is supposed to be their year to finally go all the way, especially with Gavin and Andy out of the picture. On Opening Day though, they fell short to a division rival. They are last in the league in team batting average and slugging, and gave up 11 runs, the most by an AL team in the slate. Was this just an off game for the Dragons, or will Dominic not be able to work his magic with the rookies before playoffs this year?

Verdict: OVERREACTION

Explanation: Opening Day is always tough, especially as a rookie, so you can't judge the Dragon's season on just that one game. While the pitching did falter, and they struggled to keep batting streaks alive, the Dragons still should be able to rebound as the rookies get real game experience as the year goes on. There were also some big bright spots for the team, such as Danny's three run home run in the 3rd inning, and Carter's 3 strikeout pitching inning. If Dominic and Jacob keep getting on base and Emily and Danny can consistantly hit home runs, as well as Carter and Eli developing on the mound, this team could be right in the fray as the season comes to a close.

3. The Mambas fielding is the best in the game

Background: In their first game, against a usually offensive powerhouse, the Mambas were able to mostly shut down the Wackers. Part of this was because of the great fielding by the team. Even while Ben can't throw, Gage induced multiple ground balls out of the batters, and the Mambas as a team combined for 5 putouts in the field. In the first inning alone, while Alex was able to beat 2 of them out, the ball was hit back to Gage three times, and he threw to first, then second, then third, finally getting the lead runner out there, and then got another groundout off of Abby later in the inning. While it might not always show up on the stat sheet, the Mambas are getting weak contact balls in play which allow them to hop on the ball quickly and make throws to get outs.

Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION

Explanation: Usually the Wackers and Dragons have the best fielding in the game, but both of those teams had some sloppy moments in their first games, and while other teams played well in the field and made outs, no team did it like the Mambas did. Not only are they fielding well, they're also fielding smart, not throwing balls away and taking lead runners where they can get them. Until proven otherwise the Mambas currently have the best defense in the league, and will look to keep it that way throughout the season.

4. The Wackers can't win with a three person lineup.

Background: In 2021 the Wackers were able to win games with a three person lineup, but in 2021 every other team also had a three person lineup, which meant everyone was on an even playing field. Then in 2022, teams expanded, and so did the Wackers, bringing in Gage as a 4th player, which helped to provide support on the mound and bolster the batting order. Now in 2023, teams have expanded again, but the Wackers lost Gage, dropping them back down to their three person lineup, also meaning Abby will have to play every game for them, and pitch at least an inning in in-division series. This proved to work against them in their first game, as their offense struggled, only putting up 5 runs, and the Mambas were able to capitilize not only off of Abby's pitching, but also Matthew's after as well. 

Verdict: OVERREACTION

Explanation: The Wackers have already proven that they can win with smaller lineups, and we've also seen them get off to slower starts in past season, so I don't doubt that they'll bounce back. While they might not be the same team without Gage, and they may have setbacks with less pitching depth and having Abby bat every game, it just means more reps for each player, which should help them develop and improve more quickly. Abby has also taken big strides to improve, and while she may have struggled a bit in game one, her batting and pitching look better than before. And above all else, Matthew and Alex still have some of the best movement on their pitches out of anyone in the league, and their bats are dangerous if you let them get hot. The Wackers will be just fine with three.

5. The Nighthawks pitching staff is deep, but not good

Background: 

Numbers 5-8 didn't save, might come back and finish this later

If you thought week 1 was interesting, you're in luck, because today we're bring you the recap for an even crazier week 2. We started off the week with the Wackers at the Bulldogs. Everything was going right for the Wackers in the begining, Alex hit a leadoff home run to start the game, they took an early 4-0 lead, and Matthew shut the Bulldogs down on the mound in the first. But that all changed in the bottom of the second, when Gavin smoked a home run into center field to make it a 6-5 ballgame. The Wackers, down by 1, had one last chance to keep the game going in the top of the third. The Bulldogs brang in Andy to close out the game, and he conduced the next three hitters to strike out, ground out, and line out, respectivly. In the next game, the Mambas faced off against the Spikers. The Spikers started the game strong, and finished it that way too. Carson started on the bump for the Spikers, going 2 innings and striking out 5. The Spikers bats came alive early, putting up 20 runs by the bottom of the third. Their 20-0 win marks the first shutout of the season, and the second shutout in team history. We then wrapped up the week with Nighthawks Dragons, the former trying to stay in their division race, while the latter was looking to establish themselves as a top team in the league. And that they did, trouncing the Nighthawks 20-11 in 2 1/2 innings. Although they gave up 2 grand slams to Nino, Eliot also hit one of his own, and Erica hit two shots as well. Eliot turned a double play in the field, and Dominic closed out the game on the mound, striking out two straight batters to end the game. And now, the part you've been waiting for, this weeks overreactions!

1. Matthew has regressed as a batter

Background: After hitting 25 home runs in 18 games last year while slashing .705/.738/1.568 and 5 homers in 4 Spring Training games and putting up a .615/.750/1.846 line, you would expect Matthew to come out of the gates firing on all cylinders, maintaning the captain's role as the best batter on the team and helping his team win games. But in his first two games, he has been the most average player in the league, with a .500 average, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts. And you could credit this to his schedule, as he's played the worst team in the league followed by the best one. But is this a case of rustiness after a long offseason, or will Matthew's averageness continue throughout the season?

Verdict: OVERREACTION

Explanation: Although Matthew hasn't put up the greatest numbers yet this year, he is still seeing the ball well, and the hits and home runs will come. The pitched he's faced isn't ideal for batting stats, because Olivia, who he faced when he played the Mambas, pitches a lot offspeed stuff, so it's hard to hit a lot of home runs of of it. On the other hand, against the Bulldogs, he had to face Gavin the entire game, which is a bad matchup in the other direction. Gavin is a lefty with plenty of movement on his pitches, making it hard to time up and drive out. Last year, Matthew went 11-14 with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts in his first 2 games, with 5 home runs. Obviously his numbers this year can't compare to those, but he'll get the home runs eventually.

2. The Bulldogs will struggle against talented teams

Background: In their game against the Wackers, the Bulldogs were losing almost the entire game, until a late home run put them up by 1 run, which ended up being the last runs of the game. The Wackers are currently ranked at number 3, so if the Bulldogs could only beat them by one, will they struggle against the #2 Dragons, or even the Wackers next time they play them?

Verdict: OVERREACTION

Explanation: Although the Bulldogs did narrowly escape with a victory, there were many factors that could point to this being a rare stumble for the Bulldogs. First, Adam gave up the first 4 runs of the game. Adam is currently the Bulldogs number 3 pitcher, so in future games he most likely won't be as heavily relied upon to win games. Not only this, but it was also his first regular season game, which could explain his struggles on the mound. Also, after the first inning the Bulldogs only allowed 1 run, with Andy coming in in the third inning and getting the first three batters out. If the Bulldogs can play like that for the majority of their games, the Bulldogs should have no problems the rest of the season. And if we're being realistic, I personally don't see the Bulldogs having any struggles at all until the World Series because of their division.

3. The Mambas may go without a win this season

Background: The Mambas did not look good in their second game, getting shut out for the first time in 2022 for any team. Although Olivia, their captain has looked decent on the mound and at the plate, she can't win games on her own. But as of right now, that's the task she's been dealing with. Riley has been struggling majorly, with a .111 average and 6 strikeouts in 9 at-bats. And other than the two of them, the Mambas really don't have another player making it to games consistently. The Mambas were able to play against the Spikers with a 4 person lineup as Ollie and Asher played with them, but clearly that didn't work out great. Both of them looked decent at the plate, but they were facing some of the easiest pitchers in the league. Not only that, but they both looked very... not good on the mound, combining for 9 runs allowed, 7 walks, and 5 hits without getting a single out.

Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION

Explanation: The Mambas got shut out and lost by twenty, and even though that's just one game, the rest of their schedule doesn't get much wasier. So far they've lost to the Wackers and the Spikers, ranked 3 and 4 respectivly, and the those two teams have lost to the Dragons and Bulldogs, meaning that the Mambas don't have a very good shot at beating any of those teams. And that only leaves the Nighthawks, who've been on an upward trend after losing their first game 22-1 against the Bulldogs. The Nighthawks captain, Nino, hit 2 Grand Slams, and they only lost to the Dragons 20-11. A lot of people want the Mambas to win, but no player on another team wants to be the one to lose to them. The Mambas have the hardest battle to stay relevant in this league. Can they defy all odds and win just one singular game? We shall see.

4. Carson will step up as a pitcher this year for the Spikers

Background: In only his second career pitching appearance, Carson stepped up in a big way, lasting 2 innings, striking out 5 and walking none, while surrendering 3 hits. He also didn't allow a single run. On a team in need of pitching help, can Carson step up and pitch this team to some wins? Because right now the Spikers other options are Josh (1.2 IP, 0 ER), Jacob (1 IP, 2 ER), Connor (1 IP, 5 ER), and Joey (0 IP, 8 ER).

Verdict: OVERREACTION

Explanation: While it'd be great to see Carson step up and be a solid #3 option for the Spikers, he's still inexperienced, and this performance may be an outlier. Carson, while pitching against the worst team in the league and doing good, hasn't faced any really good batters yet, and he doesn't have much movement on his pitches, meaning if he faces any good teams, the balls may just start flying over the fence pretty often. If Josh really does want pitching help, his best options would be to have Carson get innings in against worse teams to get some experience before having him pitch to the top half of the league.

5. Nino will be one of the best batters in the league come August

Background: Against the Dragons, Nino hit two grand slams, and one came against Eliot, who currently has a 2-0 pitching record. He also had a double and two singles, while walking twice and striking out twice. With a few more series worth of experience, can Nino become a top 5 batter come playoff tiume?

Verdict: OVERREACTION

Explantaion: Not only is the top five really hard to crack into right now, Nino still will have a year less experience than the rest of the league, even as he plays more. Although his two grand slams proved that he is improving as a batter, he still struck out twice, and played very poorly in his first game against the Bulldogs. Nino will undoubtedly improve come playoffs, but most likely not enough to be a top batter. Currently the top 6 batters, Matthew, Alex, Dominic, Eliot, Gavin, and Andy, not in order, will be tough to beat. Half of those 6 also already have 2 home runs, Alex has 1, and Matthew and Andy have played good wiffleball also. But, as the old Star Wars saying goes: "We will watch his career with great interest".

6. Erica was the best pick of the 2022 draft.

Background: In her first 2 games of 2022, Erica is slashing .615/.625/1.077 with 2 home runs, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Her pitching has looked less great, with 13 runs, 11 walks, and 4 hits to only 2 strikeouts in 1.1 innings. So do these stats give her resume enough to classify her as the best value on a pick in the '22 draft? A quick recap of her competition: Dylan (1st), Erica (2nd), Abbot (3rd), Ethan (4th), Joey (6th), Lincoln (7th), Kolton (8th) Ollie (9th), and Roman (10th). If we weed out the players that haven't played in a game yet, or haven't played a full inning in the field or batting, that leaves Dylan (1), Erica (2), Joey (6), and Ollie (9).

Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION

Explantaion: Although we haven't seen some of the top prospects in Ethan and Lincoln play yet, Erica had been the runaway rokkie of her class so far for the ones who have played. Dylan has struggled in his first 2 games, going 2-7 with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts. His pitching hasn't been any better, giving up 3 hits and 3 runs without getting an out. Joey has had similar stats to Dylan, going 2-4 with 2 walks and a strikeout, and on the bump he's allowed 4 walks, 4 hits, and 8 runs without getting an out. That just leaves Ollie, who, in his one game played, went 1-2 with a strikeout and a walk. He only pitched to one batter, throwing a 5 pitch walk that ended up scoring, with the earned run being credited to him. So out of the drafted players that have played so far this year, Erica has been the runaway leader. She'll have to improver her pitching, though, if she wants to stay ahead of Ethan and Lincoln when they finally play.

Thank you for reading, and we hope to see you back next week!

Dominic G, Dragons captain, BWBL commisioner

Week 1 was an interesting week in the BWBL. The number 1 2 and 3 ranked teams took on the 4, 5, and 6 ranked teams, and it went just about how you'd expect. The number 1 Bulldogs easily dismantled the 5th ranked Nighthawks 22-1, with a home run from Gavin, a Grand Slam from Jojo, and 3 doubles by Andy. Before that, the Dragons took care of the Spikers beating them 16-9. The Dragons got off to a slow start, losing 6-2 after the first, but in the last two frames Dominic and Eliot hit 3 tanks, pushing the Dragons past the struggling Spikers bullpen. And even before that, on Opening Day, the Wiffle Wackers beat the #6 overall Mambas. Although they only won 12-10, the score didn't really reflect how the game went, because the Wiffle Wackers were up 10-1 before Matthew intentionally walked 8, tying the game in the top of the third. Olivia would go on the shut the Wackers down in the bottom of the frame, so the game stretched to the 4th inning before Gage hit a walk-off 2 run homer in the bottom of the inning. After the first three games of the year, here are the overreactions you and I may have come to, and whether or not they hold legitimate concern.

1. The Mambas aren't as bad as we thought

Background: In their first game, the Mambas hung with the Wackers, falling in the 4th inning 12-10. Abby started the game on the mound, playing for the Mambas for one game so that they had enough players to play, and gave up 10 runs over 2/3s of an inning. After that though, the captain Olivia came in, giving up only 2 runs in 2 full innings. On the offensive side, the actual Mambas, Olivia and Riley, went 3-6 with 1 (unintentional) walk and 1-6 with 2 walks, respectivly. 

Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION

Explanation: Although they should've lost 10-2, Olivia looked really good on the mound, and as a team their batting wasn't too bad. Although they probably won't be beating the Bulldogs or the Dragons anytime soon, this team was supposed to be terrible, but have shown glimpses of a team that can hang around and beat some of the bottom feeders of the league. Assuming that Olivia can field a full team consistently throughout the season, then the most important concern for this team would be getting extra arms in the bullpen to support the captain, and getting Riley to start swinging at better pitches like he did in the beginning of 2021, when he was a home run machine.

2. The Wackers have lost their power

Background: In their first game against the Mambas, this usually batting powerhouse team seemed to struggle hitting the ball out against some of the slowest pitching in the league. Alex went 8-8, but all 8 hits were singles, Matthew, who finished 3rd in home runs last year, `went 2-4 with a single and a double, and Gage went 4-6 with a home run that just squaked over the fence to walk it off. Last year, the pitchers they were facing gave up 27 home runs in just over 18 innings. So is the Wackers 1 home run an indication of their power?

Verdict: OVERREACTION

Explanation: Personally, I think the Wackers will be just fine. Although they didn't hit a ton of home runs, it was their first game, and in Spring Training they were used to facing faster pitches, so it may have taken them some time to adjust. Not only that, but it also seemed like the Wackers were not really looking to hit home runs. Matthew had multiple at-bats where he told Abby he wouldn't be swinging because she had thrown so many balls, and he still proceded to walk three time. Alex was also more focused on making contact than hitting it far, and Gage hit just fine, racking up multiple hits, one of which was a home run.

3. The Spikers are in big trouble if their pitching doesn't improve

Background: In their first game against the Dragons, the Spikers first two pitchers, Jacob and Connor, combined for 7 earned runs over 2 innings, with 4 walks and 2 strikeouts. If they didn't have to pitch a third inning, the Spikers would have won the game 9-7. The problem is, they do have to pitch the third inning. In this particular 3rd inning, Josh and Joey combined for 8 runs over 2/3 of an inning, giving up 4 walks and 4 hits while striking out none. Is this a problem with experience (Joey has no career innings pitched prior to this game, while Josh only had 2), or is this an indication that the Spikers may end up blowing multiple leads later in the season?

Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION

Explanation: Although Jacob pitched very well and Connor pitched ok, Josh and Joey both had major struggles, and whether this is due to lack of experience or lack of skill doesn't matter if it doesn't improve. And sadly for the Spikers, their two players who weren't there, Carson and Roman, have pitched a combined 1 inning in this league, meaning there probably won't be much help coming from them. Although their batting looked good enough, Josh will have to solidify his bullpen before hoping to win games against good teams that are willing to hang on and scrap together wins in the later innings.

4. Dominic is the best batter in the league

Background: In his first game against the Spikers, Dominic finished 6-6, with a double, 2 home runs, and 4 walks. They also slashed 1.000/1.000/2.167 with 6 RBIs. He currently leads the league in home runs and slugging percentage, and is tied for the league lead in batting average, on base percentage, and is tied for least strikeouts. Last years MVP and silver slugger, Gavin, went 6-8 with 5 singles and a homerun, and his teammate Andy went 5-5 with 2 singles, 3 doubles, and 5 walks. Are Dominic's stats good enough to qualify them as the best batter in the league right now?

Verdict: OVERREACTION

Explantion: Although Dominic's stats are the best in the league right now, he hasn't faced any of the leagues top pitchers. Not only this, but you can't always judge the best batter by one game. Dominic does have a legitimate chance to be the best batter in the league this year, but as of right now, Gavin hasn't dropped enough to take himself out of the #1 spot, and multiple other batters are hanging around enough to have their name in the conversation. More of the same from Dominic, though, can easily win him his first silver slugger award.

5. Nino wasted his #1 overall pick on Dylan

Background: In his first game at Grand Slam Field, Dylan, the first overall pick from the 2022 draft, started at DH before moving to the field in the 3rd. He went 1-3 with 2 strikeouts, and on the hill, he gave up 3 runs on 3 walks without getting a single out. He faced 3 batters, throwing 16 pitches, 4 of which were strikes. With Dylan falling short of expectations, can this be turned around quickly with some more experience, or did Nino really waste his #1 pick?

Verdict: OVERREACTION

Explanation: Although Dylan's stats weren't great in his first game, he showed flashes of skill at times. With this being his first ever wiffleball game in the league, it's still to early to hit the panic button. A couple more games like this, though, and you can start to worry. For now, we'll have to see him face a team that isn't ranked #1 overall before we draw any conclusions. Dylan hasn't looked great, but expect him to bounce back next game. The Nighthawks need him to.

6. The Bulldogs have easily the best pitching staff in the league

Background: In the Bulldogs first game, Gavin went all 3 innings, didn't allow a single earned run, struck out 5, and only gave up a combined 4 walks and hits. Last year, Andy was also a top pitcher, and Adam showed flashes of greatness in Spring Training. Along with that trio, Jojo had the lowest ERA last year, and Lincoln can also pitch. So does this make the Bulldogs the cut and dry front runner for best pitching staff?

Verdict: OVERREACTION

Explanation: No it doesn't. Although Gavin has taken big steps and everyone on his team pitches, we've havent seen 4 of their 5 pitchers pitch in a league game this year, and the team Gavin faced is definitly in the bottom half of the league. Not only this, but their are 2 other teams with really good pitching staffs that could rival the Bulldogs. The Wackers, if you take away Matthew's 8 intentional walks, used 3 different pitchers in their first game to give up 0 earned runs and strike out 7, while only allowing 2 walks. In another matchup, the Dragons ace Dominic didn't even have to pitch, while Eliot want 2 and 2/3 innings, allowing 3 earned runs on 2 walks and 4 strikeouts. Their rookie Erica pitched decent, struggling to find the zone but getting used to her softball pitching style with a wiffleball, and showing potential to be a solid pitcher with a delivery most aren't used to, and their other rookie Ethan, while he couldn't make it to game 1, showed potential in Spring Training. All that to say, although the Bulldogs have some of the best pitchers in the league, it's still to early to name any one pitching staff the best. 

Thanks for reading, and we hope to see you next week!

Dominic G, Dragons captain, commisioner of wiffleball

Week 1 was an interesting week in the BWBL. The number 1 2 and 3 ranked teams took on the 4, 5, and 6 ranked teams, and it went just about how you'd expect. The number 1 Bulldogs easily dismantled the 5th ranked Nighthawks 22-1, with a home run from Gavin, a Grand Slam from Jojo, and 3 doubles by Andy. Before that, the Dragons took care of the Spikers beating them 16-9. The Dragons got off to a slow start, losing 6-2 after the first, but in the last two frames Dominic and Eliot hit 3 tanks, pushing the Dragons past the struggling Spikers bullpen. And even before that, on Opening Day, the Wiffle Wackers beat the #6 overall Mambas. Although they only won 12-10, the score didn't really reflect how the game went, because the Wiffle Wackers were up 10-1 before Matthew intentionally walked 8, tying the game in the top of the third. Olivia would go on the shut the Wackers down in the bottom of the frame, so the game stretched to the 4th inning before Gage hit a walk-off 2 run homer in the bottom of the inning. After the first three games of the year, here are the overreactions you and I may have come to, and whether or not they hold legitimate concern.

1. The Mambas aren't as bad as we thought

Background: In their first game, the Mambas hung with the Wackers, falling in the 4th inning 12-10. Abby started the game on the mound, playing for the Mambas for one game so that they had enough players to play, and gave up 10 runs over 2/3s of an inning. After that though, the captain Olivia came in, giving up only 2 runs in 2 full innings. On the offensive side, the actual Mambas, Olivia and Riley, went 3-6 with 1 (unintentional) walk and 1-6 with 2 walks, respectivly. 

Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION

Explanation: Although they should've lost 10-2, Olivia looked really good on the mound, and as a team their batting wasn't too bad. Although they probably won't be beating the Bulldogs or the Dragons anytime soon, this team was supposed to be terrible, but have shown glimpses of a team that can hang around and beat some of the bottom feeders of the league. Assuming that Olivia can field a full team consistently throughout the season, then the most important concern for this team would be getting extra arms in the bullpen to support the captain, and getting Riley to start swinging at better pitches like he did in the beginning of 2021, when he was a home run machine.

2. The Wackers have lost their power

Background: In their first game against the Mambas, this usually batting powerhouse team seemed to struggle hitting the ball out against some of the slowest pitching in the league. Alex went 8-8, but all 8 hits were singles, Matthew, who finished 3rd in home runs last year, `went 2-4 with a single and a double, and Gage went 4-6 with a home run that just squaked over the fence to walk it off. Last year, the pitchers they were facing gave up 27 home runs in just over 18 innings. So is the Wackers 1 home run an indication of their power?

Verdict: OVERREACTION

Explanation: Personally, I think the Wackers will be just fine. Although they didn't hit a ton of home runs, it was their first game, and in Spring Training they were used to facing faster pitches, so it may have taken them some time to adjust. Not only that, but it also seemed like the Wackers were not really looking to hit home runs. Matthew had multiple at-bats where he told Abby he wouldn't be swinging because she had thrown so many balls, and he still proceded to walk three time. Alex was also more focused on making contact than hitting it far, and Gage hit just fine, racking up multiple hits, one of which was a home run.

3. The Spikers are in big trouble if their pitching doesn't improve

Background: In their first game against the Dragons, the Spikers first two pitchers, Jacob and Connor, combined for 7 earned runs over 2 innings, with 4 walks and 2 strikeouts. If they didn't have to pitch a third inning, the Spikers would have won the game 9-7. The problem is, they do have to pitch the third inning. In this particular 3rd inning, Josh and Joey combined for 8 runs over 2/3 of an inning, giving up 4 walks and 4 hits while striking out none. Is this a problem with experience (Joey has no career innings pitched prior to this game, while Josh only had 2), or is this an indication that the Spikers may end up blowing multiple leads later in the season?

Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION

Explanation: Although Jacob pitched very well and Connor pitched ok, Josh and Joey both had major struggles, and whether this is due to lack of experience or lack of skill doesn't matter if it doesn't improve. And sadly for the Spikers, their two players who weren't there, Carson and Roman, have pitched a combined 1 inning in this league, meaning there probably won't be much help coming from them. Although their batting looked good enough, Josh will have to solidify his bullpen before hoping to win games against good teams that are willing to hang on and scrap together wins in the later innings.

4. Dominic is the best batter in the league

Background: In his first game against the Spikers, Dominic finished 6-6, with a double, 2 home runs, and 4 walks. They also slashed 1.000/1.000/2.167 with 6 RBIs. He currently leads the league in home runs and slugging percentage, and is tied for the league lead in batting average, on base percentage, and is tied for least strikeouts. Last years MVP and silver slugger, Gavin, went 6-8 with 5 singles and a homerun, and his teammate Andy went 5-5 with 2 singles, 3 doubles, and 5 walks. Are Dominic's stats good enough to qualify them as the best batter in the league right now?

Verdict: OVERREACTION

Explantion: Although Dominic's stats are the best in the league right now, he hasn't faced any of the leagues top pitchers. Not only this, but you can't always judge the best batter by one game. Dominic does have a legitimate chance to be the best batter in the league this year, but as of right now, Gavin hasn't dropped enough to take himself out of the #1 spot, and multiple other batters are hanging around enough to have their name in the conversation. More of the same from Dominic, though, can easily win him his first silver slugger award.

5. Nino wasted his #1 overall pick on Dylan

Background: In his first game at Grand Slam Field, Dylan, the first overall pick from the 2022 draft, started at DH before moving to the field in the 3rd. He went 1-3 with 2 strikeouts, and on the hill, he gave up 3 runs on 3 walks without getting a single out. He faced 3 batters, throwing 16 pitches, 4 of which were strikes. With Dylan falling short of expectations, can this be turned around quickly with some more experience, or did Nino really waste his #1 pick?

Verdict: OVERREACTION

Explanation: Although Dylan's stats weren't great in his first game, he showed flashes of skill at times. With this being his first ever wiffleball game in the league, it's still to early to hit the panic button. A couple more games like this, though, and you can start to worry. For now, we'll have to see him face a team that isn't ranked #1 overall before we draw any conclusions. Dylan hasn't looked great, but expect him to bounce back next game. The Nighthawks need him to.

6. The Bulldogs have easily the best pitching staff in the league

Background: In the Bulldogs first game, Gavin went all 3 innings, didn't allow a single earned run, struck out 5, and only gave up a combined 4 walks and hits. Last year, Andy was also a top pitcher, and Adam showed flashes of greatness in Spring Training. Along with that trio, Jojo had the lowest ERA last year, and Lincoln can also pitch. So does this make the Bulldogs the cut and dry front runner for best pitching staff?

Verdict: OVERREACTION

Explanation: No it doesn't. Although Gavin has taken big steps and everyone on his team pitches, we've havent seen 4 of their 5 pitchers pitch in a league game this year, and the team Gavin faced is definitly in the bottom half of the league. Not only this, but their are 2 other teams with really good pitching staffs that could rival the Bulldogs. The Wackers, if you take away Matthew's 8 intentional walks, used 3 different pitchers in their first game to give up 0 earned runs and strike out 7, while only allowing 2 walks. In another matchup, the Dragons ace Dominic didn't even have to pitch, while Eliot want 2 and 2/3 innings, allowing 3 earned runs on 2 walks and 4 strikeouts. Their rookie Erica pitched decent, struggling to find the zone but getting used to her softball pitching style with a wiffleball, and showing potential to be a solid pitcher with a delivery most aren't used to, and their other rookie Ethan, while he couldn't make it to game 1, showed potential in Spring Training. All that to say, although the Bulldogs have some of the best pitchers in the league, it's still to early to name any one pitching staff the best. 

Thanks for reading, and we hope to see you next week!

Dominic G, Dragons captain, commisioner of wiffleball