2025 Team Previews

Ostrich Flock: Mike Conrow, Xavier Markel, Isaiah Markel, and Mark Rennie 

Not only is the Ostrich Flock a new team to the BWL but they are also made up of all new players. While not much may be known about each player’s wiffleball ability one thing is for sure and that this teams going to have a lot of chemistry. The group is made up of family and friends so it will certainly be a fun team to watch. Mike Conrow is expected to be the team's star as he has experience playing high school baseball. Both Markels and Mark Rennie are also good athletes. They certainly will be competitive out on the field this year, but the Ostrich Flock is probably the biggest wildcard this league has ever seen. 

Satellites: Cooper Hassall, Spencer Ireland, Brady Putnam, John Ryan 

As long as the Satellites have Cooper Hassall, they will be a contender. The 2x MVP and consensus goat will look to carry a lot of weight this season both at the plate and on the mound. Outside of Hassall the back-to-back champs only returning player is Spencer Ireland who has had limited success in the league. His 2021 Gold Glove award proves he's a strong fielder but he has consistently struggled at the plate. The addition of Brady Putnam is certainly a familiar face for the Satellites. As the official league substitute, he has managed to appear in 11 games for the Satellites over two seasons. During his time with the team, he has recorded an OBP of .500 and hit 2 homeruns. Rookie John Ryan is a bit of an unknown as he does not have any wiffleball or baseball experience. However John has a student of the game mentality. This alone could make him a quality piece for the Satellites. However, with the loss of the team’s number 2 pitcher and contact hitter, Tyler Phillips, it will certainly leave a large hole in production that needs to be filled. With no rostered player outside of Hassall having any pitching experience it will have to be addressed if the team wants to have shots at winning games that Hassall is not pitching in. The expectation is that Brady Putnam will be able to fill the batting void but in terms of pitching it seems to be fair game in the Satellites bullpen heading into the 2025 season.

Shockwaves: Gavin Leverenz, Sam Bonisteel, Jacob Rightmyer, Brice Putnam 

After a World Series loss in 2021 and a down year in 2022 the Dingers have decided to start a new era by rebranding to the "Shockwaves." In addition to the new branding the team has also brought in a new face in Brice Putnam. On paper Putnam looks to be a perfect match for the Shockwaves considering he's a top batter with below average fielding which is something that the team already excels in thanks to Sam Bonisteel and Jacob Rightmyer. Not only are Bonisteel and Rightmyer arguably the top 2 fielders in the league but they are also walk machines. The team has led the league in OBP in all 2 seasons of Brockport Wiffleball. They've also got a power bat and pitching covered thanks to their ace Gavin Leverenz. It feels like this team has all the pieces this season to win it all, but their success will ultimately come down to if they're able to apply their strengths on gamedays. 

Thunderducks: Drew Wilson, Colin Hoage, Cooper Harvey, Joe Murtaugh, Owen Cummings

While this team is new, many of its players are not. More than half of the team is made up of former Bombers in Wilson, Harvey, and Murtaugh. Coming off his 2022 Rookie of the Year season, Drew Wilson looks to lead his new team at the plate. He recently had Tommy John surgery, which will prevent him from pitching during the entirety of the 2025 season. However, his batting ability—and most importantly, his leadership—should still be in full swing. Colin Hoage also put together a solid rookie season in ’22. He is projected to be the team's ace pitcher while also being a Gold Glove-level fielder when called upon. As the only lefty in the league, he was able to capitalize when at the plate thanks to Pesh Home Park’s short right field. However, with the introduction of the BWL’s new stadium, "The Steel Yard," he will most likely see a slight batting decline due to increased and even field dimensions. Cooper Harvey is known league-wide for taking walks. He's a capable batter and serviceable pitcher, but getting on base is certainly his strong suit. Joe Murtaugh is the team's most experienced player, having been in the league since 2021. He's a good fielder but struggles on the mound. At the plate, he has the potential to be a top power hitter in the league; however, he can be very streaky. The Thunderducks are also bringing in rookie Owen Cummings as their fifth member. Owen has lots of baseball experience, so it is projected that he will be able to be an immediate contributor at the plate. However, his pitching ability is unknown, like many past rookies. This team could easily be the best in the league due to every player outside of Murtaugh having baseball experience. In fact, many of the league’s best players come from baseball backgrounds. However, we've seen similar teams made up of most of these guys that didn’t perform as highly as one would think. If the Thunderducks can put everything together and take things seriously, they are a top contender for the league championship.

Vipers: Hayden Watt, Austin Davis, Zack Nacco, Tyler Phillips

The Vipers are always an exciting team to watch in the Brockport Wiffleball League, and considering they have their core three returning it should be no different this year. Their leader Hayden Watt is consensually known as the league's second-best player, particularly for his batting ability. Watt won the Hank Aaron award in 2021 and received Silver Slugger honors in both 2021 and 2022. He is also the only player in league history to hit for the cycle. Zack Nacco is famously known for his 2021 Cy Young pitching year but regressed the following season in 2022. He's a decent batter but if he can get back to where he was in 2021 in terms of pitching the Vipers would benefit significantly. Austin Davis is a key piece of this Vipers team who has provided several big moments over the years. He is a good batter who can pitch efficiently and field at a high level. The team also brought in Tyler Phillips and Joe Murtaugh. Phillips has been the sidekick for league star Cooper Hassall over the past two seasons with the Satellites. He's a quality batter, and good fielder, who got quite a bit of time pitching with the Sats. He should be a solid contributor at the plate and in the field, however in this crowded bullpen it will be interesting to see how he is utilized. The Vipers certainly have the talent to compete for a World Series in 2025. Their strength is that everyone on their roster is capable of producing quality batting, fielding, and pitching. However how they handle each player's role will most likely be their biggest obstacle. If they can find a way to get everyone contributing, it will give them an edge but either way it will be an important storyline to follow throughout the season.