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THE DATE! SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2008
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE HALL
It all started back in 1993. D.R. Carlson decided to have a 4th of July party at his house, 3738 Woodburn Rd, now commonly referred to as Woodburn Yards. Many washed up athletes from around the area showed up to take part in what would eventually become known as the Northern Virginia Wiffle® Ball World Series (NVWWS). The first tournament comprised of six, four-man teams. The Fat Guys (Rich Ryan, Rob Mazzie, Richie Brezee and Greg Adgate), defeated Baby See Bashers to take home the first ever NVWWS title.
1994, was a carbon copy of 1993. Hot weather, good food, good times and the Fat Guys took home another title.
1995, the tournament grew to eight teams. Kiilu and the Gang (Killu Davis, Chris Terio, Eric Zvonkovich, and John Villar) outlasted The Maulers 1-0, after eight and a half scoreless innings in the title game.
In 1996, or what has become known as the "Modern Era " of the NVWWS, DR Carlson joined forces with another Oakton High alum, Mike Ryan, and together they turned the NVWWS into a prime time event. With a new marketing spin, the NVWWS saw many changes. The NVWWS was moved to the third week in September, teams were reduced to three players (4th DH option) and the "Drunk Ump" (aka, Mark Hottle) was introduced and proved to be a fan favorite. Twelve teams competed in the 5th, annual NVWWS. And it was Jam 3 (Marc Zapf, Thierry Chaney and Mark Donnelly) who defeated Captain Morgan and the Salty Dogs, 3-0, in the last NVWWS to be held at Woodburn Yards.
In 1997, the NVWWS moved to 9729 Courthouse Rd, aka “Wiffle® Park At Vienna Yards". The new park saw 12 teams take the field in pursuit of the title. The final game, between The Motley Fools (led by ace pitcher Pete Collier) and Dream Team (Mike Ryan, Eric McCann and Brian Bedell), was only the 2nd championship in NVWWS history to go extra innings. The Dream Team’s hopes were put to rest when a Motley Fool home run ended the 9-inning affair, 1-0.
The 1998 NVWWS (now a charitable event for Arthritis Foundation) continued to see major growth, as the “Wiffle® Park at Vienna Yards” field grew to five divisions sponsored by local businesses, and 15 teams. The debut of the NVWWS announcer, Aaron Perlut, proved to be a great addition! Five division winners and three wild card teams advanced to the Great Eight, with Diesel and Blackout (formerly Jam 3) meeting in the title game. With both pitchers continuing their all day no hitters, the NVWWS went to Home Run Derby after three scoreless extra innings. Diesel (DR Carlson, Mike Henderson and Pete Collier) took home the trophy in the derby. It was Collier’s second NVWWS title and second tourney "Rollie Fingers Award" (best pitcher of the tourney).
1999, at a new venue, “Fox Mill Fields” in Oakton, VA. It proved to be the move that vaulted the renown Cocky Lambos (Steve Gatti, Keith Yates, Brad Hughes and Bill Johnson) into the champion’s circle as they defeated Chris Tully and Chris Jarboe’s Johnny’s Cougars 1-0. Blackout’s Marc Zapf pitched a no hitter throughout the tourney and earned the MVP.
2000, was another year of change as the charity was DC Special Olympics and NVWWS moved once again to 3 wiffle® fields at “Palmer Yards in Vienna, VA”, NVWWS was another memorable tourney as 30 teams started the day with hopes of claiming the NVWWS title. 10 division winners and 6 wildcards advanced to the Sweet 16. Familar names were back in the finals as 1998 champion Diesel (DR Carlson, Pete Collier, Mike Henderson and Scott Holden) faced off against a tough La Famiglia team, hailing from NJ. In the end, it was another great pitching performance by 3-time NVWWS champion Pete Collier that made the difference as Diesel added another championship trophy to their mantle.
2001, was a monumental year for NVWWS as it was the last tourney to be played in over 3 years. 27 teams aimed for the title at “Palmer Yards”, all for DC Special Olympics. It was a familiar face returning to the finals as La Famiglia (Joe Gatti, Dan, Joe and Andrew Mariniello) faced Crouching Growler, Hidden Dragon (Jim Steinbauer, Jimmy Davis and Ron Barckoff) in the finals. It was the year of La Famiglia as they took home the title with a 1-0 victory and etched their name in the history books. Andrew Mariniello took home the tourney MVP with a game winning home run.
2002 No tourney due to Player’s Union Strike
2003 No tourney due to Player’s Union Strike
2004 No tourney due to Player’s Union Strike.
2005… After a 3-year player’s strike, the teams were chomping at the bit to play ball, especially the tourney now benefited a member of the “wiffle fraternity”, Hall of Famer Brian Bedell and his new foundation. The Brian Bedell 2-Young Foundation and Word of Grace Athletic Fields (formerly Old Redskins Park) in Herndon, VA hosted one of the greatest wiffle® ball tourneys to date, as Brian spent his last moments with us at this true Field of Dreams! It
was the clash of the Gatti and Mariniello families as Steve Gatti
and his Cocky Lambos (Keith Yates, Billy Johnson and Brad Hughes) faced off against defending champ La Famiglia (Steve’s older brother Joe Gatti and cousins Joe and Dan Mariniello). It was another epic wiffle final as Dan Mariniello (3 time Rollie Fingers Award Winner for best pitcher) and Steve Gatti (cockiest wiffle player in history) showcased their skills on the mound. It
came to the bottom of last inning when Steve Gatti (2005 MVP)
smashed a solo bomb to bring home a second NVWWS championship
for Cocky Lambos.
2006..The tourney moved to Brian Bedell's hometown
Vienna and Waters Field. 56 teams started the day with
dreams of taking home the NVWWS title at Vienna's Field of Dreams,
but it was a newcomer team from Media PA that "shocked" the
wiffle world! The Philly Shockers (John
Baker, Matt Bell, Rob Fatscher and Bob Jones) defeated Vienna's Team
Future 1-0 (Brandon Bracher, Jim Schiekofer and Mark
Vita) in the championship game at Bedell Field. In the Final
Four playoff, a team of Vienna's Madison High School coaches
called the Robo-warhawks (Mark “Pudge” Gjormand,
Justin Counts, Billy Emerson and Walter Lanceman), lost to Future;
and Vienna's Vienna Inn T. Devils (Jonathan Heard, Andrew
Heard, Matt Clark and Larry Hildner), lost to eventual champion
Shockers. The 2006 Babe Ruth Award Winner (best
hitter) went to Bret Forville from TP
For My Pujols. The 2006 Rollie Fingers
Award Winner (best pitcher) went to Jim Schiekofer from
Runner-up Team Future. And, the 2006 MVP Award went
to John Baker from the Defending NVWWS Champion
Philly Shockers!
2007...It was Ol Skool vs. New Skool making over 60 teams with dreams of taking home the prestigious NVWWS trophy. History was made that sunny, Saturday as the first team to ever buy their way into the playoffs was crowned the champion of the wiffle world. Team Future, no stranger to previous playoffs and finals, was eliminated in the regular season and did not advance to playoffs as it appeared their dream of returning to the finals was shattered. Brandon Bracher re-grouped his team and decided to bid and win an open spot in the playoffs. It literally paid off as Team Future (Brandon Bracher "Captain", Mark Vita and Jim Schiekofer) was focused and played unbelievable wiffle in the playoffs shocking Defending Champion Philly Shockers (John Baker "Captain", Matt Bell, Rob Fatscher and Bob Jones) in the Final Four 5-0. In the final, Team Future faced talented, young guns from Vienna's Madison High, Vienna Inn T. Devils, in a breathtaking finals. The finals displayed incredible pitching skills and everyone on the edge of their sits at Waters Field. It took over a decade but dreams of taking home the coveted trophy became a reality as Team Future defeated Vienna Inn T. Devils 2-0. The 2007 MVP Award went to Future's clutch pitcher and NVWWS Hall of Famer, Jim Schiekofer. The 2007 Rollie Fingers Award Winner (best pitcher) went to Madison High's All-Met Player of the Year Jason Farley.
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