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Hit Men win Fourth State Title in Five Years
The Hit Men continued their recent dominance of the North Carolina Wiffle Ball Tournament, coming out of the loser's bracket to defeat rival "In It To Win It twice to capture the 36th Annual event July 13-14, 2024 in Kenly, NC.
The Hit Men, who had been upset by Organized Konfusion earlier in the tournament, avenged their loss in the loser's bracket final, then overcame a 3-1 deficit in the fourth and final inning to defeat In It To Win It 4-3 and force a second deciding game for the state championship.
In It To Win It led 3-0 entering the final frame in the second game, but the Hit Men again rallied for the victory and yet another championship.
Tyler Jackson of the Hit Men, who went a perfect 9 for 9 in the two championship games, had a key two run homer in game one and the game winning hit in game two to garner MVP honors.
The Hit Men and In It To Win It have now met for the title four times in five years, and have combined to win 9 of the last 11 state tournaments. In It To Win It's core group has played for the state championship 10 of the past 11 years, winning five times.
Champions- Hit Men (CJ Jackson, Tyler Jackson, Ty Narron, Spencer Griswold)
Runners Up- In It To Win It (Jordan Adams, Craig Hardin, Hunter Grantham,
Caleb Byrd, Harrison Grady)
Third Place- Organized Konfusion (Jaden Cuddington, Cameron Cuddington,
Ben Cuddington, Cody Felton)
Fourth Place- Pine Level Bombers (Wyatt Hales, Gabe Adams, Corey Barnes,
Braedon Moore)
All Tournament- CJ Jackson, Tyler Jackson, Ty Narron, Spencer Griswold (Hit
Men), Craig Hardin, Caleb Byrd, Hunter Grantham, Harrison
Grady (In It To Win It), Cameron Cuddington, Jaden Cuddington
(Organized Konfusion)
Most Valuable Player- Tyler Jackson (Hit Men)
This years tournament was the 43rd consecutive tourney overall, having started in 1982 as the Kenly Wiffle Ball Tournament. It is the second oldest Wiffle Ball Tournament in the world, bested only by The World Wiffle Ball Championship, which began in 1980 in Mishawaka, Indiana and is currently held in Crown Point, Indiana.
"SILVER ANNIVERSARY" TEAM NAMED
The North Carolina Wiffle Ball Tournament announced its Silver Anniversary team, consisting of the 10 most decorated players in the first 25 years of the event (1989-2013).
16-time All-Tournament selection Duane Pittman led the roster with 79 points. Points were awarded for winning the tourney (3pts), finishing second(1pt), making All-Tourney(3pts), and winning MVP (3 additional points).
Six-time MVP Johnny Baker (65 pts) and 13-time All-Tourney pick Jeff Davis (59 pts) were next, with Joey Creech (51 pts) and Jeff Finney (45 pts) rounding out the top 5.
Other members of the squad were Ritchie Willoughby (43 pts), Jake Austin (42 pts at only 24 years old), Paul Lynn Willoughby (41 pts), Jon Moore (39 pts) and Chris Davis (38 pts).
16-time All-Tournament selection Duane Pittman led the roster with 79 points. Points were awarded for winning the tourney (3pts), finishing second(1pt), making All-Tourney(3pts), and winning MVP (3 additional points).
Six-time MVP Johnny Baker (65 pts) and 13-time All-Tourney pick Jeff Davis (59 pts) were next, with Joey Creech (51 pts) and Jeff Finney (45 pts) rounding out the top 5.
Other members of the squad were Ritchie Willoughby (43 pts), Jake Austin (42 pts at only 24 years old), Paul Lynn Willoughby (41 pts), Jon Moore (39 pts) and Chris Davis (38 pts).
Silver Anniversary Team
Standing L-R- Paul Lynn Willoughby, Jeff Davis, Jake Austin, Jeff Finney, Duane Pittman
Kneeling L-R- Chris Davis, Jon Moore, Johnny Baker, Joey Creech
Not Pictured- Ritchie Willoughby
Standing L-R- Paul Lynn Willoughby, Jeff Davis, Jake Austin, Jeff Finney, Duane Pittman
Kneeling L-R- Chris Davis, Jon Moore, Johnny Baker, Joey Creech
Not Pictured- Ritchie Willoughby
About Our Tournament
The North Carolina Wiffle Ball Tournament has its roots 39 years ago in tiny Kenly, NC. The neighborhood kids, tired of breaking windows and catching flak from their parents for it, took up Wiffle Ball instead.
This led in 1982 to the first ever Kenly Wiffle Ball Tournament, a two-on-two affair which ran from 1982-1987. A three-on-three tourney was added in 1985, and it lasted until 1988.
In 1989, tournament co-founders Mike Grizzard and Jeff Davis, at Grizzard's urging, moved the tournament out of neighbor Ray Ballance's backyard and into the town's baseball field, naming it "The North Carolina State Wiffle Ball Tournament" . 16 teams showed up that year, and the rest is history. The event was held in Kenly until 2006, when it was moved to Smithfield. In 2020, it was played in Spivey's Corner at beautiful Miffly Field.
Last year marked the 32th Annual North Carolina Wiffle Ball Tournament, and 13 teams showed up for what is now the longest running State Tourney in the United States, and the second-oldest wiffle ball tournament in the world, bested only by the World Wiffleball Championship in Mishawaka, Indiana, which began in 1980. We have our own Hall of Fame, which began in 1999, and now has 15 members.
Our event is slow pitch, and is played almost exactly like real baseball or softball, using Official Wiffle bats and balls. Yes, we run the bases, and NO we DO NOT throw the ball at runners. This ain't kickball.
For more on the rules of our game and why we believe the way we play Wiffle Ball is best, check out our "Rules" and "Why Our Game is Best" sections of the site.
Thanks for visiting, and we hope to see you next July at the 26th Annual North Carolina Wiffle Ball Tournament!
This led in 1982 to the first ever Kenly Wiffle Ball Tournament, a two-on-two affair which ran from 1982-1987. A three-on-three tourney was added in 1985, and it lasted until 1988.
In 1989, tournament co-founders Mike Grizzard and Jeff Davis, at Grizzard's urging, moved the tournament out of neighbor Ray Ballance's backyard and into the town's baseball field, naming it "The North Carolina State Wiffle Ball Tournament" . 16 teams showed up that year, and the rest is history. The event was held in Kenly until 2006, when it was moved to Smithfield. In 2020, it was played in Spivey's Corner at beautiful Miffly Field.
Last year marked the 32th Annual North Carolina Wiffle Ball Tournament, and 13 teams showed up for what is now the longest running State Tourney in the United States, and the second-oldest wiffle ball tournament in the world, bested only by the World Wiffleball Championship in Mishawaka, Indiana, which began in 1980. We have our own Hall of Fame, which began in 1999, and now has 15 members.
Our event is slow pitch, and is played almost exactly like real baseball or softball, using Official Wiffle bats and balls. Yes, we run the bases, and NO we DO NOT throw the ball at runners. This ain't kickball.
For more on the rules of our game and why we believe the way we play Wiffle Ball is best, check out our "Rules" and "Why Our Game is Best" sections of the site.
Thanks for visiting, and we hope to see you next July at the 26th Annual North Carolina Wiffle Ball Tournament!
LEGENDARY LUMBER AND G-NATS FINISH 1-2 IN 2009 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The National Wiffle Ball Federation held its National Championship Tournament on October 24th, 2009 in Seymour, Indiana, and North Carolina was well-represented. Legendary Lumber, made up of Jeff Davis, Chris Davis, Duane Pittman, and Johnny Baker, went unbeaten to win the National Title, defeating fellow North Carolinians G-Nats (Brent Powell, Brian Powell, Jake Austin, Josh Murray, Luke Murray) 6-5 in the Championship Game.
Both teams were unbeaten entering the title game, and the G-Nats led 5-3 entering the bottom of the sixth inning of the seven inning game. Legendary Lumber manufactured a run to cut the lead to 5-4, and then with Pittman on third and two outs, Baker homered to give Lumber the 6-5 lead, which they held onto by getting the G-Nats 1-2-3 in the seventh.
Baker was named the tournament MVP, as he homered over 20 times in seven games and pitched a fielded flawlessly throughout the day. His teammates Duane Pittman, Jeff Davis and Chris Davis each joined him on the All-Tournament team. The G-Nats' Austin and Luke Murray were named All-Tournament, while Josh Murray, Brian Powell and Brent Powell were Second Team All-Tournament.
Legendary Lumber outscored their opponents 100-25 in the event, defeating Swing This! of Illinois 14-4, the defending National Champions Georgia Storm 21-6, and last year's runners-up the Diamond Dawgs 19-4 in pool play. In the single-elimination portion, they blitzed the Georgia Storm 26-3 in a rematch, blasting 19 homers, then beat Indianapolis' Plastic in the Park 7-4. Their semi-final victim was Illinois' 630 All-Stars, whom they shut out 7-0.
Meanwhile, the G-Nats were shutting out Seymour's own Whatever It Takes 8-0 to set up the all-North Carolina title game.
Kudos to Lumber's Chris Davis, who tore his ACL in the final round robin games, yet played out the rest of the tournament despite the injury.
The NHWBF plays by much different rules than the North Carolina Wiffle Ball Tournament, but our teams seemed not to mind, as their defense and big bats countered all opponents as well as the cold weather and rain.
With their 1-2 finish, Legendary Lumber and the G-Nats also finished 1-2 in the NWHBF's final 2009 Rankings. Go to www.nwhbf.net for more info and photos of the event.
Both teams were unbeaten entering the title game, and the G-Nats led 5-3 entering the bottom of the sixth inning of the seven inning game. Legendary Lumber manufactured a run to cut the lead to 5-4, and then with Pittman on third and two outs, Baker homered to give Lumber the 6-5 lead, which they held onto by getting the G-Nats 1-2-3 in the seventh.
Baker was named the tournament MVP, as he homered over 20 times in seven games and pitched a fielded flawlessly throughout the day. His teammates Duane Pittman, Jeff Davis and Chris Davis each joined him on the All-Tournament team. The G-Nats' Austin and Luke Murray were named All-Tournament, while Josh Murray, Brian Powell and Brent Powell were Second Team All-Tournament.
Legendary Lumber outscored their opponents 100-25 in the event, defeating Swing This! of Illinois 14-4, the defending National Champions Georgia Storm 21-6, and last year's runners-up the Diamond Dawgs 19-4 in pool play. In the single-elimination portion, they blitzed the Georgia Storm 26-3 in a rematch, blasting 19 homers, then beat Indianapolis' Plastic in the Park 7-4. Their semi-final victim was Illinois' 630 All-Stars, whom they shut out 7-0.
Meanwhile, the G-Nats were shutting out Seymour's own Whatever It Takes 8-0 to set up the all-North Carolina title game.
Kudos to Lumber's Chris Davis, who tore his ACL in the final round robin games, yet played out the rest of the tournament despite the injury.
The NHWBF plays by much different rules than the North Carolina Wiffle Ball Tournament, but our teams seemed not to mind, as their defense and big bats countered all opponents as well as the cold weather and rain.
With their 1-2 finish, Legendary Lumber and the G-Nats also finished 1-2 in the NWHBF's final 2009 Rankings. Go to www.nwhbf.net for more info and photos of the event.
THREE N.C. PLAYERS ELECTED TO WORLD OF WIFFLE BALL HALL OF FAME
The Inaugral Class of the World of Wiffleball Hall of Fame was announced Monday (Sept. 28), and three North Carolina players were elected. Current North Carolina Hall of Fame members Duane Pittman, Chris Davis, and Jeff Davis were among the 38 players, directors, and advocates elected to the first ever national Hall of Fame.
23 fast pitch and 15 slow pitch inductees were selected for the hall, which will induct the inaugral class along with the Hall's opening in Cincinnati, Ohio on July 2nd-4th, 2010. The Induction banquet will be held Friday night, with a Hall of Fame Firecracker Tournament for both slow and fast pitch teams to be held on Saturday, July 3rd.
The World Of Wiffleball Hall of Fame had 68 people nominated for its first class, and 38 were elected in four catagories: Directors, Current Players, Advocates, and Legends. Pittman was elected in the "Current Player" catagory, while the Davis brothers were elected as 'Legends", which requires that a player be retired, or have been retired for five years at one time in their careers.
In addition, Jeff Davis has been named to the nine-member World Of Wiffleball Hall of Fame Advisory Board, which will help get the Hall ready for its opening next year.
For more information and a complete list of Inductees, go to the Hall of Fame's website at www.worldofwiffle.webs.com
23 fast pitch and 15 slow pitch inductees were selected for the hall, which will induct the inaugral class along with the Hall's opening in Cincinnati, Ohio on July 2nd-4th, 2010. The Induction banquet will be held Friday night, with a Hall of Fame Firecracker Tournament for both slow and fast pitch teams to be held on Saturday, July 3rd.
The World Of Wiffleball Hall of Fame had 68 people nominated for its first class, and 38 were elected in four catagories: Directors, Current Players, Advocates, and Legends. Pittman was elected in the "Current Player" catagory, while the Davis brothers were elected as 'Legends", which requires that a player be retired, or have been retired for five years at one time in their careers.
In addition, Jeff Davis has been named to the nine-member World Of Wiffleball Hall of Fame Advisory Board, which will help get the Hall ready for its opening next year.
For more information and a complete list of Inductees, go to the Hall of Fame's website at www.worldofwiffle.webs.com