WMPA defeats Goonsquad in Chipper

An exciting and close championship game wrapped up the 2019 Malta Parks and Recreation Men's Softball Season last Tuesday, July 2.

"It was a lot pf fun," said Julia Tatafu of Malta Parks and Recreation. "It was a bummer that we didn't get to play on our nice, new field but we will take the rain any day."

Tatafu was appreciative of Ryan and Natalie Judd, who mantained the field throughout the season. She was also thankful for all of the teams that participated.

"We couldn't have done it without all of the players," Tatafu said. "It was a fun second year for the men's league and first year for the women's league."

The Where My Pitches At? (WMPA) men's team sponsored by Carney Concrete defeated Goonsquad 12-10, thanks to runs batted in by Keenan Schipman and team captain Tyson Carney. Schipman tied the game up with a two-RBI double in the seventh inning, while Carney's two run-RBI single gave them a 12-10 victory. Jesse Schipman also batted in a run in the seventh inning.

"We played pretty good defense at the end," Carney said. "We were at the middle of the order going into the top of the seventh and they hit very well. Everybody was hyped in the seventh inning and it was awesome!"

Konner Kuehn, Cole Brown, K. Schipman and Carney each drove in two runs that game.

After failing to post a score in the first inning and falling behind 2-0, WMPA scored four runs in the second thanks to runs batted in by Ray Harms, Kuehn and Brown.

WMPA added two more runs to their total going up 6-2 in the top of the third. Goonsquad would respond with a three run inning in the third closing the gap to 6-5.

WMPA added one run in the top of the fourth, going up 7-5. Goonsquad failed to score in the fourth but would make up for it in the bottom of the fifth by pouring on five runs highlighted by a two-run RBI single from Scott Ost. The Goonsquad went up 10-7, and held that lead until the top of the seventh and final inning.

Earlier in the season goon Squad defeated WMPA 26-11.

"They have excellent players on their team, like Dean Yeadon," Carney said. "He was a college baseball player. They are good. It was fun to play them and it was a great game of softball."

The bats went cold for the Goonsquad as the team couldn't get a runner across home plate after the fifth inning.

Carney did not commit to a team MVP but instead praised his teammates.

"We all played well," he said. "I think that in every one of our five games, there was somebody that was a better player. I don't think anybody stood out from anybody else."

Many of the athletes on WMPA graduated together or at the least played other sports together in their high school years. While very good athletes in their own rights (many of them college athletes), most of the athletes have not hoisted a title together, until now.

"It's awesome because you never know when you are going to be able to play a sport again," Carney said. "This is still competitive but it is nothing like high school or college, but it is still a lot of fun. It is probably the most fun that I have had for a long time."