CCW Slow Pitch Session Wrap: Big Takeaways & Burning Questions

As the dust settles on CCW’s slow pitch session, there were plenty of surprise performances and questions raised amidst the action. Let’s unpack what we saw — and what it might mean for the fast pitch season ahead. 



🟢 The Moonshots’ Offense: Even More FearsomeIf you thought the Moonshots’ lineup was already unstoppable, their performance in slow pitch session confirmed they might be even more potent than we realized. Thomas Hopkins — fresh off his mid-session pickup — immediately became their top bat of the session, mashing at a rate that kept pitchers awake at night. And let’s not sleep on Connor Smith, whose top-10 batting average suggests he’s turning a corner into consistency. With Smithey and Garavalia expected to be steady on the bump in fast pitch, this offense is built to cause serious damage — maybe historic damage.



🔴 8 Balls: Don’t Sleep on This OffenseWhile Alex Gurtcheff’s 31 home runs rightfully stole the headlines (11 more than the next closest), the bigger takeaway is that the rest of the 8 Balls lineup quietly turned in some sneaky-good production. Werner is a proven fast pitch bat, and the bottom of the order chipped in far more than expected. Hitting in fast pitch is another beast entirely, but with their momentum and Gurtcheff’s MVP form, the 8 Balls are a real threat to do damage.



🟡 Short Shorts & Yakkers: The Run Prevention FormulaThe Shorts and Yakkers both ended up on the wrong end of the standings, but they’ve clearly built their identities around run prevention. The Shorts will lean heavily on Witty’s elite arm and Dudas’ hands, making them a nightmare to score on in the fast pitch format. Meanwhile, the Yakkers’ retooled rotation — with Dowden, Buchman, and Lyon — is arguably the best in the league. But here’s the rub: both teams - especially the Shorts - struggled to score in slow pitch. That’s not a great sign when the pitching gets tougher in fast pitch, and it puts a lot of pressure on their defensive edge to carry them.

🔵 The Hounds’ Bottom Half: The X-FactorFor the Hounds, the top of the order — with Jones and Alles — is set in stone. But slow pitch showed us that they need much more from the bottom half of the lineup if they’re going to break through. Outside of Josh Hart’s explosive week two, that group was too quiet. The biggest question: can Buis rebound in fast pitch and give them the lift they need? Because if the bottom of this order doesn’t get moving, the Hounds may find themselves stuck in neutral.




🟠 Availability Woes: Real or Planned?One of the more under-discussed threads from slow pitch is the absence of a few key players. Coby Taylor’s bat and defense were both missed by the Hounds, and Jake Sprinkle’s absence was a minor blip in slow pitch — but it could be catastrophic if it extends into fast pitch. And of course, the Yakkers’ big investment in Dowden only matters if he’s there to deliver. Are these players saving themselves for the higher-stakes Dirtyard Classic run, or is there a real risk of them not showing up when it matters most? That’s a question every contender is quietly asking.




🟡 Do the Stampede Need a Table Setter?The Stampede’s offense was boom-or-bust in slow pitch: they led the league in home-run rate, with 44% of their hits leaving the yard. But when paired with an OBP that was only slightly above average, it left them prone to empty innings. In fast pitch — where contact and on-base ability become even more critical — they may need someone to set the table for their sluggers. Enter Dalsen Murdock, who’s a bat-to-ball wizard and could fill this gap perfectly come fast pitch season. If the Pede find that missing piece, their power game could be borderline unstoppable.

⚾ A Few More Questions Loom:

• Will the 8 Balls’ Cinderella run hold up when the speed ramps up? Or will their bottom-half bats get exposed against elite arms?
  
  
  
• Can the Shorts or Yakkers find a spark on offense? Their run prevention will keep them in games, but you still have to score to win.
  
  
  
• Who else will emerge? Slow pitch gave us a good glimpse, but fast pitch always seems to reveal a breakout star nobody saw coming
  
  

As we shift our eyes to the fast pitch season and the Dirtyard Classic, one thing’s for sure: CCW’s parity is as real as ever. The Moonshots’ lineup looks generational, but the 8 Balls just proved that momentum can take down even the most stacked squad. 
CCW Fast Pitch opening day is June 4. 
— Jorf Porsson
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