Fast Pitch Week 1 Previews and Predictions

Fast Pitch Week 1 Previews and Predictions

The Circle City Wiffleball season is now officially in full swing, after a mix of nail-bitingly close barnburners and tough-to-watch blowouts on Sunday’s Opening Day. This season, slow-pitch and fast-pitch matchups are mixed in throughout the year, rather than stacked together. So, tomorrow night at The Dirtyard, we’ll get our first set of fast-pitch matchups, following the initial slate of slow-pitch tilts.

Expect to see at least one team on a bye each week for midweek games this season, due to the odd-numbered total of teams. This week, all of the Shorts, Ligers, and Hounds will take a seat, with the remaining four teams each playing a two-game series. 

Moonshots (1-1) vs. 8 Balls (0-2)

Probable Starters:
Game 1: Alec Buchman (Moonshots) vs. Reid Werner (8 Balls)
Game 2: Kent Nims (Moonshots) vs. Dustin Laugel (8 Balls)

The Moonshots were able to split their first matchups of the season without Will Smithey - and even though he’s not listed as a probable starter this week, he’ll at least be in the lineup. I imagine he’s not throwing in a premeditated effort to line up the rotation favorably later in the season - something that not many teams did last season. While that all but guarantees a win in the third matchup between these teams, it does put them at a disadvantage this week.

Alec Buchman’s first start will be one of the most noteworthy early-season results, whether it’s positive or negative. If he’s recaptured his borderline-elite form, he’ll make this Moonshots team extremely scary. He’s got the tall task of facing off against reigning MVP Reid Werner. Even if Buch looks good, it’s going to be tough to score much off Reid, and I think the 8 Balls have the edge in game 1.

Game 2 will be where teams let the offense run wild. Laugel is a reliable arm, but the top of the Moonshots order, with Smithey and Thomas Hopkins, is scary. And, while the 8 Balls offense looks less potent, Kent Nims hasn’t had many opportunities on the mound, and almost everyone turns in a few clunkers early in their career before settling in. I think Laugel will limit the damage enough in game 2 to secure an 8 Balls sweep. 

Prediction: 8 Balls sweep

Gold Socks (2-0) vs. Outlaws (1-1)

Probable Starters:
Game 1: Austin Alles (Socks) vs. Mitch Buis (Outlaws)
Game 2: Connor Young (Socks) vs. Alex Gurtcheff (Outlaws)

These two teams match up extremely equally on paper in a fast-pitch format. Both pitching matchups are neck-and-neck, and the lineups are constructed similarly, too. This should be a competitive, grind-out series. Game 1 will likely come down to who hits more slow-pitch bombs. Both Buis and Alles are great at limiting damage when they’re on the board, but both are prone to moments of wildness. Whichever team gets more of those opportunities and makes the most of them will come ahead on top. Buis’ best starts came early in the year last year, so we’ll give him and the Outlaws the edge in game 1. 

Conversely, Gurtcheff and Young are both guys who will allow hits, but must avoid the big blow-up innings to be successful. Staying on the board is key here, too - make the hitters string hits together, rather than letting them get a slow-pitch opportunity with runners on. We’ll give the slight edge to the Socks in this one, who will have a more skilled defense on the field behind Connor, and will also get left-on-left matchup advantages against Luker and Buis. 

Prediction: Series split