Whiffle ball tourney nets $1500 for Vets Memorial

   Whiffle ball or wiffle ball? Wikipedia says both spellings are correct. But who cares about the spelling? What’s important is whether or not you can stack your team with the best whiffle ball hitters in Cal-Mum, just like the old days at Washburn Park on homerun derby day, right?

   Give a grown man a whiffle ball and bat and you’ll see the little boy in him light up in his eyes. Over Memorial Day weekend in Caledonia, boys and girls, both young, slightly older and a lot older, formed teams and played in a whiffle ball tournament to raise money for a veterans memorial wall to be erected on the lawn of the Matthew Cleary Post 255 American Legion on Church Street in Caledonia. The daylong tournament, held at the Little League field at Tennent Park in Caledonia, raised $1,500 for the vets wall through food sales and a chicken barbecue by Chris Green of the Cozy Kitchen.

   This was no ordinary whiffle ball tournament. This one has an interesting history and came packed with a challenge. Over Memorial Day Weekend in 1977, eight little Caledonia boys wanted to get their names into the Guinness World Book of Records by playing in the longest running whiffle ball game. The two teams of four boys each played whiffle ball for over 17 hours and 41 minutes before it was all said and done. Team members were Matt and John Ball, Mike Nailos, Dan Keenan, Terry Donegan, Tom Heffer, Pat Nailos and Tom Wood. The team played whiffle ball for 17 hours and 41 minutes and collected donations for the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association. They didn’t make it into the Guinness World Book of Records but they did make it into the Democrat and Chronicle in a story written about the whiffle ball marathon by reporter Bob Bickel.

   The sons of the infamous 1977 team formed their own team in 2005 and attempted to break their fathers’ record. They played for 18 continuous hours at Tennant Park, with community members donating large lights to illuminate the diamond so the whiffle ball could continue well into the night! They raised over $300 in donations, which they presented to Genesee Valley Emergency Medical Services.

   This year, the boys, now eighth, ninth and tenth graders, put out a challenge to all whiffle ball players in the Cal-Mum community, including businesses and organizations. "Put your best team together, donate $25 to the vets wall, and you can play against our team for one half hour!"

   Thinking they would easily beat this young team, whiffle ball players, shall we say, of a "senior level," formed their best rosters and took on the youngsters. The experienced team of Kris and Steve Harrington, Troy and Scott McKay and Joe Geer was so anxious to relive their youth pastime that they donated $50 so that they could play for one whole hour. Sadly, they lost 10-3 to the much younger freshman team. Team captain, Kris Harrington, said the loss was due to three other key players not being able to play that day due to injuries and other commitments.

   "I think I was fine but some of our team members are older. We’re like the New York Yankees; we are getting on in years. I’m sure we wouldn’t have lost if Brandon Frew, Mark Harrington and our key hitter, Kevin Sayers, had been able to play. Actually, Sayers is the goat," said Kris Harrington.

   Another whiffle ball veteran, Steve Harrington, said he believes the young team had an unfair advantage over the twenty-something team. Harrington is considering filing an age discrimination grievance with the commissioner of whiffle ball. He also said his team has a strategy to improve before next year.

   "We need get Mark Harrington back in town and we all need to get into the gym and do some strength training," Harrington said.

   Kevin Keenan, captain of the freshman team, said the twenty-somethings are just licking their wounds.

   "Their $50 contribution to the vets wall was very nice but they did lose their self esteem. They lost to us by seven runs, so I really don’t think having three more players would have helped at all. Maybe next year," commented Keenan.

   Perhaps the best whiffle ball uniform of all time was sported by the Richard Thomas team who wore Hawaiian inspired shirts. No one is quite sure why, but hey, they came, they donated, they played. All for a good cause, which is what this very fun whiffle ball tournament is all about.

   The freshman team wishes to thank its sponsors and contributors for making this tournament a success: Sickles Corp., Jeff Mallaber, Esq., Monroe Industries, LeRoy Country Club restaurant, Sons of the American Legion Post 255, Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion Post 255.