The Annual Fourth of July Wiffle Ball Tournament hit its milestone 40th edition on Independence Day this year at Conway-Costner Field in Chandler. An impressive crowd turned out, but the Monstars (Charlie Sullivan, Carson Clagg, Spencer Clagg and Kaden Jones) were not in the mood for sentimentality, running roughshod over the competition to bring home the coveted anniversary crown.
Allowing only two runs in three victories, the Monstars capped their championship run by run-ruling this year’s version of the Blue Ballers (Justin Jones, Eli Smithey, David Vassar and Cale Cochran) 8-0 in the final. That ended the Blue Ballers two-year reign as champions.
The Monstars got the action started by shutting out “1987” (Greg Crum, Zach Crum, wiffle host Steven Conway and Aiden Haworth). In the other semifinal, the Blue Ballers needed extra innings to turn away a strong performance by newcomers Team Vasquez (Chris Vasquez, Christian Vasquez, Charis Vasquez and Jennifer Clanton), 5-4.
Sullivan’s 3-0 record on the mound earned him his second MVP award in the last three tournaments. Kaden Jones repeated as Home Run King, and Cochran’s consistent fielding made him the Gold Glove award winner at just 11 years of age.
Tom Dunning from Edmond again provided professional action photography. Hosts Steven and Inda Jo Conway and commissioners David and Andrew Vassar have pledged to start the fifth decade of Wiffle—one of the oldest continuous traditions in the County—next year.