_{Indoor War News releases}

DYNASTY COMPLETE!
Saturday format brings out the luck of the Irish as the Fightin's win an unprecedented third straight Senior Circuit Title to close out the 15th Ephrata Invitational Wiffle Ball Tournament
February 25, 2008
Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow could stop the 15^th edition of the Ephrata Invitational Wiffle Ball Tournament from taking place as participants, spectators, and tournament organizers showed that flexibility and determination can prevail as the annual Wiffle Ball tournament was adapted into a single-day event this past Saturday with 35 teams participating across three divisions.  The annual high school baseball fundraiser, sponsored jointly by the Ephrata High School Baseball Boosters and the Ephrata Baseball Association, once again provided plenty of intense competition, lots of fun-filled moments, and crowned three teams with Circuit Championships in the Rookie, Junior, and Senior Circuits. 

When Friday’s school cancellation forced Day One of the tournament to be postponed into an all-day double-elimination event on Saturday, tournament organizers chose to shorten the length of each contest into three-inning games.  That rule modification surprisingly proved to provide lots of excitement across all three circuits and also proved to be an equalizer throughout the day.  The dominant Senior Circuit team of all-senior Fightin’ Irish needed an extra frame to win their very first game of the day and remained unblemished straight through the finals to earn the tournament’s first-ever “three-peat” Senior Circuit Championship, defeating The Backyard Bandits 7-6 in another extra frame tilt.    Irish team member Anthony Rinaldi earned the Most Valuable Player honor in his age bracket, hitting three home runs during the event, while Backyard Bandit Austin Landis collected the consolation prize of Cy Young winner.  Also noteworthy was the Mathletes, who once again showed that looks are everything by claiming yet another Best Uniforms Award.

After getting knocked into the loser’s bracket early in the Junior Circuit and barely defeating Da Runs in extra innings, the Duct Tape Warriors made it two-in-a-row by regrouping and defeating the surprisingly strong 6^th grade MVP’s in the finals on Saturday night.  Team captain Ryan Brubaker won the Most Valuable Player award for the Duct Tape gang while teammate Andre Hoover grabbed the Cy Young Award.  And, although they were there to play Wiffle Ball, the Disney Princesses and The Hippies made fashion the name of the game by being crowned co-winners for the Best Uniforms of the Junior Circuit.

Earlier on in the evening in the Rookie Circuit, The Phillies and the Future Mounts locked horns in a battle of unbeatens to decide the elementary division’s championship game.  The out-of-town Phillies broke things open in the first few frames, eventually winning 9-3 to claim their first-ever crown.  Kole Adams of the Phils captured MVP honors, while Matt McGillan earned the Cy Young representing the Future Mounts.

Thank you!
The Ephrata High School Baseball program, its boosters, and the Ephrata Baseball Association would like to thank everyone who contributed to making the 2008 Ephrata Invitational Wiffle Ball Tournament another huge success, despite having to alter, modify, and change on the go due to inclement weather.  After going to Plan B, the single-day event went without a hitch, a testament to the positive spirit and enthusiasm that has made this tournament a true community event. 
Special thanks goes to the Ephrata Area School District for allowing us to once again host the event, the Ephrata Middle School custodial and food service staff for their flexibility in assisting with equipment, set up, and clean up, and all of the volunteers who umpired, kept score, ran concessions and helped run a flawless “66 games-in-one-day event”.  We would also like to thank Dairy Queen of Ephrata for their generosity in providing our participants with coupons for hitting home runs and competing.  Lastly, we would like to thank the spectators and participants for another wonderful tournament.  This year’s event will be remembered as one that challenged everyone’s ability to remain flexible and positive – qualities that make our community a great place to live.  Here’s to another fifteen years of the Indoor War!

On behalf of the entire Mounts baseball program, thank you!
Sincerely,
Adrian Shelley
Head Baseball Coach

The Ephrata Invitational Wiffle Ball Tournament, hosted jointly by the Ephrata High School Baseball Booster Club and the Ephrata Baseball Association, will officially open up action on Friday, Feb. 22nd at 5:00 PM, ringing in the 15th year of the "Indoor War" at the Ephrata Middle School gymnasiums.  Doors will open to the public at 4:30 as the Junior Circuit will once again be the opening act in what is shaping up to be another weekend of non-stop fun.  Along with intense wiffle ball action, ranging from an elementary division to the heralded high school division, the event also features a concession stand, authentic sit-down Texas barbecue featuring Lil' Bevo's BBQ, and the Dinger Derby home run hitting contest sponsored by Dairy Queen of Ephrata.  Once again, admission into the event will be $1 for students in grades K-12 and $2 for adults.
The annual Wiffle Ball Tournament, which will take place on February 22-23rd, has officially closed its team registration period and is excited to announce record-breaking participation among three circuits of play which is sure to lead to a highly competitive two-day event. 35 teams will be competing across three age brackets with a record-tying six teams in the Rookie Circuit (grades 4-5), a record-tying 16 teams in the Junior Circuit (grades 6-8), and a record-shattering 13 teams the Senior Circuit (grades 9-12) all competing for a shot at the coveted title of Circuit Champions.  All three final games will take place on "Championship Saturday" where organizers will once again waive the admission fee after 6 PM. 

SHAMROCKED!
Fightin' Irish coast through the Senior Circuit undefeated to claim second consecutive title and fourth team championship in five years
This year’s Ephrata Invitational Wiffle Ball Tournament turned about to be the most successful event in the 14-year history of the Ephrata High School baseball program’s fundraiser as 31 teams competed over a 30-hour period, culminating in three circuit championships, a Dairy Queen Dinger Derby finale, and the Super “Sonic” Speed Pitch championship.

This year the Rookie Circuit was comprised of 5 teams with participants, 5^th grade and under, battling it out throughout the day on Saturday.  The Lemonheads cruised through the winner’s bracket and met up with Kole’s Krushers in the finals.  The championship game lived up to its billing by going into extra innings with the Lemonheads prevailing with a score of 6 – 5. 

The Junior Circuit involved 15 teams from grades 6^th – 8^th.  After getting knocked into the loser’s bracket early Saturday morning, the Duct Tape Warriors fought game after game and met up with the undefeated Jedi Squirrels in the finals.  Again, the championship game provided the crowd with excitement as the Duct Tape Warriors came back from a one-run deficit, scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take home the hardware. 

In the grand finale, the Senior Circuit, comprised of 11 teams in grades 9-12, finished in exciting fashion.  As in previous years, the majority of the games were decided by pitching.  “Quality pitching proved essential once again,” stated circuit MVP Matt Woolley, of the championship Fightin’ Irish.  With pitching being the main formula for success, it was only fitting for the championship game to come down to arguably the two best pitching staffs in the tourney.  The Senior Circuit final proved to be a pitching duel right from the start and was decided in the pivotal fourth inning as the Irish scored all four of their runs, paced by Woolley’s RBI triple, to defeat the Backyard Bandits 4-2 for the team’s second consecutive championship and fourth in five years.  Morgan Bartholomew was crowned Cy Young winner for his outstanding pitching, while teammate Woolley earned his first ever MVP.

In the Dairy Queen Dinger Derby, Logan Rutt claimed the Rookie Circuit Dinger Duke, Brok Martin earned the Junior Circuit Duke, Steve Tretter was crowned the Senior Circuit Dinger Duke, and Jim Martin, Brok’s father, won the Adult Circuit event.  In the DQ Dinger King finals, Brok and Steve slammed six home runs apiece, before the younger Martin edged out Tretter in a tie-breaker to become the youngest Dinger Derby King in the 3-year history of the event.

Also earning an award for the second consecutive year was the sophomore team of girls, the Beach Bums, who once again claimed the award for Best Uniforms in the tournament, clad in their matching team apparel, including beach chairs, sunglasses, and beach towels.

”Once again, the tournament proved to be a huge success,” commented head baseball coach Adrian Shelley.  “We had an incredible turnout on both days of the event and the participants provided the spectators with a number of memorable moments.  Each of the winning teams and event champions has bragging rights for the next year and I’m sure there are already a few teams who are planning on dethroning the Fightin’ Irish from their two-year reign over the Senior Circuit.”

Wiffle® Ball Tournament Registration is due February 14^th
February 6, 2007
Registration is now available online for your team to reserve its spot for the 2007 Indoor War.  Circuits are filling up fast for the 14^th annual Ephrata Invitational Wiffle Ball Tournament, February 23-24^th at the Ephrata Middle School.  This year’s two-day event will feature an elementary school-aged Rookie Circuit for 5^th grade-and-under students, a middle school-aged Junior Circuit for students in 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grades and a high-school aged Senior Circuit for students in 9-12^th grades.

This year, the annual Ephrata baseball fundraiser once again welcomes back the Dairy Queen Dinger Derby, a home run hitting contest and crowd favorite, as well as the High Heat Challenge, a Wiffle® Ball speed pitch.  Both events offer team members, as well as general participants without a team, a chance at showcasing some individual talent.   Champions of both events will be crowned between the final round games of all three circuits, beginning at 6 PM on Saturday evening, in what has become known as “Championship Saturday.” Along with the crowning of the DQ Dinger Dukes and the Dinger King, the tournament committee will also announce the winner of the coveted “Best Uniforms Award” which is given to the one team that sports the most creative, colorful, and coordinating team uniform. 

Another feature that continues to gain in popularity is the opportunity to sit down to order breakfast, lunch and dinner from a catered barbecue menu.  For the second year in a row, Lil’ Bevo’s BBQ will offer participants, spectators, and anyone interested in a carry-out option, authentic slow-smoked Texas barbecue.  If you’re not interested in attending the event, take out will be available at the old gymnasium entrance behind the school. 

Register now online at www.mountshardball.com/WiffleRegister.asp before February 14th’s, Valentine’s Day deadline.

THANK YOU!
February 28, 2006
The Ephrata High School Baseball Boosters and Ephrata Baseball Association would like to thank everyone who contributed to making the 2006 Ephrata Invitational Wiffle Ball Tournament another huge success.  Special thanks goes to the Ephrata Area School District for allowing us to once again host the event, the Ephrata Middle School custodial staff for their set-up and clean-up efforts, and all of the volunteers who umpired, kept score, ran concessions and helped organize the two-day event.  We would also like to thank Weiser’s Market of Akron and WalMart of Ephrata for donating food to our barbecue pit and concession stand, as well as Dairy Queen of Ephrata and Haller Enterprises for sponsoring the Dairy Queen Dinger Derby and Haller High Heat Challenge.  Lastly, we would like to thank the spectators and participants for a wonderful weekend.  This year’s event will be remembered as one filled with fun, plenty of excitement, and most importantly, lots of sportsmanship. 

On behalf of the entire Mounts baseball program, thank you!
Adrian Shelley
Head Baseball Coach

Irish Eyes Are Smilin'
Team of sophomores claim top prize as 13th edition of Indoor War proves memorable
February 26, 2006
Another Ephrata Invitational Wiffle Ball Tournament has come to an end leaving participants, spectators, and tournament organizers with another memory-filled weekend of Wiffle Ball action.  The annual high school baseball fundraiser, sponsored jointly by the Ephrata High School Baseball Boosters and the Ephrata Baseball Association, once again provided plenty of intense competition, lots of fun-filled moments, and crowned three teams with Circuit Championships and four home run hitters with the coveted title of Dairy Queen Dinger Duke.  Headlining the winners was the all-sophomore team, the Fightin’ Irish, who earned their first Senior Circuit Championship by defeating S.W.A.T. 3-1 in the title game.  Of note, this same team, formerly known as The Dawgs, also won back-to-back Junior Circuit Titles in 2003 and 2004.  In the Junior Circuit, Extreme Caution breezed through their bracket to defeat The Pedestrians in the championship game and earn the Junior Circuit title.  And in the Rookie Circuit, the All Pros were too much for their fellow fourth and fifth grade competitors, defeating the Garden Spot Bulldogs from the Cocalico School District in the finals.  In all, three teams from other school districts, including two from Cocalico and one from Governor Mifflin, participated in this year’s event.  “It was great to see interest from outside of our school district compete in our weekend event,” commented Mounts Head Coach Adrian Shelley.  “Hopefully, their participation will encourage others to enter teams into next year’s event.”
The 2006 Dairy Queen Dinger Derby turned into a family affair as a pair of brothers, Brok and Reid Martin, were crowned the Junior and Senior Circuit Dinger Dukes, while eight-year old Nate Fassnacht was crowned the Rookie Circuit Dinger Duke.  His father, Dave Fassnacht, earned the title of Adult Circuit Dinger Duke and then stole the show by becoming the grand champion, the DQ Dinger King, edging last year’s King, Doug Erb, by one home run.

In the Haller High Heat Challenge, the Wiffle Ball speed pitch competition, Chad Summers from Governor Mifflin earned the Rookie Circuit title, while local hurler Jake Rutt claimed the Junior Circuit crown.  Mounts pitcher Zac Schnader threw some fast plastic at 95 mph to win the Senior Circuit award, and ex-Mount Justin Homsher took home the Adult Circuit title.

For the second year in a row, the same group earned the title of Best Uniforms for the tournament, however, this year they did not have to share it.  The Drama Queens, representing the Senior Circuit, came complete with matching accessories and their very own decorated “throne” that provided comfort and style for their on-deck hitter, as the all-female team was a unanimous decision for the award.

“This was another great event and one that our high school program is very proud to host,” remarked Coach Shelley.  “Many thanks goes out to all of the folks behind the scenes that made this event run smoothly and to the hundreds of spectators and participants who contributed to another successful fundraiser.”

Senior Circuit Recap
When the all-sophomore team, Fightin' Irish, saw the 2006 Senior Circuit Bracket last week, they began charting a course toward knocking off the reigning circuit champions, the High Rollers.  They figured on meeting last year's champs either in the semifinals or the finals, and knew they would have to bring their "A" game if they were to pull off the upset.  That opportunity would never materialize.  The High Rollers were bounced before the semifinals,  while the Irish, remained unbeaten and coasted to the finals to await S.W.A.T. or the upstart freshmen team, Team Sportsmanship, who gave the Rollers an unexpected early exit.  S.W.A.T. eventually ended the Cinderella run by the freshmen to set up a winner-takes-all final with the Fightin' Irish, who had beaten them earlier in the tournament in a slugfest.  The only thing that changed in the finals was the method in which the Irish used to dismantle S.W.A.T.  Baseball aficionados boast that pitching wins championships.  The Fightin' Irish would prove that the same holds true in Wiffle Ball as the sophomores would claim their first Senior Circuit title, and third Indoor War title, by defeating S.W.A.T. 3-1.  Of note, this same group, formerly known as The Dawgs, won back-to-back Junior Circuit titles in 2003 and 2004.  "This group has collected quite a bit of hardware the past few years," commented Mounts Head Coach Adrian Shelley.  "They are, without question, one of the most successful teams in the history of our 13-year tournament."  Despite losing efforts by both of their teams, Derek Sipe of the High Rollers claimed the Cy Young Award in the Senior Circuit, while S.W.A.T. member Reid Martin earned MVP honors.

2006 Wiffle Ball Tournament Weekend has makings of a Funfest
February 1, 2006
The 13^th annual Ephrata Invitational Wiffle Ball Tournament, hosted jointly by the Ephrata High School Baseball Booster Club and the Ephrata Baseball Association, is less than a month away and tournament organizers are preparing to once again provide local citizens with some intense Wiffle Ball action, as well as a variety of activities, as the annual baseball fundraiser revs up for another full weekend of non-stop fun.  “Each year we strive to make the tournament more entertaining and exciting for everyone involved.  This year will be no different,” commented first-year tournament commissioner Mike Linn.

Headlining this year’s Indoor War are a few new wrinkles, including a catered barbecue pit that will featured authentic slow-smoked barbecue.  Combined with the traditional concession stand, this added feature will now offer players and spectators with a choice of light fare or $10 sit-down barbecue platters.  Also being introduced this year, is a spectator’s entrance fee, designed to off-set the rising costs of hosting, what has become, an ever-growing and highly popular community event.  Adult spectators can choose between paying a $2 daily fee, a $5 all-weekend pass, or the $10 family pass, which includes two adults and all children.  Students in K-12 grades can choose between a $1 daily fee or a $3 all-weekend pass.  Also new this year, is the first-ever cash prize being offered to a tournament circuit champion.  In the Adult Circuit, not only is a title up for grabs, but so is the opportunity to win $1,000.  Entry into this bracket, for players ages 18 and over, will cost a team $200, however at stake, is what tournament officials are calling “one of the largest cash prizes being offered to Wiffle Ball competitors on the East Coast.”

Returning to the tournament schedule is last year’s huge success, the 2^nd annual Dairy Queen Dinger Derby, a home run hitting contest sponsored by Dairy Queen of Ephrata that promises to generate a lot of excitement.  Derby participants from the Rookie, Junior, Senior, and Adult Divisions will be competing to see who will break some of last year’s Derby records, and to find out who will be crowned this year’s Dinger Duke. 

A number of other activities are also being planned to supplement the main attraction, the three-day Wiffle Ball Tournament, which will take place on February 24-26^th at the Ephrata Middle School.  This year’s tournament  currently has openings for team entry in the Rookie Circuit (grades 4-5), the Junior Circuit (grades 6-8), the Senior Circuit (grades 9-12), and the Adult Circuit (ages 18 and older). 

Lastly, the committee would like to thank the community for its overwhelming participation in this year’s tournament.  The four brackets, consisting of 35 teams, set a new Indoor War record, and records were shattered for concessions sales and overall revenue.  The 2005 Wiffle Ball Tournament created many memories and entertaining moments and will once again be remembered as a cherished community event.  

Sincerely,
Adrian Shelley
Head Baseball Coach
Ephrata High School

Other awards handed out during the weekend included a number of coupons for free Blizzards courtesy of Dairy Queen of Ephrata for Dinger Derby participants that hit dingers off of the Dairy Queen banners located in the power alleys.  Also receiving coupons for Dairy Queen were the Military Mamas, an all-female team from the Junior Circuit, and the Cowgirls, and all-female team from the Senior Circuit.  Both teams were honored with “Best Uniforms Award” for their creativity and overall uniformity with team apparel.

_{2003 Tourney News}

Adult "Alumni" Circuit is Added

Tournament Committee Announces Addition of Adult "Alumni" Circuit
The Ephrata Invitational Wiffle® Ball Tournament Rules Committee has announced that it will be adding an Adult "Alumni" Circuit to this year's 10th annual Indoor War.  The new bracket for adults, 18 and older, guarantees a minimum of two games per team and will begin at 6 pm on Saturday, February 22nd, immediately following the conclusion of the Senior Circuit championship game.  The Adult Circuit will resume play on Sunday at noon, with a 6 pm championship scheduled.  The tournament committee is hoping to attract Ephrata High School Alumni, as well as players from past tournaments, however any adult is welcome to participate or form a team.  Adult teams may consist of 5-6 players with an individual player registration fee of $15, $10 for EHS Alumni.  Deadline for entry is February 20th by 9 pm.  Interested participants can contact Adult Circuit commissioner Adrian Shelley by email at admin@mountshardball.com.