5 Burning Questions heading into the 2015 Season

Now that the dust has settled and Play2Reign is basking in the glow of their first WFL Championship, it is time to look ahead to the 2015 season. It has become a tradition that I pose 5 questions to selected participants of the league to get their responses.

The past few years I have solicited opinions of several individuals on the 5 Pre-Season Questions. Though the website has experienced a major overhaul, 2015 will offer the same insightful responses from a group of varying individuals in our league.

This year’s participants are:

Justin Porterfield, Sidewinders – HOF member, perennial All-Star and 2-time Fastest Runner medalist, played on multiple tournament championship teams with Bail Out$/Gold Ru$h.

Nathan Smith, Big Red – Captain of Big Red and 2014 All-Star player entering his 2nd full season in the WFL

Adam Reikowski, Young Uns – HOF member, perennial All-Star and member of 2013 Tourney Champs.

Here are the questions posed and the responses that were returned by the above group.

1. Who is the Pre-Season favorite to win it all in 2015?

a. Two teams made big moves in the off-season to shore up some holes in their lineup. Sidewinders

beefed up their female roster by adding a couple of very talented ladies from the old Wells Express

team. Brooke Norris and Julian Black will provide a big lift defensively for the Sidewinders who struggled

last season putting together a formidable female lineup around Dawn Thomas and Meghan Oldis. I think

this puts them squarely in the driver’s seat. Gold Ru$h also added a couple of elements that will make

them better offensively and defensively. Jay Palmer moves over from Sidewinders to Gold Ru$h and will

provide a great addition to the pitching staff. Palmer is regarded as one of the top two or three pitchers

in the WFL and after last season’s inconsistency in the pitching area, the Gold Ru$h will be improved.

Another pickup by the Gold Ru$h is the addition of Justin Wood and Lathan Washington. Both provide

power and speed to the lineup. Wood also gives the Gold Ru$h a great addition defensively in that he

can play pretty much anywhere on the field. Bottom line is that both Sidewinders and Gold Ru$h will be

tough to beat and the fact that they play in the same division…makes it even better. Hard to pick one

over the other, but the winner of their matchup will definitely be a front runner this season.

b. Sidewinders and it shouldn't be that close.

c. I think it’s a toss-up between Gold Rush and Sidewinders, but I have to go with the Sidewinders. Gold

Rush’s advantage year after year has been their post season experience, and ability to stay the course

even when behind. Last year was a great example of the turnover they have faced, has created a whole

new Gold Rush. While the nucleus of Jeff G, Ontrell, and Katie is still there, they struggled to find a

consistent supporting cast. That may change this year with the addition of Justin Wood and Lathan

Washington, but I think Sidewinders have too much talent to not give them the nod. The big key is if with

their addition of 6 new players, can they come together a play as a team. They did for the majority of last

year, but came unraveled against Wells Express, the only team to beat them last year, and really their only

close game.

d. I would have to say my pre-season favorites are Gold Ru$h, Sidewinders and the defending tournament

champions, Play2Reign.

2. Which of the new teams (Royals, Angels, Airport Flyers, One Hit Wondders) will have the best record

in 2015?

a. With the expansion of 2015, there are several new teams to consider. The Royals, Angels and Flyers all

participated in the Fall league in 2014, so we have a sampling of their talent. One Hit Wonders are totally

new and I always feel there is a learning curve that new teams must deal with during their debut season.

Based on what I saw in the Fall, the Royals have the best shot at making some noise in 2015. They

reached the Fall tournament finals after a couple of upset wins over established teams.

b. I am not familiar w/any of these teams as I didn’t play in the fall league so I am flying blind here, so I will

just provide some good comedy or bad, your call. One hit wonders sounds like Lisa Loeb and her one

song that wasn’t very good to begin with and only getting one hit won’t win you many games. Royals

overachieved and lost in the WS to the SF Giants, but I could never pick them to win anything since it was

29 years since they won a playoff series. Angels always are the favorites with their high payroll, and

lackluster playoff production, so I can’t pick them either especially since they beat the SF Giants in the

2002 WS ruining Barry Bonds best shot at a title. I guess it has to be the Airport Flyers, b/c they will

essentially be playing home games every week since we play right next to the airport.

c. This one is a toss up. New teams historically struggle, and even though 3 of these teams played in the

Fall...I don't see that changing. Unless the One Hit Wonders defy their namesake and come out hitting,

I don't see any of these teams earning a victory outside of when they play each other.

d. I woudl go with the Royals as the best record out of the new teams. However, having not played against

or seen the One Hit Wonders it si difficult to say.

3. Which of the perceived Big Four (Play2Reign, Young Uns, Gold Ru$h, Sidewinders) will struggle the

most in 2015?

a. Sidewinders and Gold Ru$h made some moves, but that was in response to being out of the tournament

running the last two seasons while Wells Express, Young Uns and Play2Reign battled it out in the finals.

Express is gone, but Young Uns and Play2Reign are back. I fear that Young Uns may struggle the most

this season. Lauren Hodges has decided to retire (as of this writing) and that puts a huge hole in the YU

lineup. Play2Reign is very talented as seen by their improbable tournament run last year, but consistency

has been an issue the past couple of seasons. I don’t see GR or Sidewinders struggling this year as they

will battle each other for top honors all season long. My pick here is Young Uns…you don’t lose a HOF/All

Star like Lauren and replace her with just anyone.

b. The Young Uns and it won't be close. They need a lot of help from the new girls and the guys will need to

step up their game or the first losing season in Young Uns history will be upon them. It is the beginning

of the Apocalypse.

c. I hope I am wrong, but I have to say the Young Uns. With the retirement of Lauren Hodges and struggling

to field a full team week after week, I see YU struggling again in 2015 and fighting to stay among the elite.

Jeff Brown does his best to carry that team, but I don't see it being enough this year.

d. This a hard question to answer, but I guess I would have to go with the Young Uns because of the big

losses at the female positions. However, it would not surprise me one bit to see them finish as one of, if

not, the best teams because they are very talented across the board.

4. Who will be the surprise team of 2015?

a. I think I pick this team every year, but this year it makes more sense than ever. Blue Heat made a

concerted effort during the off-season to upgrade its roster. Joel Gearhart was busy all winter trying

to add talented players to his core roster. If they hit paydirt on a couple of those additions, Blue Heat

is poised for a break out season. My other dark horse would be Big Red. They improved more than any

team last season. They got a taste of winning in our league and had a great tournament...even beating

Gold Ru$h in the process.

b. It can't be Gearhart and his Blue Heat because I say that every year, but they always disappoint. I will say

Play2Reign because I expect Big Red to be a force to reckon with in 2015. Play2Reign miraculously won

the tournament by getting hot at the right moment and beat good teams to win it. No one saw that

coming...including their players. Some of them waited all season for the playoffs to play their best or at

all,,,I see a big letdown by Play2Reign.

c. I think Big Red continues to improve and while that may not come as a surprise with the way they finished

in 2014, it's my prediction. I've tried to give this nod year after year to Blue Heat in hopes that they finally

pull it all together, but until Captain Gearhart can learn to not hit it to RF against good teams and Brian

Wetzel not hit it right at 2B every at bat...they cannot compete with the top teams.

d. I believe the surprise team will be the Wells Royals. They significatnly improved throughout the fall

season and have some talented players. I believe the more they play together, the better they will

become week to week...they have some cool shirts too.

5. Will Play2Reign repeat as tournament champions in 2015?

a. The pressure to repeat is enormous now that Gold Ru$h has been bounced out of the tourney the past

couple of seasons. By my guess, there are four very talented teams that should automatically be in the

conversation for tourney champs. Play2Reign is certainly included. Their run in 2014 was spectacular

with them playing the best defense I've ever seen playerd in the tourney. Sidewinders and Gold Ru$h are

real threats to unseat Play2Reign. I am not sure Play2Reign an put it all together again in 2015. They

would most likely have to beat both Sidewinders and Gold Ru$h and I don't see anyone beating BOTH of

those teams come tournament time.

b. No chance for this to happen as Sidewinders had the tournament championship wrapped up as soon as

Wells Express folded their tents.

c. Not a chance. While I try to not take awy from Play2Reign winning their first championship last year, they

did so by sneaking in the back door in my opinion. With the upset of Gold Ru$h by Big Red, Play2Reign

won without having to play the two best teams in my opinion (Gold Ru$h and Sidewinders). They pulled it

all together at the right time, but I see that as more of a fluke than the rise of Play2Reign.

d. I know that they definitely could...but it will be toughas I think it will be difficult for any team to win it all

this season with Wells Express players dispersed throughout the league and the addition of new teams.