Kermit's 2017 Player Preview
Every year going into the new season we rank every player that has ever played for the league and where they stand going into the new season. To rank the players, we use the All-Star ranking format which takes into consideration skill as well as participation.
Without further ado, let's dive right in.
#44 (5.49) Matt Schaaf
2015: #39 (6.35)
2014: #35 (7.72)
Current Team: Retired
Jersey: #35
Record: 0-1
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: Still holds record for least amount of games played. Last place, third consecutive year. This kids effort in not attending is unmatched. He consistently books other plans in place of wiffle ball just so that he doesn’t even get tempted to come with one of his buddies.
#43 (5.97) Joe “Mo” Melf
2015: #38 (7.05)
2014: #34 (8.93)
Current Team: Retired
Jersey: #34
Record: 2-0
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: Joe is a ghost. I bet you that 80% of the league couldn’t spot Joe in a crowd because they don’t know who he is and haven’t met him ever.
#42 (8.94) Andy “Drew” Turner
2015: #37 (10.93)
2014: #29 (15.40)
Current Team: Retired
Jersey: #31
Record: 1-3
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: Joe’s ghost friend.
#41 (9.32) Austin “I Can’t, I Gotta Run” Warner
2015: #36 (11.47)
2014: #32 (14.96)
Current Team: Retired
Jersey: #22
Record: 0-2
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: Announced he will be returning in the 2017 campaign. Will be using his entire budget for Purdue Northwest Cross Country to purchase turf for the wiffle ball fields.
#40 (10.34) Stan “Mouse” Sroczynski
2015: #34 (12.42)
2014: NA
Current Team: Retired
Jersey: #38
Record: 0-2
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: Remember that Brett actually signed Stan last year mid season. Let that sink in.
#39 (10.43) Isaiah “Purdue Sucks” Devries
2015: #35 (11.42)
2014: #30 (13.70)
Current Team: Retired
Jersey: #5
Record: 1-2
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: Got out of the cornfields of Demotte and realized that their is actually chicks that don’t look like animals. Probably won’t come back due to that reason.
#38 (12.24) Joel “Bethany” Mance
2015: NA
2014: NA
Current Team: Lake County Liners
Jersey: #42
Record: 0-2
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: Preseason favorite to lead the Liners to the ship.
#37 (13.78) Colton “Gibster” Ebbens
2015: #33 (14.50)
2014: #28 (16.19)
Current Team: Retired
Jersey: #32
Record: 1-1
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: One of those guys that claims he loved the warriors from day one. We all know one person like that don’t we.
#36 (14.32) Seth “Ho Ho Ho” Vant Hoff
2015: #31 (16.96)
2014: #25 (23.20)
Current Team: Retired
Jersey: #29
Record: 1-4
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: Claims Chicago is too far of a drive, you know damn well if i told you I am having a kegger you would be here Seth.
#35 (14.34) Jake “Truck” Olthoff
2015: NA
2014: NA
Current Team: H-Town Huskies
Jersey: #41
Record: 0-5-1
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: After being publicly criticized by Caleb he never came back. Will he return in 2017 with some vengeance or will he just continue joining fantasy leagues refuse to pay and play Chris Bosh every night.
#34 (15.17) Tony “Tone Bone” Dykstra
2015: #32 (16.59)
2014: #26 (19.26)
Current Team: Retired
Jersey: #33
Record: 1-2
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: Works for a company named Tipsy Elves last year… fine that’s a good enough excuse.
#33 (16.27) John “Crackpipe” Hayes
2015: #30 (17.48)
2014: #27 (18.94)
Current Team: Retired
Jersey: #30
Record: 2-0
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: No John we don’t start on April 20.
#32 (18.27) Austin “AG, Gib, Gibby” Gibson
2015: #26 (21.80)
2014: #21 (27.07)
Current Team: Lake County Liners
Jersey: #11
Record: 5-6
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: His 2016 return was a rough one, Caleb signed him in the second round with high hopes. Biggest question mark of the 2017 campaign. Could he play better drunk though?
#31 (19.05) Ben “Beard Man” Byma
2015: #27 (21.73)
2014: #20 (28.14)
Current Team: Retired
Jersey: #19
Record: 2-4
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: Has a kid and thinks he’s too cool for the league now. Psh.
#30 (18.73) Greg “G-Baby” Gierling
2015: NA
2014: NA
Current Team: Dutch Ovens
Jersey: #40
Record: 3-12
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: Greg has been a huge addition to league with his off the field contributions. In between his intimate moments of watching Kris Bryant’s hair blowing in the wind he will be in charge of the umpire crew for the 2017 playoffs. He also will run the “Going Corn” podcast throughout the 2017 season. He was also admitted to the Board of Directors in December of 2016.
#29 (19.40) Aaron “A-A-Ron” Barnes
2015: #28 (18.51)
2014: NA
Current Team: Bushleague Badgers
Jersey: #37
Record: 4-9-1
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: You better be sick, dead, or mute.
#28 (22.41) Nathan “Natey Z” Zuidema
2015: #29 (18.23)
2014: #33 (10.80)
Current Team: Big Unit Bashers
Jersey: #21
Record: 4-10-3
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 2015 Champion
NWLA Profile:
Notes: The 2015 Champ is one of the few players who has played a game in every season, yet hasn’t played enough to qualify. He seems poised to make a difference this season and prove the critics wrong. If you're me you had to re-read that and see if you actually read that he was a champion. It’s a shame i know.
#27 (22.97) Bo “Big Baby” Hofstra
2015: #25 (23.71)
2014: NA
Current Team: Retired
Jersey: #39
Record: 1-1
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: Hey Jared remember when you drafted him first round and thought it was the biggest steal of the draft….. me to.
#26 (24.13) Jeremiah “Wiltj” Wiltjer
2015: NA
2014: NA
Current Team: Bushleague Badgers
Jersey: #43
Record: 12-5-1
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 2016 Champion
Notes: He had quite the experience in his first season with the league. He was added to the National Tournament last minute. He was also signed mid-way through the season by the Jager Corn Bombers helping them win their first title. In all seriousness it's absolute bs that he is the first Wiltjer to hold the ship.
#25 (27.47) Marty “Spider’ Rasala
2015: NA
2014: NA
Current Team: Big Unit Bashers
Jersey: #44
Record: 6-9-1
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: After a solid first season in the league he looks to make a difference in his first full season. He will be the highest skill ranked player on his team this season, but will he be able to push a Grant led team into a deep playoff run. Also if it’s tied and your batting against him he’s gonna throw high cheese just hit it over, like everyone else last year.
#24 (26.99) Colin “Gym Class” Lautenbach
2015: #20 (31.83)
2014: #13 (35.17)
Current Team: Retired
Jersey: #27
Record: 6-2
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: Claims he had a arm injury last year. Wonder what’s gonna be injured this year.
#23 (27.19) Cody “Whose Mans Is This” Martin
2015: #24 (25.50)
2014: #22 (26.60)
Current Team: Retired
Jersey: #25
Record: 1-1
Experience: 0
All Star: 0
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: No seriously whose man is this guy.
#22 (30.89) Nick “Weiner” Fiene
2015: #16 (35.10)
2014: #15 (32.22)
Current Team: Fantastic Four
Jersey: #18
Record: 9-15-1
Experience: 2 (2014, 2015)
All Star: 1 (2014)
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: A 2014 All-star has slowly dwindled through the years. Only playing a few games last year he drops out of the top 20 for the first time. If only pitch running were a thing in this league, he might actually be above average.
#21 (32.91) Alan ”The Myth” Myszkowski
2015: #12 (38.00)
2014: #3 (49.96)
Current Team: Retired
Jersey: #8
Record: 8-3
Experience: 1 (2014)
All Star: 1 (2014)
Awards: 2014 Champion, 2014 MVP, 2014 Pitcher of the Year, 2014 Rookie of Year, 2014 All Leroy Team, 2014 All Rank Team, 2014 All Batting Team, 2014 All Pitching Team.
NWLA Profile:
Notes: 2014 was the year of Alan. After becoming a team owner for the 2015 season he never came to play once and disappeared from the wiffle world. Leaving many of us wondering what could have been.
#20 (34.11) Jake “JVV” Van Vuren
2015: #23 (26.69)
2014: #31 (13.56)
Current Team: Jager Corn Bombers
Jersey: #9
Record: 16-15
Experience: 2 (2015-2016)
All Star: 0
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: After a season with injuries which include getting run over by a golf cart, water skying into a dock, and falling out of a plane he looks to come back in a full cast ready for action.
#19 (36.96) Mike “Fien Dog” Fiene
2015: #15 (35.81)
2014: #7 (40.21)
Current Team: Big Unit Bashers
Jersey: #6
Record: 12-19-1
Experience: 1 (2014)
All Star: 1 (2014)
Awards: 2014 All Batting Team
NWLA Profile:
Notes: After a big year from the plate last year he will be a huge factor on where the Bashers will go this season. If he starts to come on a consistent basis this season he will be competing for batter of the year once again. Most likely he won’t because he will be sending snaps like he’s in the movie the notebook.
#18 (38.16) Jack “Hilly” Hillegonds
2015: #11 (38.20)
2014: NA
Current Team: Dutch Ovens
Jersey: #36
Record: 15-6-1
Experience: 1 (2015)
All Star: 1 (2015)
Awards: 2015 All Leroy Team, 2015 All Rank Team, 2015 All Batting Team.
NWLA Profile:
Notes: Will he return to his 2015 self, or his 2016 self. That will determine how far the Ovens go this season. A lefty pitcher who can give batters fits when he comes on a consistent basis. Let’s hope his 2017 most iconic moment isn’t Kyle bat flipping his pitches again.
#17 (37.86) Neil “Tied Down” Krooswyk
2015: #21 (29.29)
2014: #24 (24.90)
Current Team: H-Town Huskies
Jersey: #20
Record: 11-24
Experience: 1 (2016)
All Star: 1 (2016)
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: He looks to tackle ownership this season as he will be the only owner with less than 2 years’ experience, he has also publicly claimed he will miss every other week. With getting married this summer as well it’s going to be an absolutely awful season can’t wait to see it shake out.
#16 (39.35) Drew “E-Burg” Eenigenburg
2015: #10 (39.84)
2014: #1 (53.19)
Current Team: Free Agents
Jersey: #7
Record: 20-15-1
Experience: 1 (2014)
All Star: 1 (2014)
Awards: 2014 Champion, 2014 Mr. Leroy, 2014 Owner of the Year, 2014 Monopoly Man, 2014 All Leroy Team, 2014 All Pitching Team.
NWLA Profile:
Notes: The once #1 ranked player was the only player not drafted this past off season. After a 2015 injury to his hand his pitching as fell off and sent his career in a downward spiral that could continue if we don’t see him this year. No word if he plans to try to come out and make a roster, but his Chainsmokers franchise will never be forgotten.
#15 (38.65) Kyle “Big Unit” Reynhout
2015: #18 (33.01)
2014: #14 (33.61)
Current Team: Jager Corn Bombers
Jersey: #1
Record: 15-25
Experience: 2 (2014, 2016)
All Star: 2 (2014, 2016)
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: The co-founder of the league and 2 time all-star rejoins the defending champs with high hopes. Big Unit has never been on a team with a winning record at season’s end and makes a name for himself by his unnecessary trash talking during games.
#14 (38.95) Grant “Pug Lover” Reynhout
2015: #14 (35.31)
2014: #23 (25.84)
Current Team: Big Unit Bashers
Jersey: #10
Record: 16-26-2
Experience: 3 (2014-2016)
All Star: 1 (2015)
Awards: 0
NWLA Profile:
Notes: All eyes are on Grant as he heads into his 4th season as an owner. A negative vibe has been thrown at his managing and leader skills. He must find a way to turn this year around and find his 2015 self.
#13 (40.83) Sam “‘Burnout” Staal
2015: #13 (35.89)
2014: #2 (52.86)
Current Team: Bushleague Badgers
Jersey: #15
Record: 15-19-2
Experience: 2 (2014, 2016)
All Star: 2 (2014, 2016)
Awards: 2014 All Leroy Team, 2014 All Rank Team, 2014 All Pitching Team.
NWLA Profile:
Notes: It was great to see Sam back in action in 2016, although his stats were nowhere near his 2014 campaign he looks to improve with a new team this season. Amount of burnouts vegas line for this season set at 4, make your bets.
#12 (40.59) Jordan “Q-Ball” Mosel
2015: #8 (42.90)
2014: #9 (39.20)
Current Team: Fantastic Four
Jersey: #4
Record: 18-23-1
Experience: 2 (2014-2015)
All Star: 2 (2014-2015)
Awards: 0
Notes: His biggest moment from the 2016 season wasn’t even in Leroy. He hit a huge home run that sent both Hess Field players over the fence in the team’s first double elimination tournament game. He goes into the 2017 season as a player for the first time after losing his team due to eligibility reasons. It seems wiffle ball has become second in his life behind excellent fashion and honestly we can’t complain.
#11 (42.16) Erik “Johnny” Detmar
2015: #19 (32.21)
2014: #19 (28.23)
Current Team: Jager Corn Bombers
Jersey: #28
Record: 27-8
Experience: 1 (2016)
All Star: 1 (2016)
Awards: 2016 Champion, 2016 All Pitching Team
NWLA Profile:
Notes: He heads back to the Bombers and his brother with hopes of a repeat. He improved his hitting last year and with hopes of making the National team he will need a consistent season. Another year on his belt and he looks to be taller than the strike zone this season.
#10 (42.75) Robby “Robster” Zandstra
2015: #9 (41.20)
2014: #11 (36.78)
Current Team: H-Town Huskies
Jersey: #24
Record: 19-14
Experience: 1 (2014)
All Star: 1 (2014)
Awards: 2014 Champion, 2014 All Rank Team, 2014 All Batting Team
NWLA Profile:
Notes: His Sultans of Soy made it all the way to the Championship last year, but were disbanded due to his eligibility. Even in 2014 he barely qualified and if the huskies want to have a chance he needs to be an every week guy.
#9 (44.06) Andrew “Old Country Buffet” Sitter
2015: #17 (34.08)
2014: #10 (38.50)
Current Team: Fantastic Four
Jersey: #26
Record: 16-15-2
Experience: 1 (2016)
All Star: 1 (2016)
Awards: 2016 All Leroy Team, 2016 All Rank Team, 2016 All Batting Team, 2016 All Pitching Team
Notes: One of the best two way players in the game he cleaned house in 2016 leading what seemed like a Kevin-less Fantastic Four team most of the season. He returns to Kevin and will be looked upon to carry most of the load yet again, except when he pitches against Tim…. I’m hungry Sitter.
#8 (45.90) Jared “Sheriff” Jonkman
2015: #7 (43.94)
2014: #18 (31.87)
Current Team: Bushleague Badgers
Jersey: 23
Record: 19-12-3
Experience: 3 (2014-2016)
All Star: 3 (2014-2016)
Awards: 2014 Champion, 2015 All Leroy Team, 2015 & 2016 All Rank Team, 2015 & 2016 All Batting Team, 2015 All Pitching Team
Notes: He returns as an owner for his 3rd season. A big time bat that has some weapons in Jeremiah and Sam this year that could propel a deep playoff run. He also has taken over Logo duties for the league’s future. He single handedly made the Sheriff snapchat filter relevant and we thank him.
#7 (46.45) Matt “Crafty” Dykstra
2015: #22 (29.16)
2014: #16 (32.42)
Current Team: Dutch Ovens
Jersey: 12
Record: 26-10
Experience: 1 (2016)
All Star: 1 (2016)
Awards: 2015 & 2016 Champion, 2016 Pitcher of the Year, 2016 Rookie of the Year, 2016 All Leroy Team, 2016 All Rank Team, 2016 All Batting Team, 2016 All Pitching Team.
Notes: A huge year for Matt as he made a name for himself not only in Leroy, but also the National scene. He won Closer of the Year in the NWLA and had a pivotal homer in the regional game against Huntington to send Leroy to Nationals. As for the Leroy season he won his second Championship, the only player to do so in the league. He goes #1 in the 2017 draft to Jansma as he looks to win his 3rd straight on his 3rd separate team. The only downside is when he can’t choose his balls like last year he will probably suck.
#6 (49.51) Jon “Jonny G” Gibson
2015: #1 (59.41)
2014: #17 (31.35)
Current Team: Lake County Liners
Jersey: #13
Record: 16-16-1
Experience: 1 (2015)
All Star: 1 (2015)
Awards: 2015 Mr. Leroy, 2015 Rookie of Year, 2015 All Leroy Team, 2015 All Rank Team, 2015 All Batting Team, 2015 All Pitching Team
Notes: One of the most feared batters from the plate he comes into 2017 with a sense of new. He will play for a team not owned by Grant for the first time in his career. He joins the 2 time MVP Caleb Jonkman as he looks to regain his 2015 Mr. Leroy form. Also Jon I am not trading you Zach Lavine for Jordan Clarkson for the last time.
#5 (50.26) Kevin “Rev Kev” Vroegh
2015: #3 (54.76)
2014: #4 (50.58)
Current Team: Fantastic Four
Jersey: #14
Record: 27-11-2
Experience: 2 (2014-2015)
All Star: 2 (2014-2015)
Awards: 2015 Champion, 2015 Owner of the Year, 2015 Monopoly Man, 2014 & 2015 All Leroy Team, 2014 All Rank Team, 2014 All Batting Team, 2014 & 2015 All Pitching Team.
Notes: He is coming off a down year as he didn’t even qualify in the 2016 season. Lucky for him the league expanded to 7 teams, because if it hadn’t he would have lost his team. Kevin is a big name in the league never being outside the top 5, yet another season like last, and a couple guys may push him out. He is also dating a girl from Cleveland which makes since why he blew that 1-0 lead in the semi’s last year.
#4 (50.94) Tim “Commish” Wiltjer
2015: #5 (46.55)
2014: #9 (39.51)
Current Team: H-Town Huskies
Jersey: #2
Record: 20-29-3
Experience: 3 (2014-2016)
All Star: 3 (2014-2016)
Awards: 2016 Most Improved Player
Notes: The commissioner and 3 time All-Star joins up with Neil in hopes of making a deep run. Coming off a Most Improved Player season he is looking to make another big leap to become one of the high talent players in the league. Don’t let his self-written bio fool you this dude is the face of Leroy Wiffleball Association and a founder of the league. His new innovations in stats and how they are presented on the website is phenomenal and that can be seen by the revamp of the website and how the league is run for 2017. He’s put money, time, and more than enough effort in this league and looks to have something to show for it this year in nationals and in the local league. Tim is the MVP just because of how much he does for this league and the guys that play, most people will never see how much he does but it’s always there.
#3 (53.55) Kyle “Mr. Wonderful” Jansma
2015: #4 (51.28)
2014: #6 (47.93)
Current Team: Dutch Ovens
Jersey: #3
Record: 17-28-1
Experience: 3 (2014-2016)
All Star: 3 (2014-2016)
Awards: 2016 All Leroy Team, 2015 & 2016 All Batting Team
NWLA Profile:
Notes: Going into his first year as an owner he looks to finally control his own destiny so to speak. He has no excuses this season as he holds all the commands in who he plays with going forward. Will he be able to finally have that Mr. Leroy break out season we have all been waiting for or will it be just another “Bun in the Oven”. I guess we'll find out in August.
#2 (58.29) Brett “Juan” Detmar
2015: #6 (44.18)
2014: #12 (35.69)
Current Team: Jager Corn Bombers
Jersey: #16
Record: 33-13
Experience: 3 (2014-2016)
All Star: 3 (2014-2016)
Awards: 2016 Champion, 2016 Mr. Leroy, 2016 Owner of Year, 2016 Monopoly Man, 2016 All Leroy Team, 2015 & 2016 All Rank Team, 2014-2016 (3) All Pitching Team.
Notes: This kid had a year to remember. Leading his Jager Corn Bombers to one of the greatest seasons we have ever seen from a team. He also made a huge splash on the national scene shutting down SWBL in regional play, then defeating HRL in double elimination after polishing off a 24 pack of keystone the night. He will also be a big figure for the league behind the scenes and the future growth of the league.
#1 (63.49) Caleb “Jonks” Jonkman
2015: #2 (57.19)
2014: #5 (47.53)
Current Team: Lake County Liners
Jersey: #17
Record: 28-15-1
Experience: 3 (2014-2016)
All Star: 3 (2014-2016)
Awards: 2015 Champion, 2015 & 2016 MVP, 2014-2016 (3) Batter of the Year, 2015 Pitcher of the Year, 2015 Most Improved Player, 2014-2016 (3) All Leroy Team, 2014-2016 (3) All Rank Team, 2014-2016 (3) All Batting Team, 2015 & 2016 All Pitching Team.
Notes: No doubt the face of the league on a local and national level for the league. He has made an impact for the league in massive ways with outreach in the past season. He also sets the bar as a 2 time MVP, he will look to take on a new challenge this season as an owner. He takes over the Lake County Liners in hopes to win the few awards he hasn’t yet already won. This kid is a big part of why Leroy is where it is and how it has come to that point. His tenacity and drive to make this league the best it can be is superb and we will be looking to him to keep that up as well as lead our national team in hitting, a sore spot for us, this upcoming tournament. The only thing that will shut him down…. lightning.
