Stafford excels in whiffle ball

CORONA DEL MAR — Sam Stafford earned Player of the Game honors as he led the Patriots to an 18-16.5 victory over the D-Ward Ballers in the seventh edition of the Corona del Mar Whiffle Ball Tournament on Friday.

Stafford hit 28 home runs for the tournament.

The D-Ward Ballers, the away team, were automatically granted a half run before the game started, so there could not be a tie. The home team was decided with a fierce game of rock, paper, scissors.

Through various sponsors, the tournament raised $5,000 and awarded a $1,000 scholarship to wrestler Greg Wheeler.

Kelly McKetteric was anointed “Wiffle Ball Queen,” and Austin Elliot’s .792 batting average was the highest in the tournament.

Holly Van Hiel hit two home runs for the D-Ward Ballers. The 2007 all stars featured Stafford, Brittany Martinez, Elliot, Dustin Hladek and Kyle Legrand.

The Corona del Mar whiffle ball tournament is the brainchild of Gary Almquist, who coaches wrestling and the freshman football team at the school.

— From staff reports