Justin fails to win in third championship
October 4, 2004 | By Justin Hastings

It has happened again. Justin Hastings, poster boy for the HMWL, has failed to win when it counts the most: in HMWL Championship games.

"I just didn't get it done this year," said Hastings. "There were plenty of at-bats yesterday that I could have gotten hits and I just didn't have my 'A' game."

Hastings has appeared in all three championship games in the history of the HMWL, but has come up on the losing end all three times.

The HMWL's first postseason game came in 2001. There, Justin Hastings and then-rookie Matt Lincoln took a back seat to the dominant pitching and hitting of Rich McMackin (and Matt Cassaro), 7-2.

"Let's be honest. We were never really in that game. Sure, we were within a few runs once the sixth inning rolled around, but that game was Rich's to win."

"It's amazing I keep coming back and keep playing solid wiffleball."

2002 found Justin in the championship yet again. "This was the HMWL's greatest championship. The league was the most competitive that year, and the championship mirrored that."

After getting out to an early lead, Justin and teammate Matt Cassaro fell victim to the so-called "Justin Curse" as Fred Rogers ended the championship game with a solo walk-off homer.

"Would have been the greatest moment in league history," said Justin. "After Rich dominated the league that year…to outplay him and upstart Rogers would have been historic." Instead, the game was in the history books with another pairing as champions.

Then came 2004, with Justin's third attempt at a championship victory. Although the game arrived far after the final regular season game, the pressure was still high.

"Originally, I thought this game would be somewhat of a snore. There were no fans, no video coverage, and it lacked the superstar appeal that the previous two games had. But when that game got into the middle innings, the tension was unbearable."

Much like 2002, Justin lost on another walk-off homer, this time to brother Craig.

"Forget the fact that it was my brother who ended my championship dreams. To lose back-to-back championship games in the same exact fashion is heartbreaking. It's amazing I keep coming back and playing solid wiffleball."

So, after three postseason losses in a row, is Justin Hastings truly a cursed wiffleballer?

"I hope not," said Justin. "I just have to play better, that's all. It's a game of inches. An extra base here, or a pitch thrown two inches this way, or stopping a grounder cleanly…they all add up to victories. And those mistakes are something that can't be made in the HMWL if you want to win championships."

Does Justin have what it takes to be an HMWL champion?

"Only time will tell."