There's a new "World Series" championship team in Rockland. But there won't be a parade through the Canyon of Heroes for these guys - wiffle ball hasn't gotten that big, yet.

The Palisades Wiffle Ball League held its third annual World Series Saturday afternoon at their home field in back of the Fred S. Keller Elementary School in Palisades. And, for a third straight year, the Congers Blue Jays came out on top as the kings of wiffle ball in Rockland.

It's wiffle ball like you have never seen before: Players from Rockland and Westchester with custom wiffle ball bats that cost up to $200 going up against pitchers like 18 year old Dakota Kenny of the Tappan Zee Pirates, whose fastball has been clocked at 89 mph, and this is all played on a league regulation field.  

So if what you are expecting is to hit a lob with a yellow plastic bat, you are in for a big surprise.

"When guys get into the game, they need to work up to this, which is why it's great that we have a 22 game season, because the guys will improve a lot," said Brett Bevelacqua, the Palisades WBL's Commissioner, or as the league members like to call him, the ambassador of wiffle ball.  His right hand man, John Colluzi, added, "What's great about our league is that we all started at the beginning, so guys that who want to play don't know what they're getting themselves into."

Vying for the title this year were the Congers Blue Jays and the Tappan Zee Pirates.  The Blue Jays were comprised of Pete Montanez, Matt Holbrook, and Anthony Lando in his rookie year.  "I committed to six games and I came to every game," said Lando.  "It's addicting, I look forward to playing every Saturday and Sunday."

Making up the Pirates lineup were Bobby Daly, Kenny, Joey Maniscalco, and Lance Lampone.  It was an especially interesting match-up this year, since Montanez, Holbrook, and Lando are all 34 years old, while Daly, Kenny, Maniscalco, and Lampone are each 18.  To make it better, the Jays were the defending champions and one of the top ranked teams for the season, while the Pirates fought their way up from last place to get to the World Series.  Both teams, however, were made up of childhood friends who, through wiffle ball, can find the time to keep those friendships alive.

"Petey and I had known each other since second grade, and have been playing wiffle ball since then," said Holbrook.  "So we stayed in touch because of wiffle ball through college and after."

The Blue Jays won it again for their third straight year in two straight games.  Both pitchers, Montanez and Kenny, pitched one hitters in the opening game.  The game stayed tied 0-0 through the bottom of the fifth, when Matt Holbrook hit a walk-off home run to win game one for the defending champions.  Holbrook, who is known for his clutch hitting, lived up to the hype as the Jays went up 1-0 in the series.

As the Blue Jays celebrated, the Pirates shook off the loss and got ready to come back in game two.  Right off the bat, the Jays dampened their hopes when they took the lead in the top of the first, 2-0.  The Pirates got one back in the bottom of the inning, however the defending champs came right back in the top of the second with another run.  The Pirates tacked on another in the third, but they could not stop the Jays, who came up in a big way in the fourth with four runs.  The bottom of the fourth and the fifth went scoreless to give the Blue Jays a 7-2 victory and their third straight World Series title.

"It was great to win it, because it all starts with the message board," said Montanez of the series.  "When guys talk [trash] then you just go and prove them wrong.  We didn't talk [trash] all season, just went out and won it."

"These guys, this is their third time winning," said Bevelacqua.  "This was probably their toughest journey this year, so this one counts a lot and it's a big deal for them.  They've had different teammates, but Pete and Holbrook have won every year so far.  It's getting closer now though, which is great for the league."

The 22-game season began this year in late April and concluded Saturday.  Though the season is over, there will still be an awards dinner to be had, which will be held this year in November at Liberty's American Grill and Sports Bar just minutes from their home field.  Here, league members will be presented awards and plaques in recognition of their performances this season, all while having a great time with their friends in the league.

"It's my first year in the league, I'm 41 and I love it," said Park Ridge resident Michael Bennet of the Royals.  "There's not a bad guy in the group, out of the whole league."

"I've been here since day one, and I wouldn't miss it for the world," said Colluzzi.

A particularly unique aspect of this league, and a testament to the timelessness of the sport, is that this great group of guys spans generations, with an age range of 18-41.  This is one of the things about the league that the guys appreciate the most.

"No other leagues like this man, great group of guys here," said Kenny.  "You can be anywhere from 18-50 and be in this league."

"I'm 34 and the best part about it is that it makes you feel like you're 16 or 17 again," said Lando.

"This is why we come," said Montanez, "to hear stories and be youthful like these guys."

If you ask anyone, the league's success is all thanks to Bevelacqua and what he does for the it with all the effort and time that he puts into it.  From collecting stats, to taking, editing and posting online video and pictures, Bevelacqua makes it a professionally run league that gives recognition to the players while still not taking it too seriously to detract from the great time had by all.

"It's the little things," said Montanez.  "You go online to the website and onto YouTube and you check out the stats and the videos.  It's a lot of work for him (Bevelacqua), but it's great for us, because you can see, oh hey, I'm online.'  He added with a smile, "and it's bragging rights."

Holbrook echoed these sentiments, saying, "Brett is the heart and soul of everything.  It's his passion and organization that makes everyone so into it.  He gives people the chance to play the game they love without having to get nine people together.  It brings baseball to a playable level.  He is the wiffle ball ambassador."

The Palisades WBL itself is expanding as it has grown to six teams this year and will expand to 10 next year. Bevelacqua is also in the process of growing the league to play in other schools and in other towns.

"It started with five guys and a chair, nothing like this," said Bevelacqua. "Balls went into the road, too many people started hitting home runs and making a big deal about it, so guys started throwing harder and it turned into this."