YORK YAKS
YORK, PENNSYLVANIA
2017 MID ATLANTIC REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS
TOURNAMENT ROSTER
Jared Laird (c) – RHP/RHB – Age 35 – Pennsylvania
Jarod Bull – RHP/RHB – Age 30 – Pennsylvania
2017 MAW Rookie of the Year
Jerry Hill – LHB – Age 53 – Virginia
Dan Potter – RHP/RHB – Age 35 – Pennsylvania
Noah Silverman – RHP/RHB – Age 21 – Pennsylvania
TEAM OVERVIEW
Sure to be the local favorite at this year’s tournament, the York Yaks are also the longest tenured franchise participating in this inaugural event. The original team members – childhood friends from York – competed in their own local league starting in 1998, with their first outside tournament coming at the 2002 Summer Showdown in Trenton, New Jersey. While some of the founding members branched out in different Wiffle® directions in subsequent years, the Yaks continued to be a regular fixture at Wiffle Up! tournaments through the mid-2000’s. After a hiatus, the team reformed as one of the principal members of Mid Atlantic Wiffle® in 2017. The Yaks won the 2017 MAW regular season title and are a consistent threat in Mid Atlantic tournaments.
The Yaks’ roster has turned over – more than once – during the past eighteen years as one might expect, but a pair of original members will be on their United Wiffle®Ball team this October. Veterans Jared Laird and Dan Potter will serve as the foundation for the team they have been apart off on and off for the past 18 years. While injuries and age have taken a toll on their arms, one or both veterans could see some time on the mound should the right match up come along. Potter is a slick fielder and a tremendous athlete. He’s also proven to be a big game player offensively over the years. While his offensive numbers have ticked down over the past few years, the Yaks are counting on him to ignite their offense this October.
Jarod Bull has been a part of the Yaks’ Mid Atlantic roster since that organization’s inception in 2017. A tall right hander with an unassuming delivery, Bull anchored the Yaks rotation in 2017 (winning Rookie of the Year as a true competitive Wiffle®Ball newcomer) and in 2018, while showing incremental but tangible improvements each season from 2017 through 2019. This season, Bull has stepped aside as the team’s ace in favor of the Yaks’ newest acquisition, Noah Silverman. Since joining the Yaks two-tournaments into the 2019 Mid Atlantic season, Noah has improved rapidly and gone from under-the-radar prospect to established top tier pitcher virtually overnight. The 21-year old can carry a heavy workload, which the Yaks will need if they advance deep into the tournament.
Rounding out the roster and making his Yaks debut is Jerry Hill. A MAW player since the beginning, Hill captained the Barrel Bruisers for three years before joining the New School Risers for the 2020 Mid Atlantic season. Jerry is both a smart and athletic hitter, who has seen his batting average and slugging tick up this year while playing on the Risers. One of Hill’s greatest offensive attributes is his knowledge of the strike zone, which is perhaps somewhat underutilized in a 4-2 count environment. An extra strike to work with could provide a substantial boost to his on-base and power numbers.