BeachSmash Brings Wiffle Ball Back To Manasquan

MANASQUAN, NJ – Wiffle ball will be making its return to the beaches of Manasquan on Aug 7 with the fifth-annual BeachSmash wiffleball tournament on Riddle Way beach, with proceeds going towards the Manasquan Recreation Department.

According to Anthony Nuzzolo, founder and creator of BeachSmash, the idea from the tournament was the result of him and his friends playing whiffle ball growing up and wanting to bring wiffle ball to the beach.

"As we got older, my buddies and I started playing on the sand rather than grass. You could dig your feet in at home plate. You could dive for a line drive then jump in the ocean to cool off. You could run and run for a fly ball and not worry about hitting a tree or worse,” Muzzolo said,

“We would play for hours on the large expanse of beach at Cape May. For me, that is where the idea of a true beach-based wiffleball tournament started.”

When creating the tournament, Nuzzolo quickly realized that creating a wiffle ball tournament on the beach needs a lot of creativity, as there are many factors to consider.

“The concept of bringing a real wiffleball style tournament to the beach was initially challenging. It is very different than playing on a grassy field in a park setting. The beach has a lot of environmental dynamics to consider. Everything from wind, sand, beachgoers, bats, and to the actual ball itself needed to be considered for tournament-style gameplay,” Nuzzolo said, saying that it “took a few years” before BeachSmash has become what it is today.

“Creating a customized / deployable “stadium-style” field for the beach environment was not easy. Manufacturing outfield walls, custom team bling, flexible giant flags, spiked strike zones, large sponsor backdrops, boundary lines, and overall gameplay had to function properly on the beach in order for the entire concept became a reality.”

Nuzzolo credits wiffleball and the beaches of Manasquan for the tournament's growth since its inception, as it is both easy and fun to play.

“It’s easy and, for the most part, very inclusive. It’s not gender-specific, it’s not political, and it's not stressful,” Nuzzolo said.

“It is fun, it is healthy, and it brings people of all ages and backgrounds together - and what better place to bring people together than at the beach!”

To register for the BeachSmash tournament on Aug. 7 or to look for more information about BeachSmash, you can check out their website.