Uncle loses a nailbiter... After taking an early 4-0 lead My Drunk Uncle settled in with some steady defense holding top seed Short Bus to very little for the first couple innings.
Short Bus started to inch their way back into the game, and then exploded in the fifth inning with a lot of help from the Drunk Uncle defense. That put Short Bus up 11-4. Tim Grant answered with a grand slam to keep it close. After nine seasons in search of a MLT league title, the Short Bus, led by POG Joey Martensen's blend of offense & defense, finally complete their quest and held on in the seventh inning to capture their first kickball league title. Oh and, great game Ken.
Callas come up short... On a sloppy pitch and a cool evening, the top two seeds met on the diamond for a classic.
Shot Callas had control for most of the game, taking a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh. Magic struck again for the Shetland Ponies as they mounted an amazing comeback led by POG Shaun Lesser's Grand Salami to tie the game.
Congrats to the Ponies, who most assuredly will move to Midcore in '08.
Three Playoff Games all within one run. They shower in jean shorts, refuse to walk through their homes in their birthday suit, and have no idea what it feels like to streak through a field or skinny dip in the ocean. They also came out on top during the Sunday Afternoon Fall Co-ed Kickball league at Unthank Park. Who are these, crazy people? The Never Nudes!
Three intense games brought nice closure to the season. All four teams who made it to the second round of playoffs equally deserved the championship ring, or pizza, rather. In the first semi-final game, the Nudes took on the ever-so-solid and always spirited Glady McGees. Both teams had some great catches and slides and bunts and boots. The game even went into an extra inning, but the Nudes came out ahead with a score of 7-6. Mary and Christie from the Nudes shared the title of player of the game for their bunting, base running and fielding prowess.
In the second semi-final game, teen girl squad took on Balls Deep. Another tense game, this one quite defensive, included behind the back catches and skillful forced-outs. Again, both teams deserved the "W", but only one could win. Teen girls squad gave it that extra little umph in the eighth inning, ending the game with a score of 3-2. Kudos to Todd for scoring that final winning run.
And then the championship game: Never nudes vs. teen girl squad. Wow. During first inning, the Nudes scored one run. Home plate was never crossed by a runner again. A combination of each kicker being blinded by the sun, and some tight fielding led to a true defensive battle. Brett, who played behind the plate, had quite the arm, throwing out lady bunters left and right. "Three up, three down" was the theme of the game and the Nudes held their ground for seven innings, holding the final score to 1-0.
Dominating offense topples defense Players amassed at Montivilla Park on a cold and sunny November afternoon. The reason; to battle head to head for the ultimate bragging rights as Kickball Champions. We started the first game of three at 4pm as the sun was setting. The field lights made it feel like you were in the bigs. The first pitch was thrown and from there on out the pace was quick and the offensive game of ‘Blue Steel’ was too much for the defensive powerhouse known better as ‘We Kick Balls’. Up early in the game ‘Blue Steels’ Bryan Duffel was able to single handedly hold off their opponents to advance to the finals.
Game two was set between the undefeated team known as ‘Cubicalsex’ and the mighty ‘Cooperstown’ team. Even though winning the toss ‘Cubicalsex’ decided to kick first. That gave them an edge and caught ‘Cooperstown’ off guard when they smoked in 7 runs in the top of the first inning. ‘Cooperstown’ was working from behind but was able to come back late in the 5th inning to make it 7-4. Jake Tyrell was able to thwart ‘Cooperstown’ hopes with a miraculous double play with a force out at home and cannon throw to first base. The game ended with ‘Cubicalsex’ atop ‘Cooperstown’ and advancing to the finals.
The stage was set, these two teams met in the final game of the regular season. ‘Blue Steel’ was ready to take some revenge. They got off to a fast start and were able to score two runs against ‘Cubicalsex’ in the bottom of the first inning. It wasn’t until the top of the third inning that Derek Weldon punched the ball deep into center field to bring in two runs for ‘Cubicalsex’ to tie the game. It was raining runs after that with ‘Cubicalsex’ padding their lead 10-2 in the top of the fourth inning. ‘Blue Steel’ had taken enough and rallied to bring their team back with a score of 10-7, down by only three in the bottom of the fifth. It was looking close but some key errors allowed ‘Cubicalsex’ to run off with the championship game, 13-7.
The way of the Ninja: refuse to walk, always kick! On a glorious sunday afternoon, the Ninjas proved their worth by defeating the Hot pits in the championship game. The hot pits, having fought off two previous teams to reach the final game, displayed incredible determination and will. They defeated the Kickballz in their first game by turning not one but two triple plays. The final score was 8 to 7 with the final out being made by Ryan Oster to stop a kickballz late inning rally. In their second game, they only scored 2 points but it proved to be enough since they held the Marble bags to just one run. Again, it came down to the final out where first baseman Brandon Springer chased down a potential line drive winning kick and got the final out at first base. The championship proved to be a battle again. The Ninjas jumped out to a quick lead thanks to an inside the park homerun by Jason. It was not a traditional inside the park homerun but non the less it counted. He simply refused to stop running and avoided two different throws by the Hot pits to march safely over homeplate. After the first two innings, both teams settled into a defensive matchup with several 1-2-3 innnings. Unfortunetaly for the Hot Pits, they had reached their boiling point and were unable to steer their ship back on course. The Ninjas shut down every opportunity following. It is important to note that the Ninjas infield defense was impenetrable.
Kickmees come up short in cinderella story... The Tea Baggers ruined the run of the Kickmees with a solid all-around team performance. Ms. Gibson a few snazzy defensive plays, but she was an offensive juggernaut. The game stayed close until near the end, when the Baggers pulled away.
Kickmees seemed to have lost their magic from the semifinal game in which they handily took down the # 1 seeded Muffin Clan. The Baggers advanced on a no-show Hot Dog team that puzzled everyone.
Schweaty Balls just weren't hot enough... For the first couple innings, it looked as though it was going to be a big defensive battle. By the fifth inning, Bavaria had built a comfortable lead, with the help of POG Anna Martin. Putting on the clamps, the Illuminated Kickers played stingy 'D', and had brought some strategy. The scouting reports paid off, as the Kickers put the smack down on the Schweaty Balls that even Alec Baldwin would have been proud of.
Toros victims of layoff time... The Midget Assassins were on a mission, riding a 13-game win streak leading back to their summer season. They completed another undefeated season, and capture their second league title. Their only loss this year was in their spring league championship game.
Los Toros avenged their regular season loss to the Wyld Stallyns win a decisive semifinal victory over them.
On this Championship Night the Assassins were just too strong for Los Toros.
Led by POG Sean K.'s mixture of offense and defensive prowess.
Bone City Holds On In Dramatic Fashion After winning their semi-final round game, Bone City looked like they were going to make it a laugher in the championship game too. As it turned out, it was a heart stopping finish. After Bone City jumped out to a 7-1 lead, seemingly being in total control, Team Fiesta en Los Pantelones put together a couple of rallies in order to pull within two runs heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. In the seventh, it looked like they were going to climb all the way back. Fiesta quickly scored one run and had runners on first and second with nobody out, poised to win the championship. But then a huge double play turned the tide and the third out was recorded on the next pitch, and Bone City was able to hold on and prove themselves as the champions of Thursday Kickball @ Lower Woodlands. It was the first loss of the season for Team Fiesta, and a measure of revenge for Bone City, as they lost to the team in white earlier in the season.
Benefits Denied... In the semifinals, the Kicks w/ Benefits took care of the Rejects, and Safety 3rd completed a bottom of the 7th, 3-run comeback off the foot of T. Harder's GW-HR.
Carrying the magic on, this lucky #3 seed took an early lead and held on fighting off a few late inning comeback attempts by #1 seed Kicks w/Benefits.
POTW Dan O'Donnell led Safety 3rd to their first league championship!
Big Booty handed first loss in two seasons... In a true Fall classic, with the rain pouring down, a battle ensued. Back and forth, each team having and losing the lead. As the seventh started, Big Booty had a comfortable 2-run lead, and needed just three outs to complete their run.
Chopper wasn't having it. They mustered all they could, and led by the foot of POTW Joel Radtke, they made their cinderella story come true, with a big rally, and some stiff defense in the bottom of the seventh.
Congrats Chopper!
Cannon Balls Wins "The Greatest Kickball Game Ever Played"
Cannon Balls take the Championship in 9 Innings It took extra innings for the midcore championship to be decided, and finally after nine back and forth innings of kickball, Cannon Balls pulled out a 14-13 victory. The win was pulled out in dramatic fashion. Cannon Balls went into the bottom of the 7th, needing three runs to tie, and with two outs they got a two-run double that sent the game into extra innings, at which point they needed another comeback in the 8th and 9th inning, that they were able to pull off. Congradulations to the winners, and also to Roger's Mom, as both teams were part of the most dramatic, heart stopping, kickball game the Statdog has ever seen.
If you are Happy (Innings) and you know it.... In a game that ebbed and flowed, score wise, Happy Innings relied on great defense by their third baseman and outfield gems by their left fielder to ensrhine themselves into kickball immortality. Ball Squad jumped out in front in the early innings and seemed primed to upset the happy ending for Happy Innings. However, Happy Innings had a seven run rally in the middle innings to take the lead and never looked back. Ball Squad, never saying died, made the game close to the end but could not get the tying run to the plate. Both teams played great in the early rounds of the playoffs and both teams' offense was to much in the earlier rounds thus setting up a game for the ages. It was Innings' defense especially by third baseman Kevin Haack who eliminated the effectiveness of bunting by the Squad's talented female players. Haack used a timing mechanism where he charged in, full speed, at the exact moment the player bunted the ball and was able to throw them out at first almost every time. The left fielder also game up with some great catches and ran down players trying to advance on the him with unbelievable bursts of speed. Both Ball Squad and Happy Innings displayed timely kicking and defense, however, Innings just had that extra gear to outslug the Ball Squad. Congratulations to Happy Innings. It was a privilege to umpire every team this season. Thank you all for a great regular and playoff season.
Manhandlers taken down in first championship game... With close wins in their semifinal matches, the Softcore Championship had immense buildup. A #1 vs #2 seed matchup, and the last time these two played, was a Draw in the first game of the season.
Both teams brought their A game, as one goofy inning seemed to have put Punch List out of reach of the Manhandlers.
POG Izzy Cavazos hunkered down the defense and made some key defensive stops to thwart late inning comebacks by his opponents.
Despite the condition of the ball, only one walk was issued and the game finished with the tying run at the plate.
Another Fall Wedding, still no ring for Sucka Punch... In the semifinals Sucka Punch took down the Badgers with a bottom of the seventh, two outs, base knock by POG Allister.
The Championship Game was a close game for the first couple innings. Hey Buddy jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first, but Sucka Punch answered to tie it in the second. Hey Buddy's captain Oliver busted the game wide open with a grand slam to put them up for good in the bottom of the third. As they tightened up the "D", they never let up on offense, & Sucka Punch just couldn't get much going late.
A valiant try, to their credit Sucka Punch was missing the mysterious ruffian from the first meeting between these two Seattle greats.
