Summer Midcore Kickball at Ballard Boys and Girls Club Sundays

Jeff Haines may be POTW, but the last game of the day between Ball Bustas and Das Boot was really the "Game of the Week". Das Boot was down big early on, and after an injury to one of their players things looked like they were going from bad to worse. But the Boot rallied, playing strong defense and sneaking in a run here and there until they exploded in the 6th and we were tied 7-7 going into the 7th inning (hey, wasn't there some big 7 thing going on this week?). In the bottom of the 7th Ball Bustas had runners on first and third with no outs- a tough spot for Das Boot, as even a pop fly might score a run. A deep booming kick to right and it looked like the game was over. But no, a great catch and relay almost doubled up the runner at third as narrowly beat the throw back. Jeff Haines popped up in the infield and another great catch was made for the second out, but some bold base coaching sent the runner on the tag, and a mere second or two made the difference between a third out at home and extra innings,and the Bustas winning it 8-7 on that play.
Congratulations to Jeff, The Ball Bustas, AND Das Boot for giving us all a great way to finish the day!

When the first inning of the game between Miss Mackey and The Ballers and Turn Your Head and Cough ended with a score of 5-3, we knew we were in for one heck of a game. And indeed it was the Game of The Week. The momentum shifted often, with both teams holding tenuous leads at times. But it was Anne Cosens' tremdous defense on the pitchers mound that secured her team the win.Anne played solid the whole game, but became a legend on two great plays late in the game. First, she caught a scorching line drive hit right back at her in the sixth with the bases loaded to end the inning, keep the lead, and leave the kicker speechless. Then in the bottom of the seventh, Anne had a pivotal strikeout with the bases loaded, so that any force out would ened the game. Miss Mackey had clawed their way back to within one, and threatened to take it, but on the next kick it was all over, with the third base runner being tagged out just a few feet from home. Wotta game! Wotta performance! Hooray!

Holding nothing back, Rheanna dove face-first into first base to try and beat the throw out. She also slid belly-down into home plate for one of the go-ahead runs over the opposing team, Great Balls of Fire. Both teams cheered for this player' sacrifice. By the end of the game, her once-white shirt was nice and dirty- like a real kickball player.

Nuff Said steamrolled the Sunday Ballard Boys and Girls Club Midcore league with a boatload of talent. But it was Franco Delorean's outstanding play in the playoffs and championship that earned them a title. An honorable mention goes to the Bada Bings' Josh Platis for the play of the week- throwing a Nuff Said runner out a few steps from a home run from the outfield. But by that tiome, the game was already in the bag, thanks to Franco's game changing kicks. In the championship game the story was the same, but more importantly, Franco had the play of the game- a leaping fingertip catch in the bottom of the seventh, straight up robbing the Balls Smashers of a sure hit and a potential game tying run. Congratulations to Franco and Nuff Said, on their championship- you guys earned it.