Dynasty!!!

Well it took some time but we are back online! Apologizes go out to all of Kickball Nation for having to wait so long for a much needed end of season update. 

Unless you have been living under a kickball rock or haven't heard the news, Kickin' N' Screamin has done it once again and are the Fall 2011 season's King of Kickball champs. This is their 3rd consecutive King of Kickball title which undoubtedly makes them Sun City Kickball's 1st kickball dynasty. Not only did they win three back-to-back-to-back titles, KNS has only lost ONE game in three seasons to achieve this amazing accomplishment. They have set the bar high for all kickball teams in El Paso. They are the gold standard. Now that they have dominated the local kickball circuit, their next stop is national kickball dominance. They have already earned multiple state titles in New Mexico and Texas, but a national title would complete their already impressive resume. Again, hats off to Kickin' N' Screamin'! 

 

However let's not forget the Fall 2011 Season runner-up - Kixxx. Although they never received the kickball buzz and hype of being a top notch kickball contender, they quietly flew under the radar and made it to the championship game. Their skills on the kickball field were ridiculously over-looked and understated, as they gave KNS all they could handle during the championship game. If you missed this game then you missed an epic match-up. Very unfortunate. It was a treat to see both Kixxx and KNS battle it out for the kickball crown. A perfect end to another great kickball season!

 

Heartbreaker

Photo Courtesy of Calvin Bell

Round 2 of the SCK Fall 2011 season ended in complete utter heartbreak for some teams, while others secured their spot in the final 4 and are that much closer to the King of Kickball crown.

First, a big congratulations goes out to #1 Kickin' N' Screamin' and #2 I'd Hit It, who have so far earned their titles as the number 1 and number 2 teams in the league. They move on to the Final 4 with big wins this past Wednesday. Most, if not all, of kickball nation expected to see both these teams in the finals and now they have arrived. Now on to the heartbreak. Unfortunately both underdog teams, # 6 New Kicks on the Block and #13 Suck My Kick had their dreams of kickball glory crushed in dramatic fashion.

Photo Courtesy of Calvin Bell

 After having the lights go out during Round #1, the #4 Shockers and #13 Suck My Kick would meet again to finish what they started. The game would resume at the top of the 5th inning with the game tied at one a piece. The Shockers had the first kick and came out swinging. They quickly scored putting themselves ahead by 1 run. That was until, miraculously, Suck My Kick was able to make a huge defensive stop and limit the Shockers to just one run. Even more surprising was Suck My Kick somehow loaded the bases in their half of the inning and had zero outs. For one fleeting moment it seemed as if the underdog crew had a chance to upset the mighty Shockers. However that would not be the case, the more experienced Shockers were able to deal an absolutely devastating blow to a very inexperienced Suck My Kick rookie team by ending the game on a very rare triple play. It was a gut wrenching thing to watch. The worst part was watching the confused looks of the new rookie kickballers as they had to be informed of what had just happened. BUT...those are the breaks and the mighty Shockers move on to the Final 4.

Photo Courtesy of Calvin Bell

Suck My Kick was not the only team to have to suffer a heart-breaking loss. The New Kicks on the Block had to swallow a brutal walk off 3-run homerun with 2 outs in their pocket, the bottom of the inning and a 2 run lead. To add insult to injury, the New Kicks pretty much dominated their match-up against a very skilled and experienced Kixxx crew. New Kicks seemed to be in control the entire game, right up until it mattered the most. You could even see the distraught look of defeat on the faces of the Kixxx players. Lucky for them their star pitcher, and now star kicker, Pipi was able to bail them out. Another tough moment to watch, but AGAIN those are the breaks kickballers. Sometimes the ball bounces your way and sometimes it doesn't. In the end, Kixxx picks up another win and is now in-line for a chance at the King of Kickball crown.

It is now Finals Week and the excitement is building. Congrats to the Final 4 teams:

#1 - Kickin' N' Screamin'
#2 - I'd Hit It
#3 - Kixxx
#4 - Shockers

Round 2 *Ding*Ding*

Photo Courtesy of Calvin Bell

The 1st Round of the Fall 2011 season yielded some of the most exciting playoff games in Sun City Kickball history. All the games were closely contested match-ups, each one an intense nail biter. Hopefully this trend continues through the rest of the playoffs.

Let's take a look at some of the final results from this past week. We'll start with the Play-In match-up which was between the veteran Balls & Dolls and the heart-filled Suisliders. The game was initially predicted to be an easy win for the Balls & Dolls. However this game proved to be a lot more difficult than anticipated and a little too close for comfort the Bs&Ds. In the end, they inched by the Suisliders with a 1-0 final verdict, but the night was not yet over for the scrappy Balls & Dolls. Their play-in win earned them a Round 1 match-up against the plummeting Drunken Monkeyz.

Photo Courtesy of Calvin Bell

As noted in the previous post, the Drunken Monkeyz were living on a prayer last Wednesday. They would have to play the winner of the play-in game. A match-up against the Suisliders would have been a more favorable match-up than one against the Balls & Dolls. Had the Suisliders advanced from the play-in game, the Monkeyz would probably still be in the hunt. However the Machine, for whatever reason, tends to struggle against the Balls & Dolls clan. During the Spring 2011 post-season, the Bs&Ds were the team that knocked the Monkeyz from King of Kickball contention. Again this season they knocked the Monkeyz out of contention once more. Not to mention, the Balls & Dolls also beat the Monkeyz during the regular season. Although the game was very close, the Bs&Ds won this match-up with an extremely close 2-1 final score.

A very good Kixxx team received a scare from the Wreck Division team Balls of Furry. Unfortunately I was not there to witness the events that led to this close match-up, but I believe the 2-0 final between an elite division team and a lower experienced team tells the tale. Kixxx walked away from this one with a win, but barely.

Photo Courtesy of Calvin Bell

As predicted the Party Pandas v.s Chilez Y Chilindrinas was a knock out drag out bout. C & C has continuously demonstrated that they are up-and-coming within the league and are only going to get better with time. They came very close to making a huge statement by almost picking up their first post-season win. However the Pandas were able to battle it out, kept on grinding, and escaped with a 4-2 final score.

One More Shot took on New Kicks on the Block head on, which ended up being the longest game of the night. It took 9 innings to wrap this one up. Big play after big play kept both teams in the running and there seemed to be no end in sight. Just when you thought one team was about make to play and put this game to bed, the other side would come roaring back, saving themselves from elimination. The game changer had to be One More Shot battling back during the bottom of the 5th inning. Trailing by 2 points, One More Shot quickly brought in the 2 runs they needed to stay alive and take the game into extra innings. Both teams put it all on the field and left it all on the field. Although the New Kicks would eventually walk away with the win, One More Shot earned much respect from all the surroundings kickballers and Kickball Nation in general.

Photo Courtesy of Calvin Bell

The only decisive win of the night came at the hands of the Billy Bad Asses. They were able to put up a nice solid 4-1 win over the Drippin Wet Posse. Next up the Bad Asses have the #1 seed Kickin' N' Screamin'. This one should be a great game to watch. Although KNS is the team to beat, the Bad Asses might have some surprises in-store for the KNS crew. Kickin' N' Screamin is coming off a bye-week and it will be interesting to see how long it takes them to warm-up and get into the game. However smart money is still on KNS to win. Very nice match-up...

The Shocker v.s Suck My Kick is still in limbo. Due on another unfortunate lights out incident, this game will be finished with the Round 2 games.

That's all for now...

Happy Kicking and good luck!

Round 1 Breakdown

We will soon find out who is the real deal and in the hunt for a King of Kickball title. Who are the contenders? Who are the pretenders? Let's find out!

Play in Game: Balls & Dolls v.s Suisliders

Although the Suisliders always play tough they still don't have the experience to hang with a veteran team like the Balls & Dolls. This play-in game is merely a formality for the Balls & Dolls. They should be able to easily win this game. The questions is how this game will affect their readiness for their 9pm match-up against a rebounding Drunken Monkeyz team.

Toss-Up Games

These are the games to watch Wednesday night as they can go either way:

The Party Pandas v.s the Chilez Y Chilindrinas should be a close match-up. The Pandas are the veteran squad, but C&C might catch them off guard. Experience tells you to give the edge to the more veteran team, but as they say, "Any Given Wednesday". #2 I'd Hit It will be keeping a close eye on this game as they will be playing the winner in the next round.

Drippin Wet Posse v.s the Billy Bad Asses should be most contested game of the night. It will be played with a dense fog of "this is just for fun", but don't be fooled. Both teams would love nothing more than to grab a W and move onto to the next round. The prize for grabbing this win will be a dinner date with big time Kickin' N' Screamin in round 2.

New Kicks on the Block v.s. One More Shot is turning from a toss up game into a win for the New Kicks. However, you never can tell with New Kicks. They love up or down to their competition, in this case, down. One More Shot is fighting and up hill battle in this match-up.

In The Bag

The following games are a done deal. Early round mis-matches with the results pretty much predetermined.

The Shockers v.s. Suck My Kick should be over quickly. Although my confidence in the Shockers crew as a true kickball contender is very limited, Im confident enough to know they will make short work of the very inexperienced Suck My Kick kiddos. Maybe next season kickballers.

Kixxx v.s Balls of Fury is another easily predictable result. Don't get me wrong, the Balls of Fury played well within their division. However they will be facing a much more talented and experienced kickball team. Their only chance is if Kixxx happens to be playing on our of their momentum down slopes, which may be a possibility, but very unlikely. Kixxx wants away from this one with a win.

Living on a Prayer

The Drunken Monkeyz will be living on a prayer waiting to see who comes out of the Suisliders v.s Balls & Dolls match-up. For the Monkeyz sake the better hope the Suisliders finds a way to upset the Bs&Ds, because last two times the Monkeyz tangled with the Balls & Dolls they wound up on the losing side both times. However the Monkeyz have been rebounding lately so they should make a strong showing this post season, even without a pitcher. My gut tells me the Monkeyz grind out a win either way, but the Balls & Dolls continuously prove me wrong so we will see.   

Final Countdown Part II

Photo Courtesy of Calvin Bell

Final Countdown continued...

#7 - Party Pandas - The Pandas finished the season with an overall 6-2 record and a clean 6-9 divisional record, which gave them division champ honors. Their offensive side of the ball is stronger than their defensive side of the ball, which as we have learned, can be very problematic. Although this is a "new team", they are chalked with veterans, which will make them or break them.

#6 - New Kicks on the Block - The New Kicks give me migraines. They are an incredibly hard team to figure out. They often play up or down to their competition, which makes them dangerous. Their offense is absolutely atrocious with a league-wide low of 14 total runs. However that hasn't kept them from finishing with a respectable 3-5 overall record, at least respectable considering they play in the tough Mountain Star group. They may surprise folks, I haven't counted them out.

# 5 - Drunken Monkeyz - Obviously this was not the season the Monkeyz had in mind. Although they posted a decent 4-3-1 overall record, their 2-3-1 divisional record was undoubtedly a disappointment. After losing their only pitcher mid-season, the team formerly known as "the Machine" looked to be dead in the water. However it is safe to say their were obvious signs of problems with the team even before the pitching mishap. They were able to rally back during the 2nd half of the season and they might not be in as much trouble as previously believed. Their 1st rd match-up will tells us alot.

Photo Courtesy of Calvin Bell

# 4 - Shockers - Oh yea! The Once Mighty Shockers, my favorite team to blog about. They finished the season with a 5-3 overall record and an even 3-3 divisional record, not bad I guess. Considering they still tout themselves as one of the best teams in the league, I wouldn't hang me hat on a 3-3 divisional record. Not to mention their offense is suspect, they have scored a total 16 runs all season. 2nd lowest within the ENTIRE league. Granted they say defense wins championships, but allowing 28 runs during the regular season hardly qualifies you as a defensive juggernaut. However their saving grace will be they are facing the weaker side of the bracket. So you will see them during Final Four, but not past it.

#3 - Kixxx - Kixxx has been up and down this season. I'm surprised they haven't given their coach a heart attack by now. They wrapped up the season with an overall 6-2 record and a very solid 4-2 record. In all honesty, they should have finished 6-0 but constant mistakes and mis-communication has really hindered this team's success. Too many chiefs and not enough indians, is the main problem. Regardless, they are realistic contenders for this season's King of Kickball Crown.

#2 - I'd Hit It - For what ever reason I'd Hit It has a good amount of critics. However this season they did a fine job of shutting them all up. I'd Hit It posted a solid 6-1-1 record and 4-1-1 divisional record, which landed them 2nd place in the Mountain Star Division. They are playing well and looking good. However the one looming concern is, coming out of their bye-week they will be facing 2 weeks without kickball. It will be interesting to see if they will be prepared come the 2nd round.

#1 - Kickin' N' Screamin' - KNS has a chance to do something no other SCK kickball squad has done to date. They will be looking for their 3rd King of Kickball Crown, not to mention they will be doing it in back-to-back-to-back fashion. All season long they have been the odds on favorite to win, not only their division, but the King of Kickball crown. They are by far the most experience team within the league. All they have to do now is finish it now. Their offense is primed and ready to go with a league leading 58 runs scored. Although their defense didn't fair as well, but they still finished with a respectable 25 runs allowed. Will they make SCK history?

Let's Get it on!!!

Its The Final Countdown!

The wait is over! It is time to find out who will become this season's King of Kickball. The remaining 14 teams will now be contending for the southwest's most prestigious kickball award. Which team will have what it takes?

#14 - Balls of Fury - The Balls of Fury finished 2nd in the WreCk Division with an overall 6-1-1 record. Considering they play in the lowest skilled division, they're defense plays relatively well. Not sure how they will fare against tougher competition, but my gut tells me they won't do well. In addition, they will be taking an a much more skilled and experience team, namely Kixxx. They will undoubtedly be making a quick exit from post-season. However this experience should better prepare them for a jump in division next season.

#13 - Suck My Kick - A true rookie team, this squad finished with an overall 6-2-0 record inside the WrEck Division. They were able to squeak by Balls of Fury with a better divisional record which gave them Division Champ honors. However when all is said and down, Suck My Kick will also fall victim to much better, more experienced and better skilled teams. Their first opponents will be the "once mighty Shockers", who although struggling within the Mountain Star group, will still make quick work of Suck My Kick.

#12 - Balls & Dolls / Suisliders - The #12 seed is still up for grabs. The Balls & Dolls of the Mountain Star Division will be playing against the Suilsiders of the Sunrise Division. The Balls & Dolls finished the season with an overall 3-5 record. Having to play against tough opponents week after week has really exposed the Bs&Ds strength as a team overall. However they should be able to cruise by the Suisliders with ease. The Suisliders are by FAR by favorite team. These cats never give up and always push to get better. They finished the season with a 1-7 record; however just about all of their games were close enough to go either way. They could have easily ended with an even 4-4 record. Regardless, in the end, the Balls & Dolls will be the ones to move on.

#11 - One More Shot - They nearly missed having to play in and a last minute forfeit boosted their record to a nifty 3-5 record. It's hard to gauge One More Shot, they completed flew under the radar this season. Which means your guess is as good as mine. They have #6 New Kicks on the Block for their 1st round match-up.

#10 - Chilez Y Chilindrinas - After competing in the summer Turf War season, this kickball squad decided to try for the King of Kickball crown. They had a head start, experience wise, coming into the King of Kickball regular season. They finished their season with an 3-5 overall record, but they were able to go even in their divisional record with a 3-3 mark. They have the pieces to win, now it's all a matter of putting them in the right spot. It will be interesting to see how they do in their first post-season play.

# 9 - Billy Bad Asses - By far one of the best teams coming out of the Sunrise Division. They came into this trying to repeat the highly successful season they had earlier this year. However it is difficult to capture lightening in a bottle twice, especially in the same year. Unfortunately they took a small dip to finish off their season and are currently riding a 2 game losing streak, but look for them to turn that around in their 1st round match-up.

#8 - Drippin' Wet Posse - First of all, give them props for the most creative team name this season. If you're gonna go vulgar, at least be creative about it and they have done that for sure. They closed the season with an overall 4-4 record and some how rocketed themselves into 2nd place within the Sunrise Division. Riding a bit of momentum they may make some noise this post-season, but they will have to get past a very good Billy Bad Ass team to do it.

(Cont. Final Countdown Part II)

  

Week #7 - Play of the Week

It's a little bit late, but here is last week's Play of the Week from IJK's new contributing writer and photog :


Written by: Desert Eagle

If ESPN has the Top 10 plays then i figure there should be one for SCK as well. So with all the games that took place and all the awesome plays that happen there was only one that stood out to make it the PLAY OF THE WEEK.  

This play of the week took place at Modesto 2 between the  NEW KICKS ON THE BLOCK VS. SHOCKERS. Just to recap it a little, its the bottom of the 5th, the score is tied and the Shockers are last to kick. With only one out, Calvin "Calvino" is on first, and Bison is up at the plate. All they need is one run to win this intense game. Bison gets ready to kick and "BAM", kicks a hard grounder that goes right between first and second. The ball makes its way to the all mighty Domino. Now we all know Domino is one of the fastest and best players in SCK, so no one will dare think they can outrun him. However that was until that day, Calvin takes off as fast as he can to second base and decides to practically commit suicide and run to third. With Domino on his tail and only 4 feet behind Calvin it was going to be a close call. Then it happens, only ten feet away from third Calvin dives head first to the right side of third and the ball gets thrown but barely misses Calvin and he is safe, BUT THATS NOT ALL! Calvin quickly gets up and takes a few steps off the base without seeing the ball. Thats when the third basemen throws the ball to hit Calvin but Calvin quickly puts his foot back on the base before it hits him and the ball bounces off and goes to the outfield while Calvin runs home with his shorts pull down to his knees and wins the game.

And that there is the PLAY OF THE WEEK!

Pre-Playoff Report Cards

Playoffs?!?!? That's right, we are mere weeks away from the playoffs. With a majority of the season gone by, each team's strengths have been discovered; as well as their weakness revealed. Some teams are ready and others are not. So let's see who made the grade? (Teams compared to each other within each division)

Mountain Star Division

Kickin' N' Screamin - Offense : A + Defense : A - 

Kixxx - Offense  : A   Defense : A 

I'd Hit It - Offense : B - Defense : A -

Shockers - Offense : D -  Defense : A +

Balls & Dolls - Offense : D  Defense : B

Drunken Monkeyz - Offense :  B - Defense : D -

New Kicks on the Block- Offense : F  Defense : D -

Sunrise Division

Billy Bad Asses - Offense : A + Defense : A + 

Party Pandas- Offense : A + Defense : A +

Drippin' Wet Posse- Offense : C - Defense : A -

Chilez & Chilidrinas- Offense :  B - Defense : B +

Suisliders - Offense :  C+ Defense : A+

Balls of Steel-  Offense : C -  Defense : D

One More Shot- Offense : D+ Defense : F

WrEcK Division

Blue Ballers: Offense :  A + Defense : C +

Balls of Fury: Offense : A  Defense : A +

Royal Tenenballs: Offense :  C+ Defense :  B

Suck My Kick: Offense : B Defense: C

LTA Lite:  Offense:  B- Defense: B +

Family Jewelz: Offense : B - Defense : B +

Sons of Pitches:Offense : C+ Defense: C- 

Just Like That

And just like that everything changes. Just a week ago the big question being asked was, "Can anyone beat Kickin' N' Screamin' ? Well the kickball crew of Kixxx went ahead and answered that question for all of Kickball Nation. And the answer was a resounding, YES!

Before Wednesday night, kickball juggernaut Kickin N Screamin looked invincible. They were tearing through competition with such ease that it was a foregone conclusion that they would, again, become the Kings of Kickball. Compounded with that fact that most of the other elite kickball squads had been struggling and putting up sub-par performances, it was looking very likely that KNS was on the road to earn their 3rd kickball title. However a very deceptive Kixxx squad was able to pick up a convincing 4-2 win against big time KNS.

Kixxx has always been a notoriously good kickball team; however after posting a loss to a pitcher-less Drunken Monkeyz team a couple weeks back, there were many question marks being raised as to the continued legitmacy of Kixxx. It seems as though all those question marks have been put to bed. Turns out the phrase, "Any Given Wednesday" has been coined for a reason. Kixxx will face two more test before the season is out. They will be facing a much improved I'd Hit It team, followed by an up-and-down Shockers clan. Odds are they will make short work of both, but only time will tell.

The other part of this story is although Kickin' N' Screamin tanked against a mighty fine Kixxx team, they are still the team to beat. Their loss to Kixxx was their first regular season loss in 36 games. So the last thing you want to do is count them out. In fact, you could make the

What Goes Up Must Come Down

One of the more intriguing items that will be determined at the end of the regular season is which teams will be moving up in division and which teams will be moving down.

Mountain Star Division

Within the Mountain Star Divisions, the New Kicks on the Block have all but guaranteed themselves a seat at the Sunrise Division's table next season. Considering this was the inaugural season for SCK's new format, in hindsight, New Kicks may have been over matched to compete in the top tier. However their consistent playoff success, made it feasible to consider they would compete at a high level.

The other two teams competing to keep from dropping in divisions are the Drunken Monkeyz and the Balls & Dolls. Just a week ago it was looking as if the Monkeyz would be joining the New Kicks in the Sunrise group; however after somehow scrapping together a win against Kixxx, they may have given themselves a small chance to stay with their Mountain Star cohorts. The first step is to pick up a win against #2 I'd Hit It, which seemed impossible a couple of weeks ago, but the Monkeyz have shown some small signs of life, so there may be a chance. Now the Balls & Dolls have an edge on the Monkeyz because they hold the tie breaker, but if Balls & Dolls ends up losing their last two games, they may be the ones dropping in division.

Sunrise Division

The Sunrise kiddos recently had four teams competing for the opportunity to raise up in division and play with the big boys. However after last week, it is becoming more likely that the Billy Bad Asses and Party Pandas will be the ones gearing up to venture into the top Mountain Star tier. Rookie team, Chilez Y Chilindrinas had a very good opportunity to be the ones to move up in division, but that was until the veteran Billy Bad Asses quickly crushed their dreams in a knock out, drag out game this past Wednesday. I'm sure it was a tough loss for C&C to swallow as they had the lead for a majority of the game. However the Billy Bad Asses kept true to their name and played bad ass They had to continuously battle back and never quit, which ultimately earned them the win. So unless the Bad Asses or the Pandas shoot themselves in the foot, expect to see them populate the ranks of the Mountain Star Division next season. 

One More Shot will end up dropping in division, which may be best. This will give the veteran team sometime to regroup and just have some fun playing kickball again. The biggest surprise coming of the Sunrise group is the Balls of Steel, formerly the Runs, will be most likely be the other team dropping in division. This scenario was simply unexpected.

WRECK Division

News out of the WRECK Division is still limited and sketchy at best. Dubbed the " Fun Division", Kickball Nation has turned a blind eye to the WRECK group. However there are a couple of promising teams that will be coming out of the WRECK group. The Balls of Fury and Blue Ballers should be the two teams moving up to the Sunrise group. Both these teams are statistically superior when compared to all their other wrecked counter-parts, especially the Balls of Fury. Both these teams should fit well when they move up into the Sunrise Division.

Happy Kicking 

Up in the Sky...

Faster than a speeding bullet...more powerful than a locomotive...able to leap tall buildings in a single bound! Look up in the sky! Its a bird! Its a plane! No...its Kickin' N' Screamin'.

As the season steadily progresses it is becoming abundantly clear that the KNS kickball crew is still the team to beat in SCK. They are poised to finish with another undefeated season and win their 3rd King of Kickball crown. A lofty accomplishment to say the least. They are basically an unstoppable freight train that cannot be stopped. There are only three teams left standing in the way of another undefeated season for KNS. 

Next up is Kixxx, which would have been an interesting game. However that was until Kixxx mysteriously choked against a struggling and pitcher-less Drunken Monkeyz team, which leaves Kickball Nation very suspect of Kixxx's legitimacy. It may still turn out to be a close game, but the hope of a battle between two undefeated teams was erased from the equation with last week's blunder. However if Kixxx is able to bounce back and somehow scrounge out a win against a big time KNS team it may turn the season up on it's head. 

The most interesting thing about Kickin' N' Screamin is they don't sport the best kickball roster in the league. On paper, if you were to chose a team strictly based off of talented players they would easily come in third. Don't get my wrong, they have some very good and accomplished players, but you could make a debate for the Drunken Monkeyz and Kixxx having better overall "talent". Although KNS does have a better core of females players. Either way KNS simply makes the best use out of their talent within the leauge and their teamwork is far leading the pack at this point. When a team plays together as mush as KNS does, expect them to perform well consistently. And that is what they continue to do and will continue to do for season to come...

Mid-Season Leaders

It's all down hill from here kickballers. The mid-season point is now in our rear-view mirrors. As we travel towards the post-season, it is starting to become a bit more clear who has the competitive edge and who doesn't. The stats up into this point have shown that competition is close between each team and in each individual division.Something we have not seen in season's past. Last take a peek at the mid-season leaders.

The WRECK division is the direct definition of close competition. It is so close that all the teams in this division are no more than 1 game back of each other and in one case, only half a game back. The offensive leaders are LTA Lite and the Blue Ballers with 19 runs each. Both teams have kickball experience and have been able to put up some decent runs. However the Blue Ballers' defense is not quite as good as their offense, which is why they currently sport a negative 3 Power Ranking. However LTA Lite carries a marginal +3 Power Ranking, a slight nod in their favor. On the other side of the coin, the defensive leader in this group (and my personal pick to make it into the King of Kickball contest), goes to the Balls of Fury. They have yet to lose a game and have only allowed 9 runs across the plate, which is by far the best within their division. You will see this team in the playoffs and expect to see them move up in division next season. 

In the Sunrise Division, the competition is a bit more separated, the gap between the top 4 and bottom 3 is a lot more apparent. The two teams jockeying for position to lead the division are the Party Pandas and the Billy Bad Asses. The Party Pandas are currently leading in the offensive category with 20 runs, while the Billy Bad Asses are trailing by only 3 runs. However considering the Bad Asses were on a bye-week last week, it's hard to know who truly has the better offense. The one separating stat is the Billy Bad Asses have a far superior defense within the Sunrise group; as they have only allowed 4 runs to score. You can count on this team moving up in division next season and taking the place of one of the failing Mountain Star teams. However there are two spots available to move up into the Mountain Star Divisions, it will be a battle to see who between the Party Pandas, Drippin' Wet Posse, and Chili Y Chilindrinas will take the other spot.

And in the top tier Mountain Star division, aside from the devastated New Kicks on the Block, the rest of the teams are still relatively close to one another. There have been some epic games and strong contests between all the teams. Currently the KNS Crew is leading in the offensive category, but not by much. Kickin' N' Screamin' has brought in 22 runs, while other teams such as the Drunken Monkeyz and I'd Hit It have a very close 20 runs. Not to mention, that Kixxx is also right behind them with 19 runs. It's easy to see many teams have the offensive part of their game on track. The defensive side of the game on the other hand, has been a lot tougher to get through for some teams. Kixxx holds the most dominating defense by only allowing 2 runs to pass them by. A very nice accomplishment considering the competition within the division. They say defense wins championships. It would be a good testament to that saying if Kixxx ends up giving KNS a run for their money.

That is all for now...Happy Kicking!  

Blood, Sweat, and Blood

We have finally reached the mid-way point of the Fall '11 Season and there is one word to describe Week #5, WOW!

So much for needing a coach. Whether it is was a collective effort or someone finally decided to start calling that shots, it seems the Balls & Dolls have finally put it together. After constant second guessing from much of the Kickball Nation, the Bs&Ds made a huge statement Wednesday night by taking down the desperate and broken down Drunken Monkeyz. The final score was 10-6 in the Balls & Dolls favor.

If you missed this game then you missed an epic match-up. The game was tight throughout; with both teams having to battle back at one time or another. It was an edge of your seat experience. However that was until, like clockwork, the Monkeyz ran into some fielding problems and then immediately preceded to break down. Which, frankly has been their method of operation for most of the season. Their continuous loss of composure is buying them a one way ticket into the Sunrise Division. To add insult to injury, after a very unfortunate series of events, the Monkeyz may find themselves without a pitcher for the rest of the season. No matter who you cheer for, root for, or support; it was a very sad day for kickball in general. However we shouldn't let that take anything away from the Balls & Dolls big win.

On a lighter note, what finally got into I'd Hit It? I've always been a fairly vocal I'd Hit It supporter, but I was always realistic in my expectations. It seems I, as well as the rest of Kickball Nation,  may have to start raising our expectations a little bit. After dismantling a very worrisome New Kicks on the Block squad with an impressive 15-0 victory, I'd Hit It came back Week #5 and continued to confuse kickballers by taking down the "Mighty" Shockers. The perplexing 4-0 final was unexpected by many, but welcomed by most. Let's see if they string together a couple more impressive wins.

And to wrap up it this week's report, I promised to fill in Kickball Nation on what's going on in the Sunrise Division. Granted most eyes are on the Mountain Star Division, but we need to remember that two of the Sunrise teams will populate the ranks of the MS Division next season. Who will be moving on up to the top tier? Well competition has been close and contested throughout most of the Sunrise teams. However realistically out of the 7 teams there are only 4 teams really competing for the top two advancing spots, 3 experienced teams and 1 rookie team. The Billy Bad Asses, Party Pandas, and Drippin' Wet Posse are all experience squads and have been leading the pack among the mid-range teams. The 1 rookie team trying to make a name for themselves is the Chilez and Chilindrinas. A very decent sqaud who is playing their first season on dirt. They did participate in the Turf War season, which has help them navigate the kickball learning curve quickly. It will be very interesting to see who gets the call to play in the big leagues next season.

That is all for now.... Happy Kicking.      

Time to Panic?

Some might say it is way too early in the season to panic; however, in all reality, we are entering Week #5 which marks the mid-way point of the Fall '11 Season. And considering the way some teams are playing, the time to panic might not come soon enough.

The new format change has created closer games and heightened competition, especially in the Mountain Star Division, but the same can be said in all three SCK divisions. However the main focus and news has been coming out of the Mountain Star Division. We'll take a peek into the other divisions next week, for now let's focus on the top tier group.

The biggest story has undoubtedly been the under-achieving Drunken Monkeyz. They've always been considered a top tier team, but this season something is wrong in the jungle. Although they cruised through their pre-season cupcake games, once they hit the true competition in their divisions schedule, they basically crumbled. Granted it's only been two games. The problem is these past two games were against two teams who are already being deemed Final 4 teams. Which means these games should be considered as previews into what the kickball nation should expect from the Monkeyz come playoff time and according to these past results, unfortunately, the expectations are for the Monkeyz to perform poorly come post-season time. Many kickballers may have their theories as to why the team often referred to as "the Machine" is struggling. The most glaring observation is composure. It is rare to see a team play through a game with no mistakes. Dropped balls, wrong decisions, and other various mistakes are common place. They are bound to happen. How a team responds to mistakes is what counts. Sadly the Monkeyz let each mistake compound until it results in an obvious loss of composure and discipline to work through it. Lucky for them this frustration has been isolated on the defensive side of the ball. It will be interesting to see how and if the the Monkeyz rebound in the coming weeks. However they aren't the only team that is struggling.

They're were high expectations for the Balls & Dolls coming off their first King of Kickball Championship appearance this past Spring Season. It was a monumental achievement for this crew, as they have battled season after season to reach that ultimate goal of being the King of Kickball. Although they came close they still seem to be far for reaching that goal. So far this season they have been on an offensive/defensive see-saw. When they're offensive is up, they're defensive is down and vice-versa. Even their pre-season cupcake games were closely contested, not a good sign as you are playing in the toughest division in the league. Reasons? Theories? Why is this the case after such a strong season not too long ago? The most common theory among Kickball Nation is of course the most unpopular theory considered by the Balls & Dolls. Every circus needs a ringmaster and every team needs a coach. There is something to be said about a team's success and the leaders behind that success. All kickballers play and win as a team, one player does not make a team. However an argument can be made that even the best players need a good leader. It doesn't have to be the same leader, but at least someone ready and willing to take up the cause to push forward. Am I along in this regard? Maybe, maybe not. What does the Balls & Dolls biggest fan and biggest critic, the Angry Ump, have to say about the Bs and Ds situation? I had to travel far into the badlands of exile to see if the Ump had anything constructive to say...

Most teams work like a machine that was constructed for the greater good. Others are heavily dependent on a certain cog to complete a simple task. They are still considered an elite team by many, but the loss of their coach and leader will affect them more than they like to admit. They still have plenty of talent to field a competitive team, but I want to see how they react when the going gets tough. Will someone step up and say, “Kick it at the fat first baseman! Dude can’t catch a cold.” Or will they shatter under the pressure like Id Hit It does come playoff time? Their ex-coach always had them running on all cylinders and had them ready for every situation. I’m not sure they have that type of anal personality that will keep a tight ship. Will BnD’s rise to the occasion or get dropped to the Sun Rise division after the season? So far they’ve seemed to struggle with teams that have no business even breathing the same kickball air as the once finely tuned red team.It’s a long ass season and I’m excited to find out what happens next. 

Monkeyz Bow Down

As anticipated, the Week 3 match-ups followed the written IJK script almost perfectly, well almost. That was until the Shockers decided to ad lib, and in surprising fashion, convincingly beat the dreaded Drunken Monkeyz. However before we journey down that road, let's recap the two other marque match-ups of the night.

As predicted, the Balls & Dolls struggled on defense against the heavy hitting Kixxx. Kixxx has some very good offensive weapons and they were able to put them to good use this week. Unfortunately for the Bs&Ds their team's defense was borderline atrocious. Too many dropped balls, missed assignments, and overall poor execution. Kixxx was able to take advantage of each and every mistake and they put up a decisive 8-2 victory. Kixxx will head into an early bye-week next week. While the Balls & Dolls are going to have to quickly regroup and prepare, as they face their long time rival Shockers next week.

I'd Hit It got crushed at the hands of KNS this week. This was the general expectation through much of  Kickball Nation; however like they say, "Any Given Wednesday", just not this Wednesday. As always, Kickin' N' Screamin' is looking strong and showing that they are the team to beat. Their next match-up is against the wavering Drunken Monkeyz, should be a great game to watch.

And now comes the worst part, all was right with the world Wednesday night, that was until the Shockers decided to ruin my 3-team parlay by taking down the Drunken Monkeyz. The once again relevant, revived Shockers are again showing why they are always considered an elite team. IJK does it's best to give an objective point of view. Also I personally try to, "call it like I see it". No agenda, I follow the stats and evidence. By all accounts the Shockers should have lost to "the Machine". Now this was not just my opinion, this was also another generally shared consensus by other players and coaches. For example,  KNS Coach and kickball veteran, Rick "The Million Dollar Man" Delgadillo quickly conceded the game as over as soon as the Drunken Monkeyz scored their first run. However to everyone's surprise, that was not the case. The Shockers were not only able to beat the Monkeyz, but they were able to do it in convincing fashion. Hats off to the Shockers. Let's see if they will keep up their winning ways through the rest of the season.

Now on the Monkeyz side of the ball, the most interesting observation of the night was their complete and total mental shut down. As the mistakes started to compound, you could see and feel the frustration level rise. Even the half-hearted attempts to regroup and focus were in vain. Which unfortunately means the Monkeyz may be slipping on their mental toughness. Their next match-up is against powerhouse KNS, it will be extremely interesting to see how and if the Monkeyz bounce back. However it will hard to do against a very tough Kickin N Screamin.

             

The Thunderdome

With SCK's new divisional format, no longer will the league's best teams be separated from each other. Instead the best 7 teams will be thrown into a cage and forced to battle each other week after week. No longer will the best teams have to wait until the playoffs to face each other. Instead Modesto 2 will be the stage for marque match-ups each and every week. It should be a site to see.

Even before the last out was recorded this past Wednesday, teams were already getting pumped up for the much anticipated divisional games next week. The schedule is packed with very exciting match-ups, which even at this early stage is creating a good amount of kickball buzz.

Balls & Dolls vs Kixxx should be an excellent match-up. Both teams won their 2 non-division games so both teams are riding a little bit of winning momentum. Also both teams are rolling with good offensive weapons. Scoring hasn't been a problem for either squad. However when it comes to defense, Kixxx has the edge in this category. The Balls & Dolls will quite possibly struggle on the defensive side of the ball, which means their offense is going to have carry a majority of the work load. Putting up copious amounts of runs may be the only way the Bs&Ds will be able to hold out against Kixxx. Kixxx should be able to score a healthy amount of runs, the Bs&Ds will just have to answer back with 2 runs for every 1 run that Kixxx puts up to out last them. However after all is said and done, Kixxx seems to have the edge in this match-up.

I'd Hit It will have a huge opportunity to silence their critics when they face the big time Kickin' N' Screamin' championship squad this coming Wednesday. Unfortunately that will be a fairly tall order for team I'd Hit It. In this match-up, KNS has the advantage in just about every category. Offense, defense, experience, you name it, they got it. I'm not sure what gameplan I'd Hit It has to handle KNS, but it better be a good one. There is no escaping Kickin' N' Screamin' , chalk this one up as a win for them.

Shockers, Shockers, Shockers...The once Mighty Shockers will be taking on an old rival when they face the Drunken Monkeyz this coming Wednesday night. The former league villains, Shockers, are struggling to stay relevant in the league. While the Drunken Monkeyz, aka The Machine, still strike fear into the hearts kickballers everywhere. The Monkeyz are arguably the better team in this match-up. However if you ask Coach Anthony  Tuialuuluu, he will give you a different assessment. Coach T was quoted as saying, "The Monkeyz will bow down!! All I need is 11 Shockers and a lil confidence." Its encouraging to see the Shocker's coach so confident, but this is border line delusional. Look for the Monkeyz to walk away with this one.       

Be at Modesto 2 this week, don't miss these games. 

  

Big Brother vs Little Brother

These first couple of non-divisional games have all been about Big Brother vs Little Brother. Big Brother being the Mountain Star Division and Little Brother being the Sunrise Division. So far the Big Brother teams have been beating up on all the Little Brother teams, which was predicted. There is a reason why certain teams are in certain divisions. However come Wednesday, the Sunrise kickballers will have another chance to show nether or not they can compete against the cream of the crop.

Realistically, glancing over the different match-ups for Wednesday, it seems more probable that the Sunrise teams will post another 0-7 record against the Mountain Star teams. However let's go ahead and take a peek at the upcoming match-ups.

Unfortunately the Chiles & Chilindrinas have absolutely no chance against powerhouse kickballers Kickin' N' Screamin'. Don't get me wrong, the Chiles & Chilindrinas have a good amount of potential and should have a promising season. The problem is, it's going to take whole lot more than potential to take down a team of Kickin' N' Screamin's caliber. At best, C&C could use this match-up as a learning experience. Although C&C might keep it close, the score on this one may get out of hand. Divisional or Non-Divisional, KNS plays at the same speed every time, balls to the wall.

After coming off a promising Turf War season, Drippin Wet Posse strongly disappointed Opening Day as they were, quite frankly, laughed off the field with an embarrassing 21-0 loss to KNS. Granted they were playing the best team in the league, the fact of the matter is, if you can't compete with KNS then you have no chance at winning a King of Kickball Crown. Next up they have the Kixxx crew, which is another tough team and is no push over. Although I don't anticipate another 21-0 brain damage inducing beat-down, I don't feel Drippin Wet Posse has what it takes to get it done against Kixxx. However for the sake of the Sunrise division,  maybe the Posse will prove me wrong.

The Balls & Dolls need to be careful against One More Shot. The Bs&Ds struggled against Balls of Steel, which could have been expected. The Balls of Steel are a decent squad, formerly the Runs. So all in all last week's match-up was evenly matched. However if the Bs&Ds are to keep up with the powerhouse teams in the Mountain Star Divisions they will need to put up a more convincing win against One More Shot this coming Wednesday. The absence of an obvious sideline presence still makes me uncomfortable, but only time will tell how this effects the Balls & Dolls.

Last season I was on the Billy Bad Ass Bangwagon. They were playing strong and looked like contenders, until an unfortunate set of circumstances stopped them dead in their tracks. Now we enter a new season with a new set of circumstances. Their upcoming match-up against the Monkeyz will be a tough one. A win here would make a big time statement. However seeing as the Bad Asses struggled against an up-and-down I'd Hit It, it's hard to gauge what kind of team we are looking at. Is it the same Bad Asses from last season? Or a new kind. Wednesday's Monkey match-up will give us a peek into the Bad Asses' kickball window.

The Suisliders vs I'd Hit It should be a good game to watch. The Suisilders have been trying to make a statement, an argument or just about anything to prove that they can compete at a high level. Over taking I'd Hit It would be a small step in that direction. I'd Hit It is considered a top tier team, although they get tons of criticism for it. A constant playoff team with a solid winning record season after season. However they did squeak past the Bad Asses, so Wednesday should reveal a lot about both teams skill level and competition level.

UPSET OF THE WEEK



The Shockers vs Balls of Steel is my predicted Upset of the Week. First off, I'm not going take the time to run down the long list of accolades for the now infamous Mighty Shockers clan, we all know them and heard of them. I merely going to say that the Balls of Steel have a good chance at picking up a big win here. Even though they struggled against the Balls & Dolls, something tells me that the Balls of Steel should come out on top come Wednesday night. 

Good Luck to all the teams and Happy Kicking

Opening Day

Late night showers wouldn't ruin this day, as Sun City Kickball and kickballers celebrated Opening Day - Season #6. Kickballers had been eagerly anticipating this day for months now. With another 20+ teams, this season looks to promising.

The first 2 weeks of the season will feature non-divisional games. One set of games will be the top Mountain Star against the mid-tier Sunrise Divisions. It will be interesting to see how little brother will do against big brother. On the flip side of the coin, the lower WRECK will beat up on each other for an extra two weeks before their divisional schedule starts.

As Opening Day closed, the final results were interesting, but highly expected. The Mountain Star division routed  their counter part Sunrise divisions opponents, 7-0. The MS division won all 7 of their match-ups and also out scored the Sunrise kids 72-21. It will very interesting to see if the same statistic is repeated next week.

See ya'll next week...

Wake Up!!!

It's Just Kickball has been in hibernation for a majority of the off-season. With the Fall '11 season starting, we are super behind in getting kickballers up to speed on what they are facing for the upcoming season. In the interest of saving time, we will limit our preview to notable items and current buzz around the league.

New Divisional Format

The new divisional format should make things a little bit more interesting this coming season. Especially for the Mountain Star Division which will house the best kickball talent El Chuco has to offer. The best SCK teams are jammed into one 7 team division which will be competing for the top 6 seeds to head into the King of Kickball tourney. Considering each team will have a grueling schedule week after week, this division owning almost half the playoff seeds is a fair prize. Reserve your seat down at Modesto 2 now, because the bleachers will be packed week after week, every match up will be a marque match up. Be a witness to "the Show" down at Modesto.

Team Talk

As mentioned earlier, the Mountain Star has all the bad ass veterans returning for their chance at the King of Kickball crown. 

Two-time defending champs Kickin' N' Screamin' are back again and this time the finally settled on a name. Last season they were Balls to the Wall, hopefully they decide to make Kickin' n' Screamin' a franchise name and stop changing so much. Like the past two season, they are the odds on favorite to repeat as champs this season. This team is dynasty worthy and should be able to clinch that title with another King of Kickball title. This kickball crew has sported back to back undefeated seasons; however this feat will be tough to duplicate as the competition within their division will be a lot tougher. In all reality they will probably still finish #1 in their group, maybe even 2nd worse case scenario. They are also fresh off another championship win, as the ran the gauntlet again and picked up the 1st SCK Turf War title.

The league villains are also back. The Shockers are part of the "Original Six" and have always been the topic of many kickball conversations, good and bad. Not to mention, last season's post-season controversy didn't help their cause either. After a huge technicality, the defunct Shockers found a way to wiggle their way into the playoff tourney. A playoff tourney they had no business being in. How will they fair this season? Best prediction is they should finish somewhere mid-pack in the Mountain Star Division. 

The Chupacabrones are returning with their throw-back Kixxx name. Vinny's Young Guns are looking to come back and keep their winning ways. Last season, they fell victim to the unpredictable New Kicks on the Block, who promptly took them out of King of Kickball contention in the very 1st round. That is very rare and strange for Kixxx, you can usually find them deep into the playoffs; however we will see if last season was a fluke and look to see if they can get back into serious contention come playoff time.

Original Six member, Balls & Dolls, is back for Season #6. Last season they were able to make a strong run for what could have been their 1st King of Kickball title. Sadly they fell short of their title dreams by falling to powerhouse Kickin n' Screamin in the championship game. However there was a bright spot, the Bs&Ds were able to beat their long time nemesis and rival the Shockers for the first time ever and in the semi-finals! The only troublesome item is a certain coach/team leader is missing from the roster. It will be interesting to see how the Bs&Ds will fair without their long time leader. 

The Drunken Monkeyz are of course back and as always very dangerous. The Machine is again sporting a small roster, the smallest of the top tier teams. They will be looking to earn their 2nd King of Kickball title with upcoming season with 6 guys and 5 girls. Anyone one would admit this to be a difficult task; however the Monkeyz often make it look ridiculously easy. Great offense with an even better defense may just earn them that coveted 2nd King of Kickball title.

Be on the look-out

Besides the normal powerhouse teams having a chance at title, there are a handful of sleeper teams to keep an eye out for.

The Billy Bad Asses quick exit from last season's post-season tourney was unexpected and unfortunate. They return this season with the hopes of making another run at the title. They are a solid team and if they are able to bring back the same intensity from last season, they should go far.

Drippin Wet Posse is a combination of last season's Brown Chicken Brown Cow and Kick N' Da Balls. This is actually not a bad partnership and a fortunate decision for both teams. Kick N Da Balls was badly in need of some good leadership and Brown Chicken just needed a few more offensive pieces to actually contend. They looked mighty strong during the Turf War season. Let see if the momentum carries through into the Fall Season.

A rookie team that is showing tons of promise are the Chile y Chilindrinas. They enlisted for the Turf War and  quickly showed that they have the skill to compete. Hopefully they experience from the summer season will help them be successful during the Fall. Keep on eye on these guys and gals. 

SCK FALL 2011 DIVISIONS!!

Mountain Star Division

Kickin' N' Screamin'

Kixxx

Shockers

Drunken Monkeyz

Balls & Dolls

I'd Hit It

New Kicks on the Block

Sunrise Division

Billy Bad Asses

One More Shot

Chiles Y Chilindrinas

Kickapoos

Bacon Strips

Suisliders

Drippin' Wet Posse

WrEcK Division

LTA Lite

Family Jewelz

Royal Tienenballs

Sons of Pitches

Balls of Steel

Suck My Kick

Blue Ballers

SCK FALL '11 LEAGUE FORMAT

Sun City Kickball will feature 21 teams for the Fall 2011 Season. These 21 teams have been separated into 3 divisions with 7 teams in each division. The teams in each division have been grouped by skill set, experience, and winning consistency. The three divisions will be: 

Mountain Star Division - which represents the highest level of skill

Sunrise Division -  which represents a moderate level of skill

WRECK Division - which represents a beginner to lower level of skill

The post-season will consist of a 14 team playoff. Since the divisions vary in skill levels, higher divisions will be awarded more playoff bids than lower divisions. 

The Mountain Star Division will receive 6 playoff bids, ranked from the #1 Seed (1st Place in the division) to the #6 Seed (6th Place in the division). The 7th place finisher will have to play-in to the playoffs against the 6th place finisher in the Sunrise Division.

The Sunrise Division will receive 5 playoff bids, ranked from the #7 Seed (1st Place in the division) to the #11 Seed (5th place in the division). The 6th place finisher will have to play-in to the playoffs against the 7th place finisher in the Mountain Star Division, for the 12th Seed.

The WRECK Divisions will receive 2 playoff bids, ranked from the #13 Seed (1st place in the division) to the #14 Seed (2nd place in the division). 

At the end of each season. the 2 last place teams in each division will move down into the next lower division and the 2 top finishers in each group will be invited into the next highest division. 

Good Luck Kickballers and Happy Kicking