SCK Stock Market

As kickball enthusiasts we often have to personally sacrifice to participate in this wonderful game we call kickball. We devote personal time, pay player fess, and even invest emotional in, not only our teams, but in other teams as well. There are teams we cheer for and teams we cheer against. We love some teams and we love to "hate" other teams. At the beginning of the Summer Season we all invested in our own teams as well as other team favorites. Now its time to see how each team stock is holding up.

Safest Investment: #1 Confused Kixxx

They are the Walmart of the SCK Stock Market. They started off as the league championship favorite and continue to be the league favorite. Although their dominance has faded a bit this season. They are beatable; however no one has been able to do so as of yet. However they are a very good team and a championship contender. They play to win and are quickly being embraced by the Sun City kickball elite. They are often scrutinized and misunderstood, but I've been around them long enough to know that they are a great bunch of people. From Coach Vinny all the way down to Rick "The 3-Second Fuse" and including Ms. #15 is how many times I've been thrown out. Oh and we cant forget the former Kick N Da Ball kiddos. Good skills, great team, and only time will tell where they will end up.

Best Inside-Tip Investment: #2 Warriors

Little was known about the Warriors coming into the Summer Season. However if you were a kickball insider and familiar with the Thursday night league, you knew this team was going to be a true contender. The Angry Umpire named this team as his sleeper pick of the season and for once in his kickball career he was right. They are undefeated and could quite possibly stay that way even into the championship game. Rock solid defense be their key to winning a King of Kickball Title. If you had the inside tip on this team you made a great investment.

Most Disappointing Investment: #7 Drunken Monkeyz

The Angry Umpire still cries himself to sleep every night after selling everything he owns and investing in the defending champs. Although they have only lost one game, they still have a SCK record 3 ties in one season, which is nothing to write home about. Things are looking very bleak for the defending champs. Undoubtedly they are the most under-perfomring stock in SCK history.

Biggest Investment Crash: Los Totally Awesomes

Sell! Sell! Sell! Sell! If you you still own LTA stock you are either a gambler or straight up crazy. The Mighty Unicorns of LTA have the land speed record for going from Zero to Hero and then back to Zero in less than three weeks. After going 4-0 and making even the biggest critics ture believers, as of late they have really disappointed the LTA Bandwagon. They inched into the playoffs and barely missed having to Play-In. Not sure what went wrong, but LTA is going in the wrong direction and need to figure it out QUICK!

We are mere weeks away from the playoffs. As I look around the SCK Stock Market there are still some teams that are raising their Team Stock Value and others who are losing value.

New Kicks on the Block - Buy !!!

Tu Sabes - Buy !!!

The Runs - Sell !!!

Shockers - Buy !!!

1 More Shot - Sell !!!

I'd Hit It - Buy !!!

Pitches B Crazy - Sell !!!

True Top Ten

As explained in earlier postings, the Top Ten Team list is primarily based off of what will be the post-season seeding format. The reason for this is to get teams comfortable with where they may potentially end up in the seeding. The post-season doesn't work in the traditional divisional playoff format. Instead it is more of a tournament style format spread over multiple weeks. So in a way you could say that the Top Ten List is a tad bit misleading. Many teams have been fortunate enough to be isolated from some of the marquee teams, because in reality the "true" top ten teams would look much, much different.

#1 Warriors
Without a doubt, the Warriors are looking like the team to beat. They are absolutely dangerous on the kickball diamond. They already put to bed two of SCK's finest, the Shockers and Drunken Monkeyz. I remember when Confused Kixxx was the scary mega-tron team, but the Warriors make Confused Kixxx look like a child's play......thing?


#2 Confused Kixxx
So Kixxx ended up not being this crazy, awesome, monster all-star team as previous anticipated, but they still are a very good team. Don't expect them to get knocked out of off the post-season any sooner than the Semi-Finals. They are always in contention for championship titles, its just another day in the office for them.


#3 Shockers
They don't lose many games and there is a reason for that. They already have two kickball titles to their name and they are always on the quest for more. An extremely capable team and if it weren't for teams like the Confused Kixxx, Monkeyz, and the Warriors; they would probably still be dominating SCK like seasons past.


#4 Balls & Dolls
My buddy the Angry Umpire said it best, "They aren't flashy, but they get the job done!" They Balls & Dolls will never be synonymous with dominating, bone crushing kickball. However they always seem to put up wins and get results. At the end of the day that is all that matters. An ugly win or a pretty win, a win is a win and its all the same to the Balls & Dolls.


#5 Los Totally Awesomes
Although they had a minor set back last week, I'm not going to totally throw away the notion that the Mighty Unicorns are a good team. Although they lost to the Billy Bad Asses, I won't penalize them too much for that. Considering that the Billy Bad Asses have a very good habit of beating some good solid teams. Wednesday's game against Confused Kixxx will be the perfect gauge to see whether or not LTA deserves the #5 spot.


And to round off the "true" top ten....

#6 - Drunken Monkeyz
#7 - I'd Hit It
#8 - The New Kickz on the Block
#9 - Tu Sabes
#10 -The Runs

Blind Draw Update

Kickballers: The Blind Draw for Week 8 games will be this Thursday, August 19th at Coconuts Bar & Grill starting @ 7pm. In addition to our regular SCK drink specials, there will be food specials. 2 for 1 Brats, Hotdogs, Burgers, and Chicken Sammiches! Hope to see you all there!

Blind Draw

I know teams are starting to get a little anxious to see who they will be playing during Week 8. We won't know who is eligible for that week until we finish Week 7. However here is a summary of how Week 8 games will work.

The last team in each Group will have to sit out Week 8. These bottom three teams will automatically go into the Play-In Week, if they so choose. For more info on the Play-In Week click here .

All the other teams in the league will be scheduled for a game during Week 8. Game match-ups will be selected by a blind draw. The blind draw will take place Thursday the 19th. The location is still to be determined, so stay tuned to the website, facebook, and the blog for the final details. Each team will have the opportunity for a representative to pull a name. However there will be a twist, which will be explained at the blind draw. More than likely we will set-up shop at Coconuts.

*Note* - To ensure some teams don't flake out during Week 8, ALL games will count when determining top 4 teams in each Group and the At-Large bid. Not to mention, it can also potentially effect your seeding. Season is far from over folks! Gotta keep playing.

Week 6 Recap

And just like that the hype is over. After punishing Tu Sabes last week, to the tune of 10-0, the Mighty Unicorns of LTA were humbled by the unpredictable Billy Bad Asses. LTA was flying high going into Week 6 with their 4-0 record. Their game versus the Bad Asses was simply supposed to be a tune-up before their big match up against #1 Confused Kixxx. However the Billy Bad Asses brought the Unicorns back down to earth in devastating fashion. So now LTA has a week to regroup before playing the power house Confused Kixxx. While the Billy Bad Asses are riding some momentum as they face a very good Tu Sabes team.


I'd Hit It had an impressive game against The Runs this past Wednesday. As predicted, The Runs have yet to figure out how to beat an experienced team. They have the potential to score a barrage of points, but depending on who their opponents are often those runs stay in the tank. On the other side, I'd Hit It is FINALLY getting in gear. If they can keep up this momentum they will do some damage in the playoffs.

The Warriors took down the defending Champs in a close game down at Modesto 2. The Warriors are looking like the team to beat, while the Champs have seen better days. The Angry Umpire will have the in-depth review soon.

Honorable mention goes out to the Multiple Scoregasms for picking up their first win of the season. They took down the After School Specials by a score of 6-3.

Redemption

Thus far team I'd Hit It has had a rather disappointing season. Which is very odd considering they have always been one of the better teams in SCK. During last season, they absolutely destroyed the competition down at Jimmy O. Week after week they chalked up win after win. Even in their rookie season they were an awesome team and even made it to the Championship Game against the Shockers. However this season they are hovering around mediocre.

Although they aren't playing at the same level as previous seasons, they did crack the Top Ten Teams list at #10 this past week. Which could be their first step on the road to redemption. They need to start gaining some momentum before they head into the playoffs or else they are going to find themselves dead in the water.

This week they are scheduled to play rookie team The Runs. The Runs are leading Group C with a mind blowing 31 runs scored. Overall they have the third best offense in the league. It is safe to say that I'd Hit It will have their hands full with this rookie team. I'd Hit It will have to use their experience to neutralize this team. Will it be enough? Well that's why we play the games, right? The good news is the stats trend seems to show I'd Hit It getting better and better with each passing week. In addition, The Runs seem to struggle against the better, more experience teams; i.e. Balls & Dolls and New Kicks on the Block.

It's any ones game, but quite frankly I'd Hit It needs this one a lot more. Not because it will determine their playoff fate, because they should make the playoffs no problem. I'm referring to the mental element. Winning games goes along way in creating team confidence and unity. So good luck to both teams!

Happy Kicking!

The Real Deal

The question has been answered. The Mighty Unicorns of Los Totally Awesomes are the real deal. There was much speculation as to whether or not LTA is truly a Championship caliber team, but after the can of whoop ass they just unleashed on Tu Sabes, there is no denying it anymore.

Los Totally Awesomes are now 4-0 and still undefeated. They rocked a very good Tu Sabes team to the tune of 10-3. LTA was able to beat Tu Sabes convincingly, surprisingly that was something not even the #1 Confused Kixxx were able to do. Which makes the Week 8 match-up between Confused Kixxx and Los Totally Awesomes very interesting.


Confused Kixxx better be ready when the Migthy Unicorns come to town. Kixxx has had a couple of blow outs this season. One came against the Scoregasms, a team that is basically disintegrating. The other blow out was against the rookie squad After School Specials. During those two games, Kixxx was able to show their dominance on the kickball field. However when they are put up against other experienced or skillful teams, they tend to lose that dominating game play. Although they are still putting up wins, they may need to step up their game as we get closer to the play-offs and as they get ready to play LTA.

LTA is playing some down right awesome kickball. Confused Kixxx will absolutely need to be on their game if they want on continue their winning ways. Especially since they will be coming off a bye-week, they will need to stay sharp.

Happy Kicking and Good Luck

All Dolls and No Balls!

Or at least that's how you could describe the Balls & Dolls' effort in their match-up against the New Kicks on the Block.

Before Wednesday night, the Bs&Ds were able to knock off most of the real competition in their division. They easily took down team I'd Hit It, who was supposed to be the other powerhouse team in Group C, but they have been struggling all season long. The Balls & Dolls were also able to take down The Runs, who are extremely dangerous on the offensive side of the ball. In the last two weeks, The Runs have been able to score a total of 25 runs. When the Bs & Ds meet The Runs during Week 3, they not only won the game, but they were able to shut out this offensive powerhouse with a score of 5-0. Which makes their loss to the New Kicks on the Block that more bizarre. Not that the Kicks aren't a good team, but the Balls & Dolls are the better team, more experienced team.

Maybe we can attribute the Balls & Dolls loss to rustiness from their bye-week? I'm not sure, but I personally saw their game and they had some opportunities to score, they just couldn't capitalize off them. During the early innings of the game, they also suffered from some horrible defensive miscues. Which is quite uncharacteristic of their usually stout and very aware defense. Whatever the reason maybe, you have to give all the credit to The New Kicks on the Block. They may not have an awesome defense or a noticeably strong defense, but they are winning. And at the end of the day, that's all the matters!

The New Kicks on the Block are looking great and getting the job done. And if it's any consolation, there is no need for the Balls & Dolls to hit the panic button just yet. There is still some time for a redeeming win. However there isn't much time...

Good Luck and Happy Kicking!

Is that a Unicorn in your pocket? Or are you just happy to see me?

#3 Los Totally Awesomes v.s # 9 Tu Sabes

The Mighty Unicorns of LTA have shown much improvement this Summer Season. During previous seasons, the idea of them being a championship caliber team was not only laughable, but it was a down right ludicrous idea. However all that has changed, with a 3-0 record including a couple of decisive wins, they are quickly making a name for themselves. One of those notable wins came against a very good 1 More Shot with a clutch walk off run to win the game. Another notable win was the more recent 10-0 smack down of the Scoregasms. If they are able to take down Tu Sabes this coming Wednesday, the conversation and the argument can be made that they may in fact be a legitimate contender for the King of Kickball title.

Now taking down Tu Sabes is easier said then done. Tu Sabes has been playing some solid kickball. They have yet to meet an opponent that has given them any real problems. Their only loss came at the hands of the #1 Confused Kixxx, which was a close hard fought game that left Kixxx Coach Vinny Trujillo having to change his diaper more than once. Tu Sabes doesn't have a wealth of experience, but these kiddos can down right play, that is a fact more than it is an opinion.

This game will be show which one of these teams is a contender and which one of these is the pretender. Both teams have what it takes to win, it's all a matter of who wants it more.

Spank the Monkeyz

We already half way down with the Summer 2010 Season. Each week the playoff picture becomes more and more clear. As we head into Week 5 there are some key match-ups scheduled for each division. Let's start with the two juggernauts that will be clashing at Modesto 2.

The Shockers have been dubbed the biggest kickball villains around, not only here at SCK, but even word of their notoriety has traveled down to the Thursday night kickballers. Which I guess make sense, considering that they can count how many times they've lost on one hand and their two King of Kickball titles that were won in back-to-back fashion. You tend to accumulate haters when you dominate the competition continually and with as much success as the Shockers have had. Now the Shockers will be locking horns with another villainous team, the Drunken Monkeyz. These two teams have history, but I wouldn't call it a rivalry, it's a different feel from the storied Balls&Dolls v.s Shockers rivalry. It is odd in a way... However the one thing you can count on, when these two teams get together you are in for a hell of a game.

Both these teams play extremely well. Both teams have quick catchers, which means you can expect both teams to ditch their bunting game early and try to beat each other with the long ball. Which is also a problematic strategy since both teams also sport rock solid outfields. Each team will have to exhibit pin point accuracy, when kicking the ball, if they want any chance at scoring. The Shockers and Monkeyz almost seem mirrors of each other, yet each team has it's own style.

The teams will have to find each others Achilles heel. For the Drunken Monkeyz it has to be their 8 player defensive. Although the Monkeyz have been able to pull of some decisive wins against other teams with 8 players, it is one thing to beat KNDB & Las Mataconchas with 8 players, but to beat the Shockers with 8 players is simply asking for trouble. If the Shockers are able to hit the massive gaps in the Monkey 8 player defensive, they should cruise to an easy victory.

However the Shockers aren't without their own weaknesses . They have an obvious chink in their armor that I'm surprised more teams have yet to expose. With all honestly, the Shockers biggest weakness has to be their ever clumsy first baseman. It's almost painful to watch ever time the Shockers take the field. This guy has the reaction speed of a snail and isn't exactly light on his feet. His Tyrannosaurus Rex like arms make it ridiculously difficult to catch anything thrown his way. And if you think his fielding is bad just wait until you see this guy kick. Its like someone tied his shoes together, he kicks like Pinocchio....it's very sad.

But in all seriousness it all comes down to one thing; which ever team ends up making the least amount of mistakes will win. It's as simple as that.

Top Ten Team List

Remember kickballers, the Top Ten teams list is based off of each team's league record and their Power Ranking. I don't arbitrarily pick which teams I feel are in the Top Ten, because if I did, well the Top Ten wouldn't look anything like it looks right now. I do it this way so teams get used to the format, because this is how the seeding for the playoffs will be determined. So IF the playoffs were held today, #1 Confused Kixxx and #2 New Kicks on the Block would have 1st round byes. However, remember, at this point not all the teams have played the same amount of games, because of the bye-weeks. Which means the list changes quickly and drastically after each week, for the most part.

Oh and before I forget, I don't want to hear any crying about how we should do it this way, or that way, or we should try this... That is a conversation for the off-season, not mid-season.

Cry Me a River

Alright...so the biggest knock against me and my blog is that "I'm too nice". I get criticized for trying to be "politically correct", mainly from the Angry Umpire, but from other kickball enthusiasts as well. Truth be told, I like writing about all the teams, not just the top teams. I'm not down to bash teams, because that ain't my game. I'm not a really good shit talker like my buddy the Angry Umpire. However I will tell you one thing that really pisses me off, anyone who cries about why the lost and won't simply own it. Some players will come up with ANY excuse to "explain" why they lost. Anything to draw attention away from the fact that they just didn't execute or more simply... they suck.

A couple of my favorite excuse:

"We didn't have all our players"

Really?!!? I don't care what anyone says, one player does NOT make a team. Of course there are certain players that are considerably better than the rest of the team, but unless that player is playing all the positions (Ala Baseball Bugs Bunny) then it shouldn't matter. Your team is only as good as it's weakest player!!!




"The umpires robbed us"

This is probably the excuse that gets to me the most, mainly because I do a lot of umpiring. I've been lucky enough to see a game from both sides of the plate. And I'll be the first to admit that the umpires don't always make the right calls, but that is understandable...because they are f*#$king robots. We don't have instant replay here. These guys and gals are going to call what the see and that's just how it goes. Even if something is ridiculously obvious, if they didn't see it, they can't just take your word for it. This applies in ALL sports, in any sport. Does it suck? Yeah sometimes it does, but that's when you need to turn around and make a play. Don't cry, don't sulk, cowboy or cowgirl up, turn around and make a play. If you need to beat the team you are playing and the umpires, then DO IT! Just stop crying.....


Competition often brings out the worst in us, but at the end of the day...this isn't life or death. Kickball is game, not a sport. Let's treat it like one!

Week 4 Recap

There was a good amount of hype surrounding Week 4. I know many kickballers were anxious to see how the night would end...

The number one ranked Confused Kixxx were able to keep their #1 spot by barely slipping by Tu Sabes. Although Tu Sabes gave them trouble early on, by scoring first blood quickly, Coach Vinny "Give Me A Hug" Trujillo said, "they had us on our heals for most of the game". However Kixxx was able to comeback in the bottom of the 4th and shut down Tu Sabes's hope of an upset. With that Tu Sabes falls 4 spots from #5 all the way down to #9 and is coming dangerously close to slipping out of the Top Ten altogether.


The Mighty Unicorns of LTA had the most favorable match-up of the night, as they went up against the sinking Multiple Scoregasms. As anticipated, they beat the Scoregasms with a
10-0 smack down and earned themselves second place in their division with an undefeated record of 3-0. In addition, the 10-run shut-out helped them in the Power Rankings and brought them up 3 spots from #6 in the league to the #3 team in SCK.


The Drunken Monkeyz dealt a decisive blow to the Kick N Da Balls crew by shutting them out
7-0. The worst part for KNDB is they now find themselves out of the Top Ten by slipping down from the #8 spot to the #11 spot. However on a lighter note, this made room for the Billy Bad Asses to make their first appearance in the Top Ten by holding the #10 spot. The Bad Asses took down the After School Specials by a score of 5-0.


The Shockers took a huge tumble this week after losing to the #5 Warriors. The Warriors were able to shut out the Shockers with a 3-0 score. The Shockers lose their #2 ranking and plummet down to #6.

The new tenants of the #2 spot are the New Kicks on the Block, which is odd considering they squeaked by the 0-4 Violet Femmes with a head scratching 3-0 final score. However even after that lack luster performance, the overall stats are still in their favor and pushed them up to #2.

Overall a very nice Week 4...

No Clue

The Angry Umpire really has no clue about kickball. His expertise on kickball is very limited and it's obvious when you read his blogs. When he isn't spending time randomly bashing teams, he is blogging about the same teams over and over and over and over....at nausea. He would have you believe it's because the other teams don't deserve the blog space. The truth is, his overall knowledge of kickball prevents him from making any real predictions.

There are important match-ups this week that will help some very desperate teams get out of the cellar. More importantly and simply, these same teams need to win or they will be missing the Week 8 non-division games. The last team in each division will not playing during Week 8.

Billy Bad Asses v.s After School Specials

The After School Specials have yet to pick up their first win in their SCK rookie season. They have had the unfortunate luck of playing some tough teams during their opening games. During Week 1, they happened to pull the #1 Confused Kixxx, who gave them a baptism under-fire with a 13-1 clobbering. Then LTA took their turn and gave ASS a tolerable spanking with a 1-5 loss. Finally after all that, it looks like the may have a chance at picking up their first win against the Billy Bad Asses.

The Billy Bad Asses made a huge statement last season when they upset the ever tough Shockers. During that part of season, they were playing their best kickball ever. Much of that momentum carried over into the post-season King of Kickball tourney were they did very well. However for whatever reason that momentum and that same spark didn't carry over into this season. I find it odd, becuase they have all the elements you need to win games. They have the personnel in place, but it's all about executing. They did pick up one win this season so far, but it was against the Multiple Scoregasms; who by all accounts are falling apart at the seems. The final score was 1-0 and the one run in that game is all the Badasses have been able to muster so far this season. In addition, they have been plagued by player absences all season, but I hear that situation has finally sorted itself out. Flat out...they need to win Wednesday to gain some sort of momentum that will hopefully propel them through the rest of the season.

Billy Bad Asses - 6

After School Specials - 2

Las Mataconchas v.s. Pitches B Crazy

Las Mataconchas is another team who has been a victim of circumstance. So far they have played the #2 Shockers, # 8 Kick N Da Balls, and the # 9 Drunken Monkeyz. During that three game gruesome gauntlet, they gave up 40 runs and were only able to earn 5 runs. That is a brutal schedule to start the season with and it is apparent why they have yet to pick up a win. Their next opponent is the rookie squad Pitches B Crazy, who should give them a more fair playing ground and an opportunity to chalk up their first "W".

Pitches B Crazy is another team who started the season with an unfavorable schedule. They had to tangle with the #2 Shockers and then soon after that, they ran into the Warriors who know how to play some kickball. Not only is Pitches B Crazy looking for their first win, but they are also looking to score their first RUN. However when compared to Las Mataconchas, they have given up considerably far less runs - specifically 15 runs total to be exact.

I think the biggest factor here is Pitches B Crazy are coming off a bye-week, so they may be a tad bit rusty. While Las Mataconchas just finished getting stomped by the Monkeyz...translation - Las Mataconchas are angry, hungry, and they aren't going to take it anymore. EVERY WEEK!

Las Mataconchas - 5

Pitches B Crazy - 1

Watch Out Now!

Week 3 had some eventful games, but one team that is really starting to shine is team Tu Sabes. I'm hearing a lot of good things from the folks down at Jimmy O regarding this team.

Now I have yet to see them play, but their box scores are showing some promise and some of the kickball enthusiasts are telling me this squad looks promising. During Week 1, they won their first game of the season with a nice score of 8-1 over the Multiple Scoregasms. They had a Bye-Week during Week 2, but they came right back during Week 3 and rang up another win over the After School Specials with another nice 8-2 victory. However their next game will be the true test for this team. They are going to be matched up against the #1 Confused Kixxx.

The Confused Kixxx are coming off of an absolutely HUGE win with a 18-0 massacre over a short handed 8-player Scoregasms team. During Week 1, they had another blow out win against the rookie team After School Specials with a 13-1 final score. However Week 3 for Kixxx was a bit telling, as they ran into a good 1 More Shot team and almost dropped one. However almost only counts in horse-shoes and hand grenades. Kixxx was able to pull away in the late innings with a final score of 5-3. They have all the parts they need to win. They have talent, experience, and teamwork. In addition to all that, now they have momentum going into Week 4.

Come Wednesday Tu Sabes will have their chance to upset the #1 Confused Kixxx. Will it happen? Honestly, probably not... But hell what do I know. Last season when the Billy Badasses upset the Shockers it showed all us kickballers that on any given Wednesday, anything can happen. We will just have to wait and see.

Happy Kicking!

It's Showtime

We are slowly turning into Week 3, the King of Kickball prospects are starting to rise to the top. This week will give some teams an opportunity to shine and see if they are really worth all the early season hype.

One More Shot v.s. Los Totally Awesomes

LTA is pushing hard to show they are true contenders this season and I love them for it. Romo, Chucky, and the Team Leader are my guys, they are showing that LTA has what it takes to win. Unfortunately for them they just ran into the new and improved One More Shot. During Week 3, One More Shot really showed they are a good solid looking team. They had the #1 Confused Kixxx shaking in their boots last Wednesday. You just know after this very close game and after Kixxx's 2o min post-game ritual of berating the umpires, they had to change their shorts. One More Shot lost by a very respectable score of 5-3. That being said, if they were able to keep up with #1 Kixxx, they should be able to easily manhandle LTA.

Los Totally Awesomes - 3

One More Shot - 6

The Shockers v.s Kick N Da Balls

This match-up is actually starting to turn into a little rivalry. However with all the turn-over that KNDB has seen, the Shocks aren't playing the same kickbal kiddo crew. KNDB is no longer the kiddos of the league. They are just a regular team like all the rest. Now that doesn't mean they can't play, because they can. They just blend in a bit more now. Also they are sporting a surprising 2-0 record, but that is quickly going to change come Wednesday. As much as it pains me to say this, the Shockers are back! Plain and simple. They are embarrassing teams be scoring into the double digits and shutting teams out. Looks like it's time to dust off that target and put it right where it belongs...on the Shocker's back.

Shockers - 8

KNDB - 4

Warriors v.s Hash House Harriers

The Warriors are a team that has been flying under the radar. If you listen to Rick "The 3-Second Fuse" he swears up and down that this team will be strong contenders for the King of Kickball title. He says he knows this team from that dark, scary place I call Thursday nights! One a side note, there have actually been some SCKers claiming they may venture into that desolate waste land that is Thursday night. They promise to slay all that is unholy and evil for the sake and in the name of all that is right and just in the kickball universe!!! But I digress...so the Warriors look to be a good team. However they are going up against the new Upset Alert squad the Hash House Harriers. Now comes a true test for these drinkers with a running problem. As long as Hoser doesn't kill the umpires, the Harriers just might have a chance...

Warriors - 1

Hash House Harriers - 3

It's a Conspiracy!!!!

No, it's not a conspiracy! Although you would think it was by all the questions, comments, or better yet complaints I've been getting. Some of the SCK Nation is questioning on why there was no follow up on the Drunken Monkeyz v.s. Hash House Harriers last week. Well the answer to that is quite simple.

Everyone knows I play for the Monkeyz, it's no secret. So when I sit down to write these small tales of kickball woe, I make it a point not to write about the Monkeyz unless absolutely necessary. Truth be told, I find it difficult to write about my own teams or even have a good grasp on a game if Im actually playing in it. You can't really see the whole picture. You don't get to witness the small details that make a good posting.

And besides that, Im lucky enough to have a Ying to my Yang. I knew the Angry Umpire would jump all over this great match-up. Especially since he was one of the Monkeyz number one fans. The lack of posting on It's Just Kickball wasn't meant to take anything away from the Hash House Harriers or fail to give them their due credit, far from it. I just had great confidence that they would get their nod and deserved kudos from the Angry Umpire blog.

However since I'm on the subject, I think the Harriers really stepped it up. Some might disagree and say a tie is like kissing your sister, but you have to consider that these quilt wearing drunkards are really improving. They are probably going to surprise some folks. Now the Monkeyz...I don't know. I think we will be fine, but then again, Im on the inside looking out. See what I mean....

Good Luck folks and Happy Kicking

The Balls & Dolls May Get the Runs!

Now we all know the Balls & Dolls have been playing SCK kickball for four seasons. They have always had the experience, the talent, and the teamwork to make a run at the King of Kickball title. However of late, they just haven't been unable to do so,but... this just might be the season they get it done.

The Balls & Dolls were able to past their first "real" test of the season be taking down the disheartened I'd Hit It squad. The final score was a close 3-1 ball game, the Bs&Ds didn't show much offense; however they aren't really known for their offense. Their claim to fame has to be and is their defense. Which is odd, because you wouldn't look out on that field and automatically figure them for a stone wall defense, but unbelievably they do in fact have a very strong defense.

This week the Balls & Dolls are running up against a good rookie contender, The Runs. The Runs are in their rookie season and they currently sport a 1-1-0 record with a +5 Power Ranking, which is results from 6 runs scored and 1 point allowed. The tied last week against another good rookie contender the New Kicks on the Block. I've seen The Runs play twice now and they are the real deal, at least as real as a rookie team can be.

This Wednesday's bout between the Balls & Dolls and the Runs should be a good one. The end results will tell us one of two things; 1. The Balls & Dolls are on course and playing like contenders or 2.) The Runs are in fact the real deal and may possibly dominate Group C.

This one is too close to call, but I have to go with experience on this one.....

Balls & Dolls - 4
The Runs - 2

Good Luck and Happy Kicking

Group C = No Offense

They say defense wins championships, which is fairly true. However a team still needs to have the ability to score runs or at least have some sort of an offense to speak of.

All the teams in Group C are struggling to score runs, which results in very slow almost sleepy games. Even the two veteran teams in Group C, the Bs&Ds and I'd Hit It, have yet to take advantage of the lack luster competition found at Modesto 1. Even the two promising rookie teams, the Runs and the New Kicks on the Block, aren't heavy on the offensive side of the ball. It seems as though no one can score any runs down on the field. Maybe it's the field? Who knows... The one thing I do know is that come playoff time, if any of the Group C teams run into teams from Group A or B, they won't be able to keep up with the offense.

Another thing to note is that the lack of offense out of Group C has nothing to do with their concrete defense or intense competition. They aren't running into any awesome pitching either. They just flat out don't have any offense. Hopefully things change in the coming weeks, because if they don't...well I wouldn't expect to see any of the Group C teams in the championship game.

Double Take

The highly anticipated Week 1 is now in the books! Some teams continued on with their winning and dominating ways, while other teams are still struggling to put wins on the board. There were also a couple of teams that surprised everyone and will absolutely finish higher than previously predicted.

The Runs, out of Group C, looked solid Wednesday night. They have tons of skill and potential . Once they combine that talent with some experience, they will indeed become a force to be reckoned with. The pre-season break down had them finishing 4th in their division, but after watching them play their first game, they have a decent chance at winning their division or maybe at the very least securing 2nd.

Another team out of Group C, that was a total surprise, were The New Kicks on the Block. The pre-season scouting report on this team was all wrong. Apparently they aren't a team of older family members, but a group of young, strong talent. Even more interesting is nobody on the team is taller than 5ft. I don't know if this was intentional or merely coincidental. This team will absolutely make the playoffs, so watch out!

There are also a couple of teams down at Jimmy O that have really caught my eye. One those teams is One More Shot. They are my sleeper pick for the Summer, you can expect them to kick all sorts of ass this season. All this team was missing from previous seasons was a tad bit more kicking muscle. Now they found that much needed boost and they are on their way.

The other Jimmy O team that is looking good is team Tu Sabes. The really struggled last season as a rookie team, but it seems they have finally worked through their rookie jitters. They were looking strong near the end of last season and have continued that trend into this Summer Season. Another team you can expect to see in the playoffs.

These teams may surprise some of the more veteran, established SCK teams. I would be very careful not to over look any of these teams.

Good Luck and Happy Kicking!

Opening Day ! Game Lines!

It's finally here! Where the metal meets the meat! The wait is finally over! And as each team gears for their first game, the story starts to unfold....

The kickball mercenaries or better known as Confused Kixxx, are going up against a rookie team for their first match-up. The After School Specials are indeed a rookie team but they have been putting in some good practice hours. However they are competing against an opponent who has way too much experience for them to keep up with. Sorry kiddos but this won't even be close....

Confused Kixxx - 14
After School Specials - 0


Out of all the kickball rookies I hear The Runs are the real deal. They are playing against three season veterans, the Violet Femmes. The Femmes have come a VERY long way from the days at Lafayette. Should be a close one, but I think The Runs just might get the upset against the SCK vets.


The Runs - 5
Violet Femmes - 3

The rest of the Opening Day schedule looks wide open. Should be a very interesting night! Good Luck to all the team and Happy Kicking!

Here are the rest of the Week 1 -Game Day Lines - Betting Window Open!

Favorite -/+ Underdog

One More Shot -2

v.s.

Billy Bad Asses +2

Tu Sabes Even

v.s

Multiple Scoregasms Even

Confused Kixxx - 14

v.s

After School Specials +14

Shockers - 6

v.s

Mataconchas +6

Warriors - 2

v.s

Pitches B Crazy +2

Kick N Da Balls Even

v.s

Hash House Harriers Even

The Runs - 2

v.s

Violet Femmes +2

Balls & Dolls - 5

v.s.

Red Hot Cherry Poppers +5

Beavers & Balls - 4

v.s.

New Kicks on the Block +4

Group C - Break Down

And last but not least the Group C break down. This division is lead by two veteran teams, the Balls & Dolls and team I'd Hit It. Both of these teams should do well; however I do have my concerns about team I'd Hit It. The rest of the division is pretty much up for grabs. It looks to be a promising group with some hopefully exciting games. Group C is the hardest division to gauge by far.

I'd Hit It has always been an all-around good team. They are solid on both sides of the ball. They are led by SCK funny guy and two-time Sportsmanship Award winner Lucas Quimiro. They should do well this season, hopefully. My only concern is their lack of interest in kickball this upcoming Summer Season. They have been swept up in the life that is hashing. The I'd Hit It leadership, the Quimiro Kids, have fallen in love with the El Paso Hash House Harriers (http://www.elpasohash.com/). The Hash House Harriers also play in SCK. I'd Hit It is usually a team that practices frequently and tries to scrimmage whenever possible. However that sense of urgency has quickly fallen by the wayside. Although seemingly unmotivated, they should still finish at the top of their division.

The Balls & Dolls are always in the hunt for a King of Kickball title. Aside from their coaching change, not much has changed. They are returning most of their players with a couple of upgrades. They have been practicing and playing scrimmages regularly. They should win their division or at the very least finish second.

The Violet Femmes have been getting better and better with each passing season. During the spring season post-season tourney, the Femmes gave the Balls & Dolls the scare of their lives when they played a very close game and almost upset the Bs & Ds. I don't know if the Femmes have recruited any more players, but if they return a majority of their squad they should do just fine.

The Beavers and Balls, I hear, have totally upgraded by recruiting some real talent. They had a so-so rookie season and are hoping to turn all that around. Other than that not much is known.

Two former Shocker players have created a new team, the New Kicks on the Block. My understanding is that this team is primarily made up of family members. Understandably they probably aren't looking to make a real competitive run for the King of Kickball title. More than likely kickball is more of a family activity for them.

The two remaining teams the Red Hot Cherry Poppers and The Runs. RHCP are returning for their second season. Their rookie season was full of mishap and they were still getting to know the game. Hopefully now that they have some experience they should be much better. The Runs I truly know nothing about. They are a rookie team so we are going to have to wait and see how they do.

Well that's it folks....Happy Kicking and Good Luck

Group C Final Predictions

1. I'd Hit It

2. Balls & Dolls

3. Beavers & Balls

4. The Runs

5. Violet Femmes

6. Red Hot Cherry Poppers

7. New Kicks on the Block

Break Down - Group B

Group B should be the easiest division to break down. Aside from the defending champs, Drunken Monkeyz, and the defunct Shocker Nation the rest of the division is pretty much up for grabs.

Kick N Da Balls is in a tough spot. I know they have been putting in some decent practice hours, but I don't know if that will be enough. Don't get me wrong, they have some good, talented players but I don't feel like they have put it all together quite yet. Word on the street is teams are already actively trying to recruit some of KNDB's reaming talent for next season. I'm worried for them. I see them maybe picking up a couple of wins at the most, hopefully they will surprise us all.


The Mataconchas, formerly the Family Jewelz and part of the "Original Six", are coming into this season with confidence. Other than that, I have absolutely no read on them since the don't practice or scrimmage, which is the way it should be. They were decent last season and we won't know much about them til they are start playing some games.


The Hash House Harriers were the last team to jump on the SCK train as it left the station for the Summer Season. They had a truly rough rookie season during the spring. Like all kickball newbies they made the mistake of thinking, "Kickball?!?!? How hard could it be?" Now they know the answer to that question and plan to come into the Summer Season with their eye on the prize. They are the sexiest team in the league. If they can generate some momentum this summer, WATCH OUT!


Pitches B Crazy are a rookie, fresh meat team. Just by chance I ran into them a couple of weeks ago putting in some kickball practice. They look to be mostly younger folks with speed and potential. However inexperience is what always makes rookie teams struggle. The Shockers and Monkeyz will absolutely tear them to pieces, but they might be able to scrounge up some wins with such a wide open division. However you never know, they might surprise us all.


Last but not least are the Warriors. They are another Thursday night league team that is making the jump to SCK. I vaguely remember this team from when I used to play on Thursday nights, before I was conveniently and arbitrarily banned. I remember them being decent, but I'm sure much has changed since then. The one thing I do know is some Thursday night teams don't mess around. They came to play, which means they came to win, to make a statement. Either that of they are longing for the greener pastures of SCK. Either way, competition wise we will soon find out what they have to offer, but Im hearing good things. Great things.

Final Predictions

1. Drunken Monkeyz

2. Shockers

3. Warriors

4. Mataconchas

5. Hash House Harriers

6. KNDB

7. Pitches B Crazy

Division Break Down- Group A Part 2

Now that we have established Confused Kixx will undoubtedly win Group A, that's not to say there aren't any other high quality teams within the division.



One team that I will be keeping a very close eye on is 1 More Shot. When team Where's My Pitches and team Scared Hitless combined to make the monster Confused Kixx, not all players from each team were included in the end product. Many of these cut players were left without a home, wandering around the kickball world. The saddest part was all of the left over kickballers are excellent players. With the help of Coach Vince Trujillo many of these players found a home on the 1 More Shot squad. Which resulted in 1 More Shot adding some more muscle to their kicking line-up and picking up a very experienced pitcher. Now they are more than just a kickball contender, expect them to finish second in Group A.




Another team expected to do some damage are the Billy Bad Asses. Their claim to fame happened this past Spring Season when they beat the now defunct and crushed Shocker Nation. It was and is the biggest upset in SCK history to date. The Bad Asses are returning a majority of their squad, which is very promising. Last season, they were sanwhiched in a ridiculously good division, which made this really good team look mediocre. Look for them to break out this season and finish 3rd within Group A.







By far my favorite team, the LTA family finally has a realistic chance at being a strong kickball contender. They are the most practiced team within the league and unbelievably it's really starting to pay off. They are figuring out what it takes to win and they are putting it together perfectly. The Acuna Boys have made it their sole responsibility to put Los Totally Awesomes on top. With Coach Gabe "Zelda" Acuna leading the team and Pitcher Chucky "Where's my $200" Acuna laying down some nasty curve balls, it should be a very promising season for LTA. Maybe at the end of this season they can change their team motto from "They can beat us, but they can't BE us" to "You can't beat us or BE us".

Final Prediction for Group A

1. Confused Kixx

2. 1 More Shot

3. Billy Bad Asses

4. Los Totally Awesomes

5. Tu Sabes

6. Multiple Scoregasms

7. After School Specials

Division Break Down - Group A Part 1

After much anticipation, the divisions for the SCK Summer 2010 Season have finally been released. Despite the initial plan of separating teams by skill sets, it was ultimately decided to balance out the divisions and mix up all the teams. However there is always a method to the madness. To separate the teams, power rankings were used from last season; with a mix of logistical necessity for league operations. All three inexperienced rookie teams were divided throughout the three divisions. The end product should hopefully result in a very exciting season.



Now that being said, its time to to break down each division and makes some predictions. First up is Group A, which I feel will be the most interesting division this season. They are headed by pre-season #1 Confused Kixx and the predicted favorite to win the Summer 2010 King of Kickball Title. I often get confused stares and questions marks on why Confused Kixx, and not last season champs the Drunken Monkeyz, are being picked to win it all this season. Well it's simple really, they are the best team.

Confused Kixx is a hybrid of two teams that originated from the Thursday night league. On Thursdays they are known as Dazed & Confused and the other group is "something" kixx. Dazed & Confused are back-to-back champs and are on their way to their 3rd championship as we speak. While Kixx is a hard core, competitive, skilled team that plays to win and they do lots of it. During the off-season, these two teams made the brilliant move of combining forces and assembled an all-star cast of players to participate in a out of state, national kickball tourney. They ended up claiming 4th place among tons of other highly skilled teams. Not only do they have big time experience, but they also practice religiously. They scrimmage multiple times a week, not including league play in two different leagues on two different nights. These cats don't mess around and with that kind of resume how can you honestly expect them not to win it all. Truth be told, if they are unable to win this season King of Kickball title, it would be an epic failure. Truly. Its not about putting "targets on anybody's back", it's the truth and no one can say otherwise. They are the best team.....for now.

to be continued....

Coaching Change

Change is common place for most teams during the off-season. Some teams will lose players, pick up players, change their team name, or a variety of other things. Few teams stay consistently the same, season after season. That being said, I was very surprised to hear about some of the changes coming out of the Balls & Dolls camp.

Apparently the Balls & Dolls have made a coaching switch. Three season veteran, Head Umpire and Coach of the Spring 2010 Season award winner, Oscar Esparza Jr, will no longer be at the helm of the Bs&Ds ship. Instead long time assistant-coach Oswaldo "The Ultimate Warrior" Vielma will now be the new man in-charge. My understanding is this change came out of necessity rather than any sort of team mutiny.

The change comes during a crucial time in the team's history. The Balls & Dolls are the only "marque" team who has yet to make any legitimate run at the SCK King of Kickball title. However I can assure you its not through a lack of effort. This team is constantly practicing and picking up any scrimmage they can scrounge up. They are usually a victim of circumstance. Every time they are about to get over that nagging little hill, they are quickly denied. And it is always at the hands of their nemesis the Shockers. The Shockers have eliminated the Balls & Dolls from post-season play a staggering THREE times. However this could be the season where all that comes to an end. Although Coach Esparza has been the head of this team for a number of season, the new blood of Coach Varo just might be the tiny push the Balls & Dolls need to get over that nagging little hill.

Good Luck Coach and Happy Kicking

Pitching Problems

Any team who wants to make a legitimate run at the King of Kickball title knows they must have good pitching in order to excel. If a team's strategy is to simply serve up pitches to kickers, well they can expect to get absolutely slaughtered week after week. That being said, team Kick N Da Balls can expect a long painful season.

Most recently Kick N Da Balls has been known as a good, solid team. Arguably they could have been considered the best rookie team of the Spring 2010 Season. However that was before the kickball mercenaries of Confused Kixx went out and recruited KNDB's two best players. One of those players just happened to be KNDB's best and only pitcher. Now they are left trying to full a huge void in their team. I had an opportunity to watch them scrimmage against the LTA unicorns. During this game, KNDB went through not ONE,not TWO,but THREE different pitchers. The worst part was each pitcher got progressively worse as the night went on. Coach Tiger Pride of KNDB has repeatedly claimed that his team is in a rebuilding year. However its hard to believe he never considered filling his pitching void for the upcoming Summer Season.

As for their offense, they look promising. They were able to score 4 runs off of pitcher Chucky "I named my dog Blue" Acuna, which is respectable. KNDB has a couple strikers on their team such as Calvin "Dont Touch My Hair" Bell. If utilized correctly they may be able to out score their opponents because they have absolutely no chance at stopping them with their suspect defense.

We will soon see what Kick N Da Balls is really capable of. Good luck and Happy Kicking.

Practice Makes Perfect

Los Totally Awesomes are part of the "Original Six". The "Original Six" are the six teams that played in the very first season of SCK. The league was built on the backs of these six teams and LTA is one of them. They have been with Sun City Kickball since the very beginning and I mean the very beginning, when SCK was nothing more than pick-up games. Their team motto is, "You may beat us, but you can't BE us." Mainly because they could never beat anyone. However that is all about to change.

LTA practices more than any other team, by far. However I think that has more to do with loving them some good ol' kickball than just wanting to desperately win games. I know them very well and they are undoubtedly the closest group as a team you are ever going to find. They are friends before they are competitors and that's some good stuff! That's what kickball is all about. But I wouldn't be doing me due diligence if I didn't give you the entire scouting report for the LTA familia.

Pitching: They have finally found some good solid pitching with Chucky "I love me some headbands" Acuna. Good speed, nice curve, he should do well this coming season.

Offense: It looks like they picked up some more strong legs which is always a good thing. They ended the Spring Season with 29 points scored, which was on average with the rest of the league. Their biggest problem is they have NO bunting game and everyone knows if you want to score, you need to be able to bunt.

Defense: The defense is looking better. They have yet to lose a scrimmage so it seems as though the D is holding their own. Last season they gave up 25 runs in a division with some high scorers so that looks promising.

Prediction: They will best their 4-3 record from last season with ease. A playoff team for sure. However in a league stacked with ridiculously competitive teams, that purposely sandbag their rosters with great talent, it will be tough win it all.

The Pirates! Lost At Sea

As registration winds down, the question that comes up the most is, who is "in" and who is "out". Of last season's 20 teams most are coming back with the exception of a few MIAs. The league villain Shockers and Drunken Monkeyz obviously signed up for another season of kickball blood, guts and glory. With other tenured teams such as the Balls & Dolls, Multiple Scoregasms, and Family Jewelz who are all going into their 4th SCK season. While league favorite Coach Lucas "Like my socks" Quimiro also brought back the Kings of Jimmy O or team I'd Hit It back for their 3rd SCK season. Oh wait, we can't forget my two favorite teams, the Violet Femmes and the Pirates! The Femmes are geared up and ready to go but sadly...the Pirates! will be taking the Summer Season off.

I was absolutely crushed when I received the news and how I received it was more than a little bizarre. A parrot flew through my window, which was not open at the time, and came crashing through the window. The parrot dropped what turned out to be an empty beet bottle onto the floor. The strangest part was the parrot seemed to be rather drunk and struggled to fly back out the window. As the parrot then flew into each wall, it kept squawking and repeating the same thing over and over, "Awk! Get off the roof! Awk! Party over! Awk!". Eventually the parrot made it out the window and flew away....kind of. In the bottle was a letter short note written in black permanent marker, the kind you shouldn't use to draw fake mustaches onto your face with. On the back of an old SCK "Alcohol Policy" hand-out was written the following..

"We nah be goin' t' make it says aye. Start wit' out us."

Just then a tear rolled off my check and onto the crumpled beer stained paper. Captain Cimi and his merry band of drinking buccaneers will be sorely missed this summer season. I'm sure we will see them from time to time in El Paso's random waterin' holes,but it just won't be the same. This be a sad sad day, says aye...

Back to Business!

Well I guess its time to come out of hibernation. The blogspot has been dormant and simply gathering dust for months now. Even the Angry Umpire rolled his stinky sloth-like body out of bed to start writing some brand new postings(http://www.angryumpirescorner.blogspot.com/).

So I guess I better get going too. Considering that there is all sort of new kickball news to get the SCK faithful caught up with.

However before we start, remember folks...its just kickball. Which I know seems odd coming from someone who writes about recreational league kickball as a hobby. The blogspot is designed to add another dimension to the whole Sun City Kickball experience. Something to make the league different from all the other plain old leagues.In essence, it's like having a kickball sports page. It is not meant to be taken seriously or personally. It's all in good fun.

SCK is not just a league and it is more than just another non-profit organization. We are family. I know that sounds incredibly cliche but it is true. Anyone who doubts this can just ask "The Original Six", we might not always see eye-to-eye but at the end of the night we are all SCK. On the field we play to win, but off the field it's all about having some good ol' kickball fun. SO RELAX

Happy Kicking.

Summer Season 2010 - Player Fees

To The Sun City Kickball Nation,

The Summer 2010 Season is just around the corner and the excitement is building. Registration will start Wednesday May 19th, as we prepare for our fourth kickball season that will be full of fun, games, and kickball glory. However before we enter into the brand new season, I wanted to briefly address a concern that has been brought to my attention. Players have been curious as to why the player fees have been raised from $30 to $35, considering we brought in a new sponsor this past season.

We need to remember that Sun City Kickball is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. We have a mission to serve the community. We are dedicated to providing adults with the social sport of recreational kickball in an effort to bring the El Paso community together. We use recreation kickball and the league, as the vehicle to build a close network of dedicated community members and volunteers. Through kickball games and events, our organization encourages all our members to contribute to El Paso and numerous charitable organizations. Since our first season less than a year ago, Sun City Kickball has organized events that have benefited the Center Against Family Violence, the Extreme Weather Task Force, and it is currently working with the American Cancer Society on the Relay for Life event. In addition, we want to build a social network that gives members the opportunity to assist each other in becoming successful citizens of El Paso.

The league part of SCK is what fuels us as an organization. From the league players and player fees, we draw our volunteer support and the financial means to continue the organization. We are not a city league where the objective is solely competition and nothing else. We are striving to build something that is much greater than just another sports league. We are trying to build on organization that will benefit the El Paso community and an organization that league players will be proud of.

During the next few weeks, please take some time to visit some of the commentary blogs for a more in-depth and detailed look as to what makes SCK such a special place. Until then please be assured that your player fees will always be used to build a better league, benefit it’s players and be put back into the El Paso community. Thank you for your time.

Happy Kicking,
Richard A. Alvarez

The New King of Kickball is Crowned

SunCity Kickball would like to congratulate:

The Drunken Monkeyz on their first King of Kickball Championship Title! SCK fans got to watch one of the most intense and exciting games in our league's short but sweet history. Thanks goes out to the league members, fans and volunteers for making Sun City Kickball possible.

Tourney Rule Amendments

When Sun City Kickball finally reaches the post-season, there are some rule amendments that have traditionally always been adopted for the play-offs and championship game. This season’s post-season will be a single elimination tournament and the traditional amendments will still apply. Please take note of the following changes and note them accordingly in your rulebooks:

Rule 7.4 – Refers to the 15 min grace period. We are asking that teams be ready to play promptly at the scheduled game times; unless otherwise directed by the Head Umpire, SCK staff, or SCK officials.

Rule 7.9 – Refers to the Pick-Up Rule. Teams will NOT be allowed to pick up other registered SCK players in order to field a team.

Rule 9.4 – Refers to the Gentlemen’s Pitch. Female players will NOT be allowed to ask for the Gentlemen’s Pitch.

Rule 18.3 – Refers to the Dispute Rule. There will be NO dispute challenges during the tourney. The Head Umpire and Field Judges will confer on any questionable calls and determine a final ruling.

Coaches may ask for a BRIEF explanation of a rule but will ultimately accept the final call OR be subject to an excessive delay of game penalty ( see Rule 3.3 (C).

Time is always a constant factor. In order to keep the tourney on schedule, a tie-breaking rule will be enforced for all the early rounds; with the exception of the semi-final games and final game. If a game is tied at the end of 5 innings, the team who scored first will own the tie-breaker. If there is absolutely no score at the end of 5 innings, the game will continue. Each team has two elements, offense and defense. The tie breaker is based on the ability of a team on both elements. Kicking first does not have an advantage, if your defense does its job.

The Mercy Rule will also be suspended once the remaining teams reach the Semi-Finals and Final game.

The Championship game has traditionally always been 7 innings. The 7 innings will also apply for the tourney Championship game
.
Special for Group B: Jimmy Ochoa had a unique situation in regards to the over throw rule. SCK removed the over throw rule from the rulebook after the Fall ’10 Season. However due to a safety concern involving a ditch near their field, a tentative restriction was implemented for teams in Group B regarding over throws. This restriction will NOT continue to the tournament, please take note.

Last But Not Least

The 14th and final King of Kickball tourney spot has finally been awarded. The Billy Bad Asses battled through the Last Chance Play-In to get a chance to compete for the championship. Better late than never.

However much respect should be given to the previously 0-6 Tu Sabes team for winning back to back games during the mini-tourney. They made a valiant effort and they were very close to upsetting the Billy Bad Asses during the final game. However they fell short and had to go home empty handed this season. But things look promising for next season, I think they are getting into the swing of things.

Next stop - Championship Station

King of Kickball Championship *Breaking News*

Word on the street is the Shockers are anticipating attendance problems for Saturday's King of Kickball Championship. Which is troublesome considering they have already established that they need their entire Shocker crew to win games. They are matched up against the Pirates! for the 1st round and I predict that the merry band of drunken pirates will upset the Shockers in the 1st round. Arrrrrggg! Yo ho, yo ho, the Shocker's gonna lose!

Another team much hyped team that might be making a quick exit out of the tourney is the Kick N Da Balls squad. Coach Tiger Pride told me he would be short one girl for the 1st round of the tourney and with no Pick-Up Rule, they will have to play with 8 players. They will be playing against Los Totally Awesomes Too, who are riding a massive wave of momentum into the tourney. During Rivalry Week, LTA Too absolutely hammered the Beavers & Balls with a 17-1 stomping. With the Acuna boys at the helm who knows what will happen. Lucky Chucky and Coach Cry have to keep their team's eye on the prize. I predict that LTA Too will have the Kick N Da Ball in bed before curfew.

Good Luck to all teams!

Angry Umpire's Corner

Big James "the kickball bully" has decided to create his own blogspot to freely express his own opinions to the Sun City Kickball faithful. Check it out when you get a chance, if anything just to amuse yourself.

Any mindless drone can dish out pointless smack that no one really cares about. It takes a true kickball enthusiast to produce a blog that has some substance, some meaning, something that brings a smile to loyal kickballers everywhere. Because that's what kickball is about. It's about having fun, hanging out, and kicking some balls. The title of the blog is "It's Just Kickball" for a reason. Kickball isn't a sport, it's a game. Games are meant to be fun. Of course some teams like to win and put in their best effort, but at the end of the night, win or lose, they still have a smile on their face. Those are my kind of kickballers!

However I'm always open to other opinions, even if they are from the Angry Umpire. At the very least for my own vanity, because when I read the http://www.angryumpirescorner.blogspot.com/ I realize that my blog is far superior! (Kidding James!) God Speed and Good Luck!

Happy Kicking!

King of Kickball Championship Preview

The Angry Umpire begged to do a Championship Tourney preview. Its not too bad. Could be better, but I think he is finally starting to get it.





Written by: James "Too" Big Vargas


Now that March Madness is over, the Sun City Kickball community can finally start debating who will wear the next crown as the New SCK King of Kickball. There are bunch of upstarts that trying to make a name for themselves. We've got new blood and we have old blood, we've got the young upstarts against the old grizzled vets. One thing is for sure, April 17th will be full of joy and great heartache for new and old alike.

The Violet Femmes, Family Jewelez, Multiple Scoregasms and The Pirates! all had great seasons. However I would be extremely surprised if any of them advanced deep into the tourney. It would be nice if there was a Cinderella during the tournament to spice things up a bit, but it will be a challenge. Good luck teams.Now that I got that out of the way, let me start with the teams that play in Group C.

The new kids on the block KNDBLS have burst on to the scene like a feisty Chihuahua in heat. They look to be primed and ready. They bring one of the best D's to each and every game. My only question is will they be able to score enough runs to keep up with the higher scoring teams in the league. Are they a one hit wonder or will they make a run at the King of Kickball crown, only time will tell. Vicious and Delicious have me believing that they can make a serious run or at least score a bunch of runs. Has anyone seen these PEEPS kick? They can put up runs in bunches and score with best of them. But how does that old saying go? "Offense wins games, but Defense wins championships!" And unfortunately for them they seem to have more holes in their D than some of my old socks. At the very least they will make it interesting, I can guarantee you that.

Balls and Dolls were viewed by many as a pre-season favorite. They have done nothing to disappoint, but they also have done nothing out of the ordinary. All season they have been the model of consistency with or without some of their key players. If anything keeps them in the hunt it will have to be their Defense. They have only surrendered 4 runs all season. That's just stupid if you ask me. But can a team with no wow factor really win it all? I doubt it, but something tells me that they won't go down without one hell of a fight.

I've already written of the other teams from Group B, all except for 1. I'd hit it! They have to be the best team to be on if you want to have a good time. They’re solid everywhere. They've can score runs and defend like their hair was on fire. Just keep in mind that all this came against the group that plays at Jimmy Ochoa. They had their chance to step up during rivalry week and came up short to the Drunken Monkeys 7-4. All this leads me to believe that they are just a bunch of pretenders. Even though I think they will exit quietly, I want everyone to remember what happened the last time people counted them out. They did the unthinkable, they made a nice run and won 2nd place at the Kicktoberfest tournament. I'm not saying that they'll do the same thing, but they play with the heart of champion that can never be counted out. And now on to the big boys.

Group A is full of teams that can win it all. Many believed that the Shockers would be at the top of that list, but thanks to this super competitive division everyone has started to think otherwise. The Shockers started off hot winning their 4 first games. That was until they met the machine called the Drunken Monkeys. They then stumbled against the Billy Badasses and ended with what might be a season saving win against Kick N Da Balls. All in all they seem like a team that is over confident and not as hungry as they should be. They have no killer instinct and might be the victims of an early exit from the tourney. Now, getting back to the machine know as The Monkeys. How in the world do these kats, I mean Monkeys, keep hanging in there and winning games with just 8 players. That is a true testament to their strategy and excellent coaching. The pitcher, Rich, is always boasting about how no one can play with them 8 on 8. I'm not going to dispute that fact after the terrific season they had playing shorthanded. They are the consensus pick to win it all according to the voters on the blog. I think their new rivals, Scared Hitless might have something to say about that.

Scared Hitless is one of the teams that made the short trip from the Thursday league and from the start they showed that they could not only hang but thrive in Group A. One of my favorite players plays for them. His name is Julian. He's certainly one of the best catchers in the league, too bad he decided to leave for Army. Some might think that this would weaken their D. Let me tell everyone right know that they didn't seem to miss a beat when they went up against the B&D during rivalry week. Their only weakness that I can see is the they seem to get a little hot under the collar when things are tight. Are they stressing or are they cracking under the pressure? The King of Kickball tourney will reveal all and we'll find out pretty soon.

And last but not least we have Where My Pitches At? If I'm not mistaken they are the defending champs for the Thursday league. I really don't know what to make of this team. At times I have seen them look like world beaters and others they look like a bunch of snot nosed rookies out there. With all that inconsistency there's no wonder they've scored about as many runs as they've given up. (25-19) If they plan on making any noise during the tourney they might want to pick up the concentration up a few notches because as they stand I can't imagine them going anywhere.

There you go people! This is what I think. And remember this is just my humble opinion and has nothing to with anyone else or SCK. So with all that said GOOD LUCK to everyone and may the best team win.