It is that simple...IT IS CRUNCH TIME! Week 8 arrived with very little fan fare as the playoff picture was pretty much set and the divisional champs already determined for each group. However now we enter the post-season and this is where it counts. Its one and you're done from here on out. There is absolutely no room for error. There are no ties here, if you win you move on, if you lose...start thinking about next season.
But first let's go ahead and take a look at our Divisional Champs for the Spring 2012 Season.
Lone Star Champs - Drinkers With a Kicking Problem
Drinkers with a Kicking Problem is a true rookie team. This is their 1st season in SCK and they already have a divisional title. This was a team I had planned to get some intel on and, of course, never had a chance. Their stats are fairly impressive though. They scored 65 runs in the Lone Star Division, which considering its the Lone Star Division doesn't mean a whole lot. However it is enough to prove they do have some sort of an offense, which they will absolutely need as they face the core of SCK's experienced teams. Also, their defensive numbers are solid compared to the rest of the Lone Star kids. They have only allowed 15 runs, respectable to say the least. Im excited and intrigued to see what this rookie team can do against some of the league's kickball veterans.
Veteran kickball crew Kixxx has taken the Sunrise Division Championship for Spring 2012. Not only are they one of SCK's more experienced teams, they are also one of the city's most experienced team. They often travel around the country to compete in national kickball tourneys, which only results in them being increasingly successful in the local scene. Always contenders, always competitive, and they always go deep into the play-offs. Expect the same for this season's King of Kickball contest.
Mountain Star Champs - Kickin' N' Screamin'
There is no hiding the fact that KNS is the best kickball team in the entire city. The have multiple titles here in town and throughout the state. Every season it seems they will undoubtedly win their division and then another championship. However this season they had a slight scare as they lost one game in divisional play which left them staring at the possibility of a 2nd place finish in their division. BUT, it never came to be. KNS won out the rest of their remaining games and the rest of the divisional teams were too hit or miss to be able to take advantage of a very rare KNS loss.
Congratulations to all the divisional winners!
Now on to Play-In Week. While most teams will be off this week, 8 teams lucky teams will be looking to make it into the SCK King of Kickball tourney. The bottom 4 teams from the Mountain Star and Sunrise divisions while battle it out against the top 4 teams out of the Lone Star group. Although much of Kickball Nation doesn't think much of the Lone Star group, I think the top 4 Lone Star teams might surprise many kickballers. Believe it or not, out of the all 4 match-ups, the Lone Star teams have an edge in just about all of them.
Drinkers with a Kicking Problem v.s Vicious & Delicious is an open and shut case. V&D has been non-existent all season long. They almost ran the table in reverse by going 0-7-1, thank god for tie games. The Drinkers should have absolutely no problem picking up this win. The end result will be the Drinkers ending up with the #9 or #10, depending on how I'd Hit It does.
To say I'd Hit It under-achieved this season is a total under statement. They frankly have just been playing uninspiring kickball. Which is surprising to say the least, especially considering that Lucas was being touted as "The One Man Show", but since Week #2 he has been considered more like the Sideshow. Lucky for I'd Hit It, they are facing the Lone Star's Kick Ballaz who are good, but not great. Although the Kick Ballaz have done well in the Lone Star division, they will be jumping up a level and need to play mistake free to get past a more experienced IHI. Unfortunately, I just don't see it. As flat as IHI is playing right now, they still have the veteran experience to squeeze past the Ballaz.
However the other two experienced teams coming out of the MS and Sunrise Division won't be so lucky. The Billy Bad Asses and Los Totally Awesomes are under-dogs going into their play-in games.
The Bad Asses, more than LTA, are going to have to really put in some real work. 2 Legit 2 Kick is playing some really strong kickball and their numbers show it. They scored 64 points this season, which even for Lone Star standards is excellent. Compared to the Bad Asses, who although they are facing tougher opponents, their 9 runs for the season is truly not representative of any kind of existent offense. Coupled with the Bad Asses high Runs Allowed stat of 29, it doesn't look good for the Billy Bad Asses. 2 Legit should pick up the win here, as long as the spot light doesn't freeze them up.
And finally LTA v.s the Boom Boom Booms, personally this is the game to watch. The Booms stats are unimpressive, this is true. However, what is going to work in the Booms' favor is the weeks of game play against very tough opponents. You see while LTA has been cruising through Lone Star teams, the Booms have been grinding out tough loses and some very close wins against bigger and badder teams. And this is where it should pay off or at least in theory. LTA has the experience and the kickball crew to make into the King of Kickball contest, but I believe the Booms are going to make them earn every bit. If LTA looks past the Booms they will be making a huge mistake. The Booms are just hungrier at this point and that may just be enough. If Los Totally Awesomes hope to pick up a win here, they will have to be exactly that - totally awesome.
That's all for now... Good Luck and Happy Kicking
Lastly I leave you with the current seeds to date :
- Kickin' N' Screamin'
- Kixxx
- Longstrokes
- Hard Knocks
- Das Boot
- New Kicks
- Scoregasms
- Party Pandas
- TBD
- TBD
- TBD
- TBD
